Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-12-06
CAPTURE on PORT ARTHUR
Vivid Description by an Eng
llsh Naval Officer.
SlLENGING THE CHINESE GUNS
Three Thousand Celestials
~0l Slaughtered.
Movement of the Japanese Army Was
Like a Parade Formation = Wonderrul
Work of Torpedo Boats and Cruisers
Witnessed by the British warship Por-
nniaa.
Special Dispatch to Now York Herald.

t1nANhhhlt lJSI. .-.-4AH VI llb
British war ship Porpoise gives the follow
ing account of the capture Of Port Arthnr
by the Japanese:
1, The porpoiSe was standing out to sea q
few miles on the afternoon of the Goth
when we saw dark masses of mon in solid
columns, whom we afterward recognized
as Japanese infantry depl0ying before the
outlying forts OF Port Arthur. The artil-
lery was ahead, engaging the Chinese,
whom the Japanese lad steadily driven
inward. The Chinese line was falling back
and abandoning position after position,
after feeble resistance. This was several
miles east of the fortress proper. The
japanese fleet was moving in line ahead,
the three tiagships leading each division
and cooperating with the land forces.
The ships were the following:
First Dtvision-The Matsushina. the
ltsukushima, the Chiyoda and the Hashi-
date.
Second DIvison-rhe Fuse, the Hiyel,
the Takao, the Yayeyama.
Third Division--The Yoshino, the
Naniwa, the Altitsushima and the Taxa
chino.
The small gunboats were shelling the
Chinese lines ana were close inshore.
The naval and military forces were
moving beautifully together.
The next day the advance continued.
The Chinese outposts were all driven in,
and the outlying forts occupied. The
Japanese kept up n terrific fire with their
field artillery, machine guns and infantry,
the big guns of tine forts answering occa-
slunally, and there was q hot fire for some
time from the smaller guns. The fleet
was moving continually, but kept out of
range of the forts.
The movements were now quite visible.
LIKE AS ON PARADE FORMATION.
The Japanese army was in three divi-
sions and was moving as If OH parade
The regular volleys were sharp and I'M
broken. The manmuvring Of the cavalry
was done in dashing style, and they cut Off
the retreating bodies that were escaping
from the forts. The artillery was SPLEEN
didiy placed and was doing deadly prac-
tice upon the forts. The Chinese were re-
plying in an unspirited and desultory way,
ana evidently without any one directing
| them. The two northerly and eusterly
forts were occupied at noon.
SHIELDED THE FORTS FROM PIGEON BAY.
The Chiyoda and another cruiser then
steamed around to Pigeon Bay. Oh the
| other side of the peninsula and began to
| drop shells among the forts, which could
| not see the two ships. But apparently this
| was done more with the object of making
Il diversion than of doing material injury
| to the enemy.
THE TORPEDO FLoTILLA's ATTACK.
| On signal from the general on shore,
| Admiral lto's cruisers all steamed past the
forts just outside of range, when 10 torpedo
boats, covered by two cruisers specially
| detailed for the duty, divided Tito two
| squadrons OF four each dashed inside the
! fire line of the 50.ton guns and began
| plying their machine and rapid fire guns
| with deadly effect on the Chinese, who
| had been driven i'll an easterly direction
| from the water side forts by the Japanese
| army.
TWO CHINESE STEAMERS WRECKED.
The other torpedo boats tore into the
mouth of the harbor and cut Off the re-
treat of two small Chinese steamers which
| were stealing away along the Shore The
| first steamer reached the extreme point of
the land to the east, landing some one in a
skifr, which afterward carried him aboard
Il steamer lying some miles outside. The
| torpedo boats, however, afterward drove
the two small steamers ashore, peppering
them terribly under the very noses OF the
small forts, which fired 7-pound shells at
the torpedo boats without hitting them.
One steamer was sunk and the other was
beached.
BLAZING AWAY AT THE SHIPS.
The forts meantime were blindly blaz,
ing away at the Japanese fleet. The line
aim of the gunners was good but the
shots fell short from lack of elevation.
The Porpoise found the fire so hot that
she had TO steam outside at full speed, The
torpedo boats were dashing about in al
directions, wherever they could get shot
ut the Chinese, but were obeying the sig,
nails of the conveying cruisers, which
again followed the orders conveyed by
field Marshal Oyamas field telegraph.
The Chinese big guns fired Is rounds Al
the Japanese fleet. The latter did not re
ply, however, only drawing the fire OFF thu
torpedo boats, which did all the work.
The British officer speaks enthusiast
cally of the latter, which he says woult
be u credit to any navy, for their dash
skill and precision, which will make then
valuable adjunct in future military
operations.
CHINESE GUNS sILENcED.
Gradually the firing of the Chinese gun
on the land side were sienoed. the gunner
deserving their posts before the hailstorn
from the machine guns, the rapid f1r
guns and the infantry.
All night the Japanese gnnboats ant
three of the larger vessels were throwing
shells among the flying Chinese troops
who were escaping eastward, mer
rabble.
OPINIONS OF EXPERTS.
All the naval and military experts con
slider the achievement Of the Japanese q
marvellous. They astonish every One
They are equal to any European army. an
navy. The Japanese generals and officer
spoke Of the matter with quiet dignity an
without boasting. The men were held /
splendid restraint throughout the engage
ment, and there was no unnecessary blooC
she'd. 1t was an honestly won victory, Q
which any nation might be proud.
The Porpoise left for Chefoo, returnin
with the British fleet which visited tn
The British officers were perfect
astonished ut tho order introduced b
the new corners in two days after tn
capture of the port. Some Of the Japanes
, vessels had gone into dock and were bein
overhauled and painted AS calmly as
they had been there for years
Port Arthur was simply abandoned. Th
Chinese behaved disSracefully. When tn
final attack was made by the japanese tn
place had q garrison of 1900 men, of whoI
oue-third were DESTROYED.
The person who escaped to the steam6
was KING, the Taotai in charge of til
; whole fortress.
, The British officers think that tine takin
, of Wei Hai-Wel will be simple affair ft
; the Japanese after this victory.
, FIGHTING QUALITIES OF THE JAPANESE.
Asked his opinion of the japanese {
: allies, the British officer replied: "The
would make very bad enemies. We coul
smash them at sea, probably, but "
could do nothing against Japan on lane
: We can teach them nothing in nliIar
| science. They arc masters Of moder
} scientific warfare. The capture OF Po
arthur was perfect revelation
/. The British officer fully confirms the n
, ported atrocities committed by the Chine:
! upon Japanese prisoners, who were foul
with their heads and dismembercd imt
: stuck OH stakes along the roadsdes.
Q The British fleets orders have bee
changed. They are still ut the Saddle