The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-12-20

of Ogunsan and the Chinese field bat
teries turned fire against ms, for Isu-
yama was there, and Cnce it fell, the
whole left flank of the Chinese wonlc
be exposed The taking of Isuyama was
the signal for Hassagawa to attack the
forts on the right wing.
AS the batteries splintered the hill
sides and sent clouds Of earth up out
of the ploughed ground, the infantry
linekneeling at the base af the slope In
front of Isuyama opened fire and Kept
up steady volleyS ten or twelve minutes
Suddenly the men stood up and ad-
vanced in the teeth of the guns, firing
continuously as they marched, On, on,
pressed the slender black line. Then the
battalion in the ravine moved forward
on the right to attack the side OF the
first fort.
A n ACRE OF SHELLS.
AS the line reached the steep of the
scarp in front Of the walls ii suddenly
swung arounde andjoined the column
on the right and the united battalions
rushed up the steep bank towards the
side wall while the Chinese shell tore
gaps in their ranks.
By this time mountain battery had
been hauled up dizzy ridge where
Yamaji stood and five minutes after
wards these guns were in position.
We were dropping shells inside or the
IISI L. w IlI d MS li4C
japanese dashed to the fort and sealed
the ramparts. shooting and bayonett-
ing the flying garrison and chasing the
enemy along the connecting walls. A
cheer went up from the hills and val
leys as the victorious troops pushed on
to the second fort and finally brove the
fugitives out of the redoubt down nito
Port Arthur valley.
Isuyama fell at $50, after an hour
md r1ip1IraS fphfino The n
anese field and siege guns were pound
ing away at the seven forts and Yama-
ji'S mountain batteries joined them.
1t was a colossal duel. From Shoju
there shot out strange sprays of fire.
The arsenal in Port Arthur had caught
fire and was ripping, roaring and vom-
iting flame and smoke like a volcano,
as an acre of massed shells and car
tridges exploded. The Shoju and Ne
rio forts were the prey of Hassagawa
and as the cannons battered the gar
risons he charged up from the east
ern valley, taking Advantage of earth
seams and small ridges.
FORGOT THEIR MINES.
Hassewaga had about 5000 men the
finest fighting blood inJapan. The
northern fort of Shogu was a most ac-
tive factor on the Chinese side. Two
torpedo mines were exploded in front
VI tlic bul lAC hCS was
touched too soon. All over the valley
were sunken mines, connected by wires
with the walled camps ani forts. But
in the heat of the fight the Chinese
failed to use them. Just as the front
rank of Hassagawa's brigade was
closing in upon Shoju, a Japanese she'll
exploded inside the northern fort, and
with grCan and shock that stopped
the battle for a moment, the shells for
q haayU which nitPI rhp
floor of the fort blew UP,
The garrisonscrambled out over the
hill tops. and Hassagawa's men came
sweeping around the rough mountain
to find the fort a mass of flames. That
ended all hope of defending the seven
forts. The Chinese fed along the ridG-
es and down the valley roads. Hasa
gawa's troops were in possession of
Shoju and Nerio hills.
In order to take the town the troops
had to cross the bridge or wade in the
river, but on the other side of If was
road leading between two small
hills and on either side of the road
were rife pits filled with Chinese in
fantry. On the hill to the right of
this road was battery of three field
guns manned by the only gunners on tn
Chinese side. Every time the Japanese
attempted to move out of the cover of
the camp the Chinese riflemen swept
the parade ground with continuous vol
leys,
DROWNED THE HELPLESS.
Away to the right could be heard
the sound of Noghi's flying column
trying to force its way across the neck
of the little peninsula where a small
force of Chinese had made a stand
and were defending the army to the
three forts.
Stretched in a line parallel with the
coast in front of the harbor were eight
or nine Japanese warshipS and the Pc
ninsula forts We're shelling them clum-
silly and without effect. Torpedo boats
were going through the waves and
sinking junks loaded with men, women
and children endeavorinS TO escape.
The water was filled with drowning
people The massacre had begun as
the last of the troops moved from be-
hind the walls of the camp and under
shelter of the eastern wall of the drill
ing ground. Then they opened fire on
the Chinese pits guarding the entrance
to Port Arthur. sending volley upon
Volley across the stream against the
rifle pits For fifteen minutes their
three skirmish lines kept up a fire and
the plucky Chinese were driven from
the position. Finally small column
covered by the skirmishers advanced
across the bridge and marched along
the road leading to the town. AT the
same time Marshal Oyama ordered the
reserve center to move down the val
lev and thousands of them came pour
ing along the roads behind the troops
already on their way to the town.
THEN THE BLOOD FLOWED.
Not a shot was fired in reply. The
battle was over as far as Port Arthur
was concerned. Even Ogunsan was
silent and deserted. The soldiers had
made their escape and the frightened
inhabitants were covering in the
streets.
AS the troops moved on they saw
the heads of their slain comrades
hanging by cords with the noses and
ears gone. There was arude arch in
the main street decorated with bloody
Japanese heads. slaughter followed.
The infuriated soldiers killed everyone
they saw. No attempt TO take prison.
ers was made. Women and children
were hunted and shot as they fed 10
the hills with their protectors.
The town was sacked from end TO
end and the inhabitants We're butcher
ed in their homes. The van Of the sec
ond regiment reached Fort 0gunsan
and found il deserted. Then they
discovered a junk in the harbor crowd
ed with fugitives. \ platoon was
across the end of the wharf
ana nfeO INTO the boat until every wO-
man. man and child was killed The
torpedo boats outside had already
sunk ten junks filled with terror
people. am satisfied that not
II. ore than 100 Cinnamon We're killed
in fair battle at Port Arthur and that
at least 1000 unarmed men were put
TO death.
SILENCE is only golden when you cannot
think of a good answer.-Puck.