Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-12-31
Capture of Rihlung Mountain Fort
at PORT Arthur Is Very
important.
COMMAND OF TOWN COMPLETE
Only Mile and Half from the Har-
Dor Itself.
Costs Nogi 1000 Men to Drive the
Russians Out Charge Preceded
by Blast That Brooches
the Walls.

London, Dec. 3O.-The capture of
the Rihlung fort before Port Arthur,
announced in dispatches yesterday, is
the elimination of months OF sapping
and mining by the interchangeable Japs
and is truly notable feat, as we'll as
advance in the direction aimed at -
the fall of Port Arthur. Details re-
ceived show that the work was largely
done with dynamite, seven mines hav-
ing been simultaneously exploded un-
der the walls of the fort, making
breeches through which the Japanese
charged and occupied the position. The
loss of the Japs it put at 1000 men,
and Toxic dispatch says that list
of casualties is published there, show
in gthat forty-nine olcers from the
rank of colonel downward, were killed
and that fifty-eight from colonel, down
ward, were wounded, presumably in
the capture of the fort.
Russian Garrison Gets Away.
The detailed report says that the
garrison of 500 escaped, but as there
was bitter fight when the Japs
charged through the breeches, it is
probable that it should read that 500
of the garrison escaped, as in bitter
fight in which the Japanese lost 1000
men it is not likely that the Russian
loss was a great deal less, especially
when the Japs We're the victors. While
the Japs made their charge, and be-
fore they entered the breechs til Rus
sian fire was kept down by a tremen
dous bombardment of the position.
During the bombardment the Japs
captured the Russian first line of light
guns.
Part of the Inner Circle of Dorts.
Rihlung fort, situated on Rihlung
mountain, ferns part of the inner cir
Gle of the chain of forts defending Port
Arthur Rihlung is situated about two
miles from the outskirts of the town
of Port Arthur, from which it bears
due northeast. The fort just captured
is a mile and half southeast of
Keekwan fort recently captured by
the Japanese. The possession of these
two forts should make most impor-
tant breach in the Notifications of
Port Arthur, and cut off cOmmunica-
ton between the Golden Hill forts and
the forts of the western section of the
inner circle of Notifications.
Now Cut in Three Places.
Outside of the capture of 203-Metel
hill. on the western section of forts, lit
cupied by the Japanese; but it would
seem from the material available that
the inner circle of forts Is now cut i'll
three pieces. and that 2O3-Meter Hill
prohibits communications with the Lao
tie section forts, just as possession OF
the Rih'ung and Keekwan forts cuts
off communication which the Golden
Hill forts. except by the many under
ground ways which are said to exist
in various parts of the fortress.
Harbor and Town Untenable.
From Rihlung mountain. which is
nearly opposite 2O3- Meter hill, it would
appear that the Japanese fire will be
able to reach anything IN the harhol
and town which the Japanese heavy
guns on 203- Meter hin are unable to
hit, thus making it apparently impOs-
sible for the Russian second Pacific
squadron to make any use of Port
Arthur, even should the japanese con-
tent themselves with holding the strong