The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-12-01
REMARKABLE VICTORY.
The Capture Of Port Arthur by
the Japanese.
CONSIDERED cH1NA's GIBRALTAR

CONSIDERED cHINAs GIBRALTAR
N VIII Rank in History with the sisses
Of NETS, sebsstopol and Paris, and VIII
No Doubt Result In China's Suing for
Peaoe--wei-hai-wci Comes Nsxt--An-
other chinese Cruiser Disabled.
WASHINGTON, Nov. e6.--Confrmatlon
Of the report Of the capture Of Port Ar
thur came almost simultaneously to the
state and navy departments--to the for
mer from United States Minister Denby
at Picking and to the latter from Admiral
Carpenter, on board the United States
steamer Baltimore at Chefu, the admiral
at the same time notifying the navy de-
partment that the Baltimore was abont
to sail Immediately for Port Arthur,
where she doubtless has arrived by this
time.
A Remarkable Victory.
The victory Of the Japanese Is remark
able, and the reduction Of the fortress
will stand a shining example Of the mag
niacent military strategy Of the Jap
anese commanders. It is the opinion Of
Of military experts that Japan's attack
on Port Arthur was most perilous
venture on their part. They could not
afford to sustain any considerable defeat,
for the result would have been in the
first place to determine the Chinese 10
pursue the war, and in the second place
to retard the Japanese government In It's
effort to float a new war loan. By the
victory of Port Arthur the success Of the
latter is now assured.
Peace Expected Now.
As to the effect Of this last campaign
Of the war, there is but one opinion
here, and that is that the speedy restora.
ton Of peace is almost certain. It is
true that China still possesses the splen.
did Notifications at Wei-hai-wei, said to
be as strong, or even stronger than Port
Arthur, and that the shore defenses
there are strengthened by the presence
Of the Chinese fleet. But with Port Ar
thur as a base, the Japanese now have
the practical control Of the Gulf Of Pc
chill, and they can effectually seal up
the water approaches to TieniTsin and
Peking, the capital, without being un-
der the necessity of attacking the for
midable Taku forts at the mouth Of the
river.
Delay IL Costly.
Moreover with the Chinese feet prac-
tically bottled up at Wei-hai-wei the Jap.
anese are in position to detach por.
ton of their own navy to attack other
Chinese coast cities and work enormous
damage. So it would seem to be mad
ness for the Chinese to persist in the war,
realizing that for every days delay they
must add to the great indemnity which
they will be obliged to pay to Japan, and
it is believed here that very soon the
Chinese will sue for peace, through the
mediation, directly or indirectly, Of
Will Go Down IN History.
The fall of Port Arthur, being mill
tary lnaneuver, will be officially con-
firmed by the Japanese government to
Lieutenant Miyoaka, naval attache Of
the japanese legation at Washington,
rather than to Minister Kurino, whose
offices are of o diplomatic character.
Lieutenant Miyoaka has not yet heard
from the officials, but the confirmation
is SO abundant from other sources that
he expects that official government an
nouncement will be received at any
time.
"It is an achievement of greater rela-
tive Importance than the battles Of Ping
Yang or Yalu," said he to reporter,
"and 1t will rank historically with the
siege Of Metz, Sebastopol or Paris. For
six years China has been making Port
Arthur impregnable under the direction
of General Hannekin, and naval author
tiles believed they had succeeded. Its
loss to China is really secondary to its
gain by Japan.
Hraat
"The water basin will afford the Jap
anese navy a perfect harbor, protected
by the great guns of the arsenal. The
commodate tho largest Chinese warships,
and is therefore capable Of docking the
largest Japanese cruisers. The town
has extensive barracks and quarters in
which the Japanese land forces can be
comfortably housed for the winter.
Thus intrenched inside the Chinese terri
tory the Japanese navy can maneuver
from Port Arthur, which commands a
sweep Of the Gulf of Pe-chi-l, and is
within easy striking distance Of all other
upper Chinese ports.
An Ingenious Attack.
sThe reports show the ingenious plan
of attack. The Japanese torpedo boats
kept mp a noisy demonstration on the
water ode, thus keeping the sea batteries
Of the arsenal busy. While thus dis
tracted the land side Of tho arsenal was
left exposed to simultaneous attack on
all sides. The comparative briefness Of
the attack - from Tuesday noon to
Wednesday night, or SO hours-is q re-
markable feature Of the capture"
WELL, WELL, WELL.
Tho Chinese Claim tho Jsps Have Not
Captured Port Arthur.
LONDON, Nov. s8.-A dispatch received
here yesterday from Shanghai states
that Chinese officials are telegraphing
notices broadcast saying that the reports
Of the downfall Of Port Arthur are
false. The place, they say, Is defended
by 1000 brave soldiers.
wsi-hai-wei Comes Next.
YoLoHAMA, Nov. 28.-The third ia.
panese army, which left Japan on Nov.
30, Is supposed to have been sent to at
tack Wei-hai-wei, where portion Of the
Chinese navy remains. The dispatch
adds that the place will be easily cap
tured as tho Chinese soldiers, who were
encamped for its defense at Chila, are
deserting in thousands. The whole place
is said to be in state Of utter collapse