Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-29
CAPTURED THE FORT
Japanese Won Rihlung After
a Bitter Fight.
THOUSAND CASUALTIES
BREACHES IN FRONT WALL MADE
WITH DYNAMITE.
Russian Garrison Numbering 500 Men
Escaped-Culminatio of Many
Months Hard Work.
THOUSAND CASUALTIES

Months OF hard work by the
Japanese besieging Port Arthur re-
suited today in the capture of Rib
lung fort after most desperate
battle.
The Japanese charged through a
breach in the wall of the fort, made
by dynamite, under the cover of a
heavy bombardment. The garrison
escaped.
A cablegram from Berlin today
reports news received there prov
ing that General Kuroki is alive.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE JAPANESE
ARMY BEFORE PORT ARTHUR, via
Fusan, December 29.-Rihlung fort was
captured at o'clock this morning with a
thousand Japanese casualties. Seven dy-
Mantle mines exploded at 10 o'clock yester
day made breaches In the front wall
through which a large body of Japanese
troops charged under cover of tremendous
bombardment and captured the first line
of light guns. bitter fight resulted In
the capture of the fort. The garrison,
numbering five hundred men, escaped.
News Confirmed at Tokyo.
TOKYO, December 90, nOon.-After
months of fighting. sapping and mining the
japanese forces finally occupied Rihlung
mountain last night December 28)
A report received from headquarters of
the third Japanese army before Port Ar
thur received here on Wednesday, Decem-
ber rs, at midnight says:
On Wednesday, December %, at 10
o'clock in the morning the left center COL
umn of our army, following some heavy ex-
plosions on the frontal parapet of Rihlung
mountain charged and occupied the parapet
under cover of fire from heavy guns and
constructed defense works despite the enc
my'S fierce fire
AT o'clock in the afternoon, when our
occupation was practically assured, we
charged and occupied the inner lines of
heavy gun positions, subsequently dislodg-
ing remnant of the enemys force stub
pornly holding the gorge fort, which we
occupied and captured the entire works"
Close to Liaotie Mountain.
CHEFOO, December 29.-The japanese
line at Port Arthur is now, as a result of
the general attack, beginning December %,
much closer to Liaotie mountain.
Chinese who left Port Arthur Yesterday
and arrived here today report that great
ly inferior Russian force defended the out
ermost of the trenches for three days re-
tiring when the japanese artillery had Sc
mostly was at a range of two-thirds of a
mile the Japanese fearing mines. The Rus
slams retired to Chingkakao.
Captured Hill.
japanese who arrived at Chefoo today
from Port Dalny say the recent fighting
also resulted in the capture of hill, called
by the Japanese Yangthuban POSSIBLY
keekwan mountain), enabling the japanese
to seriously harass land communication
with the Liaotie forts and with the forts on
Else and Antse mountains. The capture of
Yangthuban hill followed several night at
lacks, during one OF which the japanese be-
came confused, killed each other and re-
tired when the mistake was discovered by
the appearance of the moon.
The Japanese here further report that
severe fighting has occurred on the north
east flank, particularly at Rihlung noun
tain where. when the Japanese left Port
Dalny, the Japanese forces had made some
progress. Details of this fighting have not
yet reached Chefoo.
Steamers Run Blockade.
Two steamers recently ran the blockade
of Port Arthur. One of them was cap
tured by the japanese when emerging from
the harbor.
Chingkakao fort, referred to in the dis
patch from Chefoo as the place to which
the Russians retired on leaving the Lao
tie trenches, is possibly Chingtao, or Ching
tau fort, near the southern extremity of
the Tigers Tail peninsula.
Russian Officers Identified.
SHANGHAI. December 29-Private ad-
vices received here from Sasebo say that
the captain and lieutenant of the Russian
torpedo boat destroyer Rastoropny, blown
up at Chefoo November 16 after escaping
from Port Arthur, have been identified as
being on board the British steamer Nigre-
tia. seized by the japanese protected
cruiser Tsushma off Ulsan, Korea, Decem-
Der 10 and brought to Sasebo.
Port Arthur Casualties.
TOKYO, December 29.-Army headquar-
tiers today published a list of casualties,
presumably at Port Arthur, showing that
1"rty-nine officers. from the rank of colonel
downward. were killed. and that fifty-eight
from colonel downward We're wounded.