Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-01-12
LATE BEslEGERs OF PORT AR
THUR WILL JOIN ARMY AT
LiAo-YANG.
RUSSIA ALSO DETERMINED
WHEN PROSPECT BRlGHTENs IT
is TO ROOSEVELT NEUTRALs
WILL LOOK.

Washington. Jan. s. = Japan has
made no overtures for peace to Rus
STA, directly or indirectly, through the
United States or any other power and
contemplates no such action, and, now
| that Port Arthur has fallen, proposes
to press the war in the North all the
more vigorously by reinforcing the
Japanese armies at Liao-yang with the
greater part of the troops which have
been besieging Port Arthur.
This in brief represents the views
of Kogoro Takahira, the Japanese min
| lister, who has recently resumed
charge of the legation at Washington
after long illness at New York.
Fortress Fall an Incident.
"The fall of Port Arthur" said the
minister, sis but a step in the war
J which Japan is waging for principle
Certainly it is an important step, but
| nothing could be further from the
truth than the assumption that be-
cause Japan has captured a strong
hold, the fall of which has long been
expected, the Japanese government
will now make overtures for peace.
Japan is too busy fighting. We are
as much in earnest to-day as we were
at the outset of the war. We have
made no overtures for peace, either di-
rectly or indirectly, nor have the pow
ers approached us with any idea of in
PREVENTION"
Slavs Equally Determined.
r.
Grated that Russia would fight all the
harder ip view of the temporary loss
of Port Arthur.
Europe, it is learned, is firmly of
the conviction that. however dark the
outlook for peace at this moment
when the prospect brightens it is to
President Roosevelt that the neutrals
as well as the belligerents will look as
the intermediary through whom peace
negotiations will be initiated.
Bombardment Is Heavy.
Gen. Oku's Headquarters, via Fusan
Gan. 8. During the last three days
the Russian bombardment has been
the heaviest in six weeks. For two
days following the fall Of Port Arthur
hardly shot was fired. Since then
many heavy guns have been brought
into use, and there has been firing al
most constantly. The front is un.
changed, and there is no Indication
Of a movement being made in the near
future. The Japanese are using their
searchlights in the great rejoicing and
nightly celebrations of the fall of Port
Arthur.
Sends Ten Torpedo Boats.
New York, Jan. s. - 1t is believed
among shipping men that sections OF
nine torpedo boats, built by Lewis
Nixon, were placed on board freight
steamer somewhere in New York har-
Dor or bay yesterday to be shipped to
a Russian port. The sections were
lee eed n.s g.. T 81 I'll sn1Doy
N. j., Thursday, and towed down the
harbor, where all trace Of them was
lost. Mr.. Nixon Is silent as to their
destination. The Gregory, another
craft built by Mr.. Nixon, has not
been reported since she sailed from
this port Thursday. It was intimated
yesterday that she may have been
loaded bodily on the deck OF q trans.
atlantic steamer.
Celebrate and Wage War.
Mukden, Jan. The Japanese eel
ebrated the incoming of the New
Year on Jan. 2, and the sounds OF
music could be plainly heard inside
the Russian lines wherever the posi-
tiOns Of the two armies were close
According to the Japanese custom an
immense number Of kites and paper
balloons were sent up. Some of the
latter. seven feet in diameter, which
fell inside the Russian lines, bore the
Inscription in Russian. 6 Happy New
Year. -. iSs 81 5f4s
The Japanese tried to combine bust
ness with pleasure, and while the fes.
tivities were In progress an attack was
made upon the village OF Voito, in
front OF one OF their positions. The
Russians replied with artillery on the
right and center and prevented the
/ Japanese from
Occupying That Village.
The same nigh a party OF Siberian
volunteers surrounded the village oil
SinIountoun. which the Japanese had
been using as q signal station. While
one column made a demonstration on
the left front three Others. under com.
mand Of Capt. Toviansky, rushed the
rear Of the village without firing, and
caught the Japanese Unexpectedly
driving them from the village. Subse.
Quently the JAPANESE ODened 1 iheavy