The San Francisco call., 1904-12-30

TOXIC. Dec. SO. - The japanese
captured forty-three guns when the
Rihlung fort was taken.
The headquarters OF the army be-
sieging Port Arthur telegraph that on
the night OF December 2S. after the oc-
cupstion OF Rihlung fort, a small body
q Russians still offered resistance in
tAe passage between the siege gun line
and the gorge A. 3 o'clock in the
morning they were dislodged entirely
and the occupation OF the fort became
secure
According 70 the statement OF three
prisoners. the defenders Of Fort Rih-
lung numbered about 500 soldiers. be-
sides some sailors. A majority OF the
defenders were killed
The trophies captured with Fort Hdh-
lung include four large caliber guns,
seven small calibsr guns. thirty-seVen
milmeter. guns. two machine guns anu
much property as yet unenumerateo-
. ONE THOUSA KILLED.
HFADOUARTERS OF THE JAP
ANFSE ARMY BEFORE PORT AR
THUR. Dec 2s.-Rihlung fort was
captured at o'clock this morning,
with 1000 japanese casualties. Seven
dynamite mines exploded at 10 o'clock
yesterday made breaches in the front
vail through which a large body OF
japanese charged under cover Of tre-
mendous bombardment and captured
The first line OF light guns. A bitter
. fight resulted in the capture Of the fort
The garrison, numbering 800 men, es-
capped.
TOXIC. Dec. 2e.-After' months Of
fighting. sapping and mining, the Jap
snese forces finally occupied Rihlung
Mountain early this morning.
A. report from headquarters Of the
Third japanese army before Port Ar
thur received here yesterday at mid
night said:
-Oa Wednesday. December 2s. at 10
o'clock IN the morning, the left center
column q our army, following some
heavy explosions on the frontal parapet
of Rihlung Mountain. charged and oc-
cupied the parapet under cover Of fire
from heavy guns. and constructed de-
fense works, despite the enemy'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
disl0dg gfng d remnant OF the enemy's
force stubbornly holding the gorge fort,
which we occupied. and captured the
entire works"
= MANY OFFICERS KILLED.
Imperial headquarters to-day pub
.lished q list Of casualties. presumably
at Port Arthur. which includes forty
nine officers. from colonel downward,
killed. and ffty-eight officers, from col
onel downward. wounded.
CEEFU, Dec. 2S.-The japanese line
al Port Arthur is now. as a result Of
the general attack which was begun on
December .. much closer to Liaoti
Mountain. Chinese who left Port Ar
thur Yesterday and arrived here to-day
report that z greatly inferior Russian
force defended the outermost OF the
trenches for three days. retiring when
the japanese artillery had gained an
enhlading position. The fighting mostly
was at e range Of two-thirds OF a mile
the japanese fearing mines. The Rus
SLAMS retired 10 Chingkakao.
japanese who arrived at Chefu to-
day from Port Dalny say the recent
fghtiEg also resulted in the capture Of
q hill called by the japanese Yangthu-
ban possibly Keekwan M0untain). en-
abling the japanese 10 seriously harass
land communicated with the Liaoti
forts and with the forts on Etze and
Antze mountains The capture OF Yang
thuban Hill followed several night at