Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-03-09
kURoPATkIN pEvoTlNG HIS EN-
ERGlEs TO WITHDRAWAL OF
HIS ARMY.
GIVES PEOPLE VOICE IN LAWS
CAR SIGNS REscRlPT GIVING
THEM OPPORTUNITY TO
EXPRESS VIEWS.

Gen. Kuroki's Headquarters, March
5.-The battle is progressing favorably
to the Japanese; although snow
storm is swirling over the hilltops.
The gunners get glimpses of their tar
gets only when the clouds lift few
moments.
The Japanese made great gains by
night advances against the Russian
position on the extreme left and they
occupy a part of the first line of the
triple line of defenses in the hills be-
You'd the Shakhe.
The Japanese right forces, pushing
forward under cover of the night,
gained Ofurei and Taxa mountain, sur
prising the Russians and meeting with
but little opposition. At Ofurei the
Japanese found trenches encircling
the hill. They attacked from three
sides and entrapped the Russians,
capturing sixty. These were partly
dressed in Chinese clothes and looked
as though they had been leading a
hard life
The Japanese forces directly west of
Waitao mountain took advanced posi-
lions close to the river during the
night. The Russians made feeble and
Intellectual Attacks
on the villages near the river. A ire
mendous bombardment is being made
westward.
Great clouds of smoke are ascending
near the Wanpaosan hills, where the
Japanese fire is directed. The cannon
aiding about Waitao mountain was sus-
pended this morning. The Japanese
right is Smelling the Russian works on
the higher hills and at noon the bat
teries near Waitao mountain resumed
work, cooperating with them
On Tuesday sixty Russian guns were
working. Opposite Waitao mountain
yesterday there were only thirty. The
Japanese casualties in the right army
have been very few compared with the
results gained. Those regiments
camping in the open ground or making
night attacks muff1ed in heavy clothes
are put to the hardest tests that sol.
diers could endure.
Million Men involved.
st. Petersburg, March 5.-Accord-
ing to the latest information from the
front the battle is now general and of
the most desperate character.
Nearly million men are involved.
Losses have been exceedingly heavy
9n both sides during the preliminary
fighting.
Although it is not officially admitted,
1t is regarded as certain that Gen. Ku-
ropatkin is directing all his efforts to
the withdrawal of his army to Tie
pass.
1t is now practically rear guard
action, but the task Of extricating him
self is proving very difficult.
The Japanese have not only driven
in his left, but column is already re-
ported to have crossed the Hun river
east of Fu-shun.
At the same time the Japanese are
pressing the Russian center, under
cover of the fire of their siege guns,
and Gen. Kuropatl1in is generally re-
firing before the Japanese advance.
The efforts of the Japanese to en-
velop the Russian right wing have
been unsuccessful, but it has been
forced back almost on line with
Mukden.
Russians Too Late.
The Russian divisions were dis
patched to head off the wide fianking
column advancing from the Lao river
toward Sin-min-tin, about thirty miles
west Of Mukden, but according to the
latest advices they were too late, the
Japanese having entered the town yes.
terday.
No official figures regarding the
losses are obtainable, but according to
unofficial reports the Russian losses
up to last night were nearly seven
| thousand men.
Taken at Point Of 5ayonet.
Gen. Oku's Headquarters, March 5.
AT dawn to-day the Japanese occu-
pied Chantan after a, desperate fight
with bayonets. AT 10 o'clock last
evening the Japanese penetrated the
Russian lines on the Likaka river, op.
posite Chantan, and at 2 o'clock this
morning they occupied neighboring
villages. A detachment took Petal
tsze, seven miles east Of Chantan, be-
fore daybreak, and the left wing occu-
pied Wuaputsz, on the Nengio river
northeast Of Chantan. Altogether, the
Japanese have occupied nine miles Of
the Russians right position. 81 Fl
Gives People a Voice.
st. Petersburg, March 5. IN the
Alexandra palace at Tzarskoe Selo,
surrounded be his ministers and few
members Of the court and the empress
sat his side. Emperor Nicholas yester-
day afternoon affixed his signature TO
arescript containing his majecty's de.
cree to give elected reeresentatiyesof