Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-01-05
INNER CIRCLE OF PORT ARTHUR
FORTS is NOW CUT IN
THREE PIECES.
BECOME THE PREY OF TOGO
JAPANESE BELIEVE THAT is THE
FATE IN STORE FOR BALTIC
SQUADRON.

Headquarters of the Japanese Army
Before Port Arthur, via Fusan, Dec.
31.-Rihlung fort was captured at 3
o'clock yesterday morning, with
thousand Japanese casualties. Seven
dynamite mines exploded at 10 O'Clock
and made breaches in the fort wall
through which a large body Of Japan
ese troops charged under cover of
tremendous bombardment and cap
tured the first line of ?lig..t guns.
bitter fight resulted in the capture OF
the fort. The garrison, numbering 500
men, escaped.
Breach in Fortficaton.
Rihlung fort, situated on Rihlung
formed part of the inner
circle of the chain of forts defending
Port Arthur. Rihlung is situated two
miles from the outskirts of the town
of Port Arthur, from which it bears
due northeast. The fort is mile and
half southeast of Keekwan fort, re-
Gently captured by the Japanese.
The possession of these two forts
should make a most important breach
in the Notifications of Port Arthur and
cut off communication between the
Golden Hill forts and the forts of the
western section of the inner fortifica-
tioons.
Outside of the capture of 203-Meter
hill, on the eastern section of forts
little is known of the exact positions
occupied by the Japanese, but it would
seem from the material available that
the inner circle of forts is now
Cut In Three Pieces
and that 2U3- Meter hill prohibits com
munication with the Liaotie section of
forts, just as the possession of Rib
lung and Keekwan forts cuts off com
munication with the Golden hill forts,
except by the many underground
ways which are said to exist in vari-
GUS parts of the fortress.
From Rihlung mountain, which is
nearly opposite 203-Meter hill, it would
appear that the Japanese fire will be
able to reach anything in the inner
Iharbor and town which the Japanese
Iheavy guns of 203 Meter hill are un-
able to hit, thus making it apparently
impossible for the Russian second Pa
cific squadron to make any use Of Port
Arthur, even should the Japanese
content themselves with holding the
strong positions they now occupy.
Prey for Togo's Ships.
Toxic, Dec. 31.-As the Baltic fleet
nears its rendezvous the Japanese
newspapers indicate the belief of the
nation that the Russian squadron is
destined to become the prey of Togo
ships. 8s5| s
laps Watch for Them.
| Batavia, Island Of Java, Dec. 81. mt
| Some warships showing the Japanese
Ecolors passed Aniar, sixty miles west
OF here. YESTERDAY.
Fall Into laps Hands.
Shanghai, Dec. 81 Private advices
received here from sassabo say that
i the captain and lieutenant Of the Rus
sian torpedo boat destroyer Rasto
|rophny, blown up at Chefu on Nov. 16,
after escaping from Port rs thur, have
Ibeen identified as being on board the
sIBritish steamer Nigretia, seized by
1.-THE Japanese prot ected cruiser Tsu
4 shima on Uslan, Korea, Dec 19, and
4 brought ito Sasebo. rs
Russians Keep Up Fire.
Gen. Oku's adquarters, via Fusan
dec. change has taken place
q at the front Of the second army. The
Russians continue d daily boombard
ment, firing at random, and resulting
Il Ian few casualties.
The japanese soldiers pick up fit
sIteen.cent iHeter Sd eH cases and with
them make charcoal burners to heai
1.-The bomb proofs. Occasional coils
4 Ions take place between patrols. thu
Russians always retiring Both side.
seem satisfied To remain III TIT
b trenches.
BE- Lieut.. Gen. Sir william Nicholson
stdirector general of military intelli
lgence 81 the British war once, Nh,
Twas attached ~ The Japanese army
tleftE here yesterday on his way to eng
Hand.
vi