Show MITCHELL personally ATTACKED will defend assaults against his character in connection with land frauds washington dec 19 the post today saya senator buchell and binger hermann of oregon left washington last night for portland to appear before the federal grand jury to face charges that have been made implicating them in the oregon land frauds both senator mitchell and mr hermann declare in most teems that they are absolutely sol innocent nd hava nothing to fear from returning to oregon both assert with equal that tho time baa come when this outrageous persecution must stop they will insist on their rights to go before the grand jury and male answer to all charges that have been made against them confident that they will be able to establish their innocence they expect to have a hearing on saturday when asked last night when he had decided to return to portland at this time after having declined to go as a witness when summoned by subpoena a week ago senator mitchail Mitch cil said 1 I was advised yesterday by telegrams from portland that it was reported from there that puter watson and others of hat gang had made confessions implicating me and that there would be an effort made to indict me and hermann before the grand jury which meets tomorrow A week ago when I 1 was called as u witness I 1 had no inton aaion it was claimed I 1 was implicated in any way and I 1 did not feel it my duty to go and sacrifice public business but the moment I 1 was advised that I 1 was being personally I 1 concluded I 1 was justified in sacrificing public business add everything lse and go and defend my character against assaults that I 1 know to be without any foundation whatever senator mitchell sent this telegram yesterday to district attorney hall 1 I will be in portland next saturday I 1 demand thorough investigation on all charges if there arc any against me I 1 also demand the right to appear as a witness before the grand jury he continued information had been received that there was a probability an attempt had been made to involve sir hermann and myself and I 1 belcove it Is my duty to go t 0 portland and eu 1 deavor to clear myself chefko dec 19 1 p m A camp follower who saw a of the fighting at meter hill and who arrived here from dalny today says that commander description ot the fighting no exaggerated he believes however that the russian losses will as stated by denoo thoi russian dead he said indiscriminately mingled with heaps 0 japanese dead tho slope of meter mil being wry etwo and the japanese prepared tor ad rl vance by shelling hillside tho shells in hollow hit foot holds arf same instances alie japanese found protection behind thy heaps of own lead i |