Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1904-12-30
CAPTURE OF
R|HLUNG HILL
Last Achievement of Japanese
Was a Brilliant
Exploit.
MORE MINES ARE EXPLODED
Dynamite Makes Breaches IN Wall Of
Fort -- Capture 10 Regarded as
Making an important Breach IN
Defenses Of Port Arthur.

Toxic, Dec. 30.--After months of
fighting, sapping and mining the JAP
anese forces finally occupied Rihlung
mountain Wednesday night (Decem.
Der 2S.)
A report from the headquarters of
the Third Japanese army before Port
Arthur, received here ON Wednesday,
December %, at midnight, says:
ION Wednesday, December %, at
10 o'clock in the morning. the left cen.
ter column Of our army, following
some heavy explosions on the frontal
! parapet Of Rihlung mountain, charged
and occupied the pararet under cover
of fire from heavy guns and con-
structed defense works despite the
enemy's fierce ire.
"At o'clock in the afternoon when
our occupation was practically as.
sured, we charged and occupied the
inner lines of heavy gun positions.
subsequently dislodging a remnant of
/ the enemy's force stubbornly holding
the gorge fort, which We occupied.
and captured the entire works."
The Japanese line at Port Arthur is
now. as result of the general attack
beginning December IS, much closer
to Liaotie mountain. Chinese who
left Port Arthur yesterday and ar
rived here today report that greatly
inferior Russian force defended the
outermOst of the trenches for three
days, retiring when the Japanese ar
| tillery had secured an enfilidating pc.
sition. The fighting mostly was at a
| range of two-thirds of mile, the
Japanese fearing mines. The Rus
slams retired to Chingkakao.
Japanese who arrived at Chefoo to-
day from Port Dalny say the recent
fighting also resulted in the capture
OF hill called by the Japanese Yang
thban (possibly Keekwan mountain)
enabling the Japanese to seriously
harass land communication with the
Laitoie forts and with the forts at
Else and Antse mountains. The cap.
ture of Yangthban Hill followed sew
eral night attacks during which each
Japanese became confused, KILLED each
| other and retired when the mistake
was discovered by the appearance OF
the moon.
The Japanese here further report
that severe fighting has occurred on
the northeast flank, particularly at
Rihlung mountain, where, when the
Japanese left Port Dalny, the Japan.
csc forces had made some progress.
Details of this fighting have not yet
reached Chefoo.
Two steamers recently ran the
blockade of Port Arthur. One OF
them was captured by the Japanese
when emerging from the harbor.
TOXIC, Dec. 30.-The Japanese cap
tured forty-three guns when Rihlung
fort was taken. 49,. s......'-
Toxic, Dec. 30.-The headquarters
of the army besieging Port Arthur tel
egraphs that on the night of December
70, after the occupation Of Rihlung
fort small body of Russians still Of
fered resistance in the passage be.
tween the siege gun line and the
gorge.
At 3 O'clock In the morning they
were dislodged entirely. and the oc.
curation of the fort became secure.
According to the statement of three
passers, the defenders of Fort Rihlung
numbered about 500, besides some
sailors. A majority of the defenders
were killed.
The trophies captured with Fort
Rihlung include four large calibre
guns, seven small calibre guns, thirty
-mi]imeter guns, two machine
guns and much property.
Headquarters OF the Japanese army
before Port Arthur-(via Fusan) ;,
Dec. 30.-Rihlung fort was captured
at 3 O'Clock yesterday morning with
thousand Japanese casualties. Seven
dynamite mines exploded at 10
O'Clock yesterday morning made
breaches in the front wall. through
which large body of Japanese troops
charged, under cover of tremendous
hombardment, and captured the first
line of light guns. A bitter fight re-
! suited in the capture of the fort The
garrison numbering 500 men, escaped.
Rihlung Fort, Dec. 30.-The Riil-
! lung mountain formed an inner chain
! in the Port Arthur defenses. The fort
just captured Is mile and a half
, southeast Of Kekwan fort, recently
/ CAPTURED by the Japanese. The pos
( session of these two forts should
make most important breach I'm the
I Russian lines and cut off communica-
| ton with Golden Hill fort Outside
of the capture of 203 Meter hill, on
the western section Of the forts. little
| is known of the positions occupied by
the Japanese, but it would seem that
/ the inner circle Of forts is now cut in
three pieces and that 203 Meter hill
! prohibits communication with the
Liaotang section. just as the possess
! sion of Kekwan fort cuts off commune.
cation with the Golden Hill forts, ex.
cept b. the underground ways said to
exist in various parts of the fortress.
| rLlEE nE pNlIrE ExNAcoA-cr