Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1904-05-12
WITH HIS STAFF HE NARROWLY
ESCAPES CAPTURE BY
JAPANESE.
RUSSIANS ARE HARD PRESSED
DRIVEN BACK IN CONFUSION BY
THE VICTORIOUS JAP
ANEsE.

Niuchwang, May s--Viceroy Alexieff
and his staff narrowly escaped capture
by the Japanese.
Their special train passed north yes
terday. 1t was the last train out of
Port Arthur, which now is cut off
from rail. telegraph and sea commune
cation.
Alexieff's train was fired upon by
the Japanese infantry, but no one on
board was injured, although there were
some narrow escapes.
Immediately after the train passed
| road and cut the wires.
Japanese troops we're landed on
each side Of the Liaotung peninsula
Thursday and yesterday, and the siege
of Port Arthur has practically begun.
| A dispatch from Mukden says that
| Alexieff has reached there safely.
| Port Arthur Cut Off.
st. Petersburg, May S.--A dispatch
received last night says that Port Ar
thur is cut off from all communication
by land, the Japanese having disem.
barked in it's rear, occupied the rail-
road and cut the telegraph. Vice Ad
miral Skrydloff, who is en- route to
| Port Arthur to take command of the
| naval forces in the Far East. will be
unable to reach his destination.
Russians Hear Rumors.
ST. Petersburg, May 8.-The receipt
of official dispatches announcing the
investment of Port Arthur has pro-
duded a deep feeling of gloom, and the
air is full of rumors. One is that the
Japanese have captured Port Arthur
and another that a big battle has been
fought at Freng Wang Cheng. in which
the Japanese were defeated, but that
Gen. Kuropatkin was wounded. Both
oof these rumors are secuted in re,
sponsible quarters, but the receipt of
news at any time of decisive battle
near Feng Wang Cheng will not cause
surprise here.
Russians Hard Pressed.
Toxic, May 8.-A brisk engagement
between the advance guard of Gen.
Kuroki's army and a large body of
Russian cavalry took place yesterday
about fifteen miles east of Feng Wang
Cheng The Russians were driven to
their base in confusion According to
latest accounts the victorious Japs
under Kuroki are pressing hard on
Feng Wang Cheng, and If the Russians
elect to make stand, another san
culinary battle is imminent.
Thousand Jap Casualties.
London, May 8. The Post cores
pondent with the Japanese army tele-
graphs:
in the battle at the Yalu on Satur-
day and Sunday the Japanese had
thousand casualties. Many Russian
prisoners are held at Antung. The at
titude of the Aanchurians and Chinese
toward the anvance of the Japanese
forces is one of welcome Gen.
zassalitch Eas seriously wounded in
the engagement. The victorious Jap
anese advance continues"
| Correspondents Killed.
| st. Petersburg, May S.-The absence
OF press messages giving details of the
battle on the Yalu last Sunday is par
italy explained by the heavy mortal
ity among the newspaper correspond
ents with the Russian. The Noyosti is
believed to have lost three of its men
in the battle and the Russ lost one.
The other papers are telegraphing to
learn the fate OF their correspondents.
Russians Are stoicai.
st. Petersburg. May 8. Japanese
troops swarming across the narrow
neck of the Lao Tung peninsula, the;
railroad and telegraph communica-
lions cut and the Russian Gibraltar
isolated and left to its own resources
all this the Russians seem to accept
with great stoicism.
These events have been anticipated
since the outbreak OF the war and the
authorit titles, In 9 sense, appear to be re-
lieved now that the blow has fallen
They assert that the fortress Il i'm.
lpregnable and amply proyisioned to
stand q siege for q year, and that it
can hold out until the time comes to
relieve IL fF
According to official information the
landing OF troops from sixty transports
Began simultaneously
at Pitsewo and Cape Terminal on the.
morning OF May 5. It Is also reported
that troops are being landed ut Kim
chow but this Il not credited. as the.
Russians are known to have fortinca-
ltions there, and II ii not believed that
1.-THE Japanese had the daring to land
Immediately under an intrenched po-
fsttion from which the Russians could
linhict severe Injury on them.
Complete details Of the landing ares
lacking owing 70 the interruption 81
lscommunic lion. No resistance Was
made the few e,ossacks vho obserysd
the Increment tiring when the II