Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-10-28
5000 DEFENDING
PORT ARTHUR NOW
Russian Garrison Said to Be
Reduced to a PitifulIy
Small Figure.
PLACE FULL or WOUNDED,
Clothing is Scarce and the Entire Citl
and Harbor Are necessarily Under
the Rain Of the Japanese
Shell Fire.

Chefoo. Oct. 22.-The most ~imrfEtant
recent events at Port Arthur include
the capture by the japanese OF further
minor positions near Rihlung mountain,
and the severe damage of a Japanese
torpedo boat destroyer by striking a
floating mine.
According to Chinese advices. which
reached here today. the Japanese made
assaults on the remaining outer works
of Rihlung mountain at dawn October
8 and were repulsed. The following day
the Russians made an attack on the
Japanese trenches n they in turn
were repuised. The Japanese immedi-
ately followed with another assault, re-
sulting In the capture Of an iron rail-
road bridge WHICH is 500 yards from
the main fortress. The Importance of
these captures lies I'm the fact that they
curtail the Russian fire In harassing
Japanese who may attempt to advance
on the trenches located on the slope
of Rihlung mountain.
Since the capture of the points men
toned the Japanese assert that they
have successfully resisted numerous
sorties in attempts to recapture them.
Only 5000 Russians Left.
1t Is asserted the Russian force at
Port Arthur now number 5000
excluding militia which is not engaged
in fighting but patrols the streets, do
ing provost duty. Winter clothing Is
very scarce at Port Arthur, shoes par
ticularly. The town is full of wound
ed. Flour is plentiful and h slaugh-
ter OF horses. mules and donkeys con-
tinues.
Chinese who have reached Chefoo
from Port Dalny say japanese REIN
forcementS continue to arrive daily.
Japanese confirm this. A junk which
reached this port today from Port
Dalny was allowed to cav only on
condition that she take no coolies,
whom the Japanese are using in large
numbers In constructing warehouses
and removing the lead n wounded.
The wounded are taken to the railroad
and thence transported to Dainy, from
which port they are shipped to Japan.
The Japanese nave practically CON-
pleted immense warehouses between
Port Dalny and Port Arthur a have
therein supplies sufficient to last them
until spring. Similar preparations have
been made at Newchwang.
Russian Boats Go Out.
At 10 in the morning OF October IL
seven Russian torpedoboats and de-
stroyers emerged from the harbor Of
Port Arthur and later they were fol-
lowed by two more destroyers. This
squadron proceeded to Shao Ping Tau
and bombarded the Japanese left flank.
Four japanese torpedoboat d~estroyers
hurried TO the scene and the Russians
retired to the harbor. followed by the
Japanese. One Japanese destroyer
while returning hit a mechanical mine
and was severely damaged. but man
aged to reach Port Dalny.
Meanwhile the Japanese siege guns
continued to drop big shells in the har-
Dor, the Japanese claiming they have
damaged the Russian gunboat Giliak
n another Russian warship. The
Japanese at Taku mountain have
dropped a ceaseIess storm OF shells on
the Chinese town. and many rifle bull
let's also fell In the place. The China
men say the fighting is very severe and
that h Japanese loss was consider
able.