Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1904-05-19
PORT ARTHUR
IS HARASSfD
STIRRING ACTION BELIEVED TO
BE TAKING PLACE IN THAT
VICINITY.
JAPANESE INVEST PoRI DAlNY
TELEGRAPH AND RAILROAD COM.
MUNlcATIoN WITH PORT AR
THUR CUT OFF.

Chefu, May Is. - Stirring action is
believed to be taking place in the vi
entity of Port Arthur.
Rail and telegraphsc communication
again were broken yesterday by the
Japanese, who also. succeeded in in
yesting Port Dalny.
Heavy Fighting Is Near.
St. Petersburg, May 15.-Both tele-
graph and railroad communication
with Port Arthur have been cut of.
The Japanese have reoccupied Pula-
tien, near Port Adams.
The general impression is that
heavy fighting will occur within fort
night Advioes received by the gen
eral staff indicates that the Japanese
are pushing the campaign in Southern
Manchuria with great energy.
Five Miles Of Road Wrecked.
Kobe, May Is. - The line for 1--WE
miles south of Port Adams has been
completely destroyed.
Strong Talk Of Peace.
st. Petersburg, May Is. - On excel
lent authority the statement is made
that there is strong possibility of
peace. What makes the news doubly
interesting is the fact that the war
party has urged the car to end the
struggle. The basis of settlement is
to be the independence of Korea under
the protectorate of Japan and Man
churia to remain Chinese territory.
Dainy Invested.
Toxic, May 15.-According to an Of
fetal statement Japanese squadron
bombarded Dalny yesterday for the
purpost of ascertaining the Russian
strength in that place. The plan sue
ceeded and the Russian attempts to
reply to the Japanese fire speedily was
crushed. The mikado's men have cut
off communication with Dalny on
land.
Every confidence is felt in military
circles here that the Japanese armies
are working in perfect unison, the re-
suit of long practice, to inf1ict a dis
aster on Gen. Kuropatkin's troops at
Liaoyang. In any event, the prospec-
tive battle is regarded as only relative
ly crucial for the Japanese, while it
must prove absolutely crucial for the
Russians in respect Of the immediate
mastery Of Southern Manchuria.
If the Japs Are Beaten
they can fall back under the protection
of their ships and prepare for a fresh
advance. If the Russians are flanked
and beaten they must begin retreat
which their opponents are not likely to
permit to stop short Of Kirin or Har-
bin. This would mean Japanese con-
troll of Manchuria, one Of the first OBJ
jects Of the mikado's policy.
Japs Lose Torpedo Boat.
The Japanese torpedo boat No. AZ
was destroyed yesterday while remov-
ing mines from Kerr bay, north of
Talien-Wan (Port Dalny.) Seven men
were killed and seven were wounded,
This is the first warship Japan has
lost in the war.
The torpedo boat was lost during a
series of bonn bardments and surveying
operations at Talien-Wan, Deep and
Kerr bays, by Admiral Kataoka, com
mander Of the third squadron The ad.
miral arrived at Kerr bay early in the
morning and detached the cruisers
itsukushima, Nisshin and Miyako, or
dering them to lombard the land bat
teries. while q aotilla of torpedo
boats
$500 CNuan$ Aha Larhar I'D Fl
for mines. A second fotilla Of torpedo
boats, which has been engaged in
guarding Port arthur, Joined the
squadron and began the work Of sur
veying the harbor.
Torpedo boats No 4S and 40 discov.
ereG large mechanical mine in Kerr
bay Their various attempts to blow it
up failed, and it suddenly exploded OF
itself, cutting No. 48 in two. The tor
pedo boat sank In seven minutes. The
squadron hurried to the rescue and
picked up the wounded. Three Other
mines were discovered and exploded.
The squadron completed its operations
at s o'clock in the evening and re-
turned to Its base. q
Japs Occupy Anjeng.
Shanghai, May 15. The Japanese
are still advancing rapioly to the
northward Their first army has occu.
pied Anjang, on the road to Liao-yang
More Japanese troops are being landed
at Kinchow bay. The third army may
land at Kaiping IN order to cooperate
!. ]. !. u = 3, J.
MANIA FOR TtilEviNG.