The herald., 1894-12-20

fa1led 10 use them. just as the front
rank of Ha<sagaws's brigade was closing
in upon Shoju. Japanese shell ex plod-
ed inside the northern fort, and with q
groan and shock that stopped the battle
for a moment, the shell struck the
heavy guns which were piled upon the
floor and blew up.
The garrison scrambled out over the
hill tops ano Hasssgawa's men came
swooping around tho rough mountain
to find the fort a mass OF tlsmes. That
ended all hope of defending the seven
forts. The Chinese fed along the ridges
and down the valley roads. HassaGawa's
troops were in possession of Shoju and
Nero hills. In order to take the town.
the troops had to Cross the bridge
or wade in the river, but
on the other side was a
on either side CT the road were rife pits
filled with Chinese infantry. On the
hill to the right OF the road was a bat
terry of three field guns manned by
the only good gunners on the Chinese
side. Every time the Japanese At
tempted to move out OF the cover of
the camp. the Chinese riflemen swept
the parade ground with continuous
volleys.
Torpedo boats were going through the
waves and sinking junks loaded with
men, women and children endeavoring
to escape. The water was filled with
drowning people,. The massacre had
begun as the last OF the troops moved
from behind the walls OF the camp and
under shelter of the eastern wall of the
drilling grounds. Then they opened
fire on the Chinese pits guarding the
entrance to Port Arthur. sending
vollsy upon volley across the stream
against the rifle pits. For Is minutes
the three skirmish lines kept up fire,
and the plucky Chinese were driven
from the position. Finally a small col
umn, covered by the Bkirmishers, ad-
vanced acroes the bridge and marched
along the road leading to the town.
At the same time Marshal Oya.
ma ordered the reserve center to
move down the vslley and thousands of
them came pouring along the road be.
hind the troops already on their way to
the town.
Not shot WAS fred in reply; the
battle was over as far as Port Arthur
was concerned. Even Oguusan was
silent and deserted. The soldiers had
made their escape and the frightened
inhabitants were covering in the streets.
Away to the right could be heard the
sound of Noghi's flying column, trying
to force it's way across the neck of the
little peninsula where a small force of
Chinese had made a stand and were de-
Tending the way to the three forts.
ON THE WATER.
Stretched in line parallel with the
coast, in front OF the harbor, were eight
or nine Japanese warships and the
peninsula forts were Smelling them
clumsily and without effect.
THE TOWN SACKED.
AS the troops moved on they saw the
heads OF their slain comrades hanging
by cords. with the noses and ears gone.
There was rude arch in the main
street decorated with bloody Japanese
heads. A slaughter followed. The in
furiated soldiers killed every one they
saw. No attempt to take prisoners was
made. Women and children were
hunted and shot se they aed to the
hills with their protectors.
The town was sacked from end to end
and the inhabitants butchered in their
homes. The van OF the second regi.
ment reached Fort Ogunsan and found
it deserted. Then they discovered q
junk in the harbor crowded with iugi-
tives. A platoon was stretched across
the end OF the wharf and fred into
the boat until every woman, man and
child WAS killed. The torpedo boats
outside had already sunk the junka
filled with terror-stricken people.
am satisfied that not more than 100
Cinnamon were killed in fsir battle at
Port Arthur, and that at least 1000 un-
armed men were put to death.
JAMES CREELMAN.