The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-11-25
FALL OF PORT ARTHUR.
REPORT THAT THE JAPS HA We 1T
OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED.


WASHINGTON, ID. c., Nov. a.-The
State Department has the following brief
cablegram from Minister DENLY. at
Pekin:
Port Arthur taken 22d"
The Navy Department received the fol-
lowing cablegram this morning from Ad-
miral Carpenter. under date of Chefoo,
November I'D:
Port Arthur fell LIST. Baltimore
leaves for there to-day"
The fall of Port Arthur has been re-
ported SO many times that some hesitation
was felt In accepting the news until u
received otiiciall confirmation IN the above
yesterday morning. It VIII be observed
that the Chinese garrison made a stout
defence. This Is only what was TO be
looked FOR. IL ever the Chinese might
have been expected to fight 10 the deatn
IL was at a spot like this-of great natural
strength and garrisoned by at least twelve
thousand men who had no cnance OF
safety except by victory, and who were
defending the great naval arsenal OF
Northern China.
1t is now over a month ago that the
second Japanese army, under Marshal
Oyama, sailed from hioshima with sealed
ORDERS. The troops were said TO number
thirty thousand. on the 10Th OF October
special correspondent at Shanghai tele-
troops. under Marshal Oyama. were EN-
camped across Regents Sword promon-
tory, to the north OF Port Arthur, and
within sight of that naval stronghold. A
week later a successful landing-prooa-
bly, of the balance of Oyamas troops
appears TO have been effected on the
shores OF Talien bay, TO the northeast
OF Port Arthur, and measures were I'M
mediately taken 20 Invest the place COM
pletely by land and sea.
The Japarese feet was kept In readi-
ness outside, and torpedoes were laid
down. on October Goth a cablegram was
rec eived from Minister DENLY, at Pekin,
announcing the capture OF one OF the
forts at Port Arthur by the japanese.
Next day the Herald's correspondent az
Shanghai reported the capture OF second
fort. Everything was done 10 draw the
net as closely as possible round the place,
and now finally IT appears to have fallen
in it's entirety into the hands of Japan.
Had the Chinese earlier made anything
like adequate efforts TO save the place
IL seems impossible that this success
should have been achieved by the Japa-
nese with such comparative ease, The
first fatal mistake was made In allowing
Marshal Oyama TO land his troops on
the peninsula for Port Arthur, strong az
II Is to seaward, is relatively weak on
the land side. But China's fleet had suf-
fered terribly in the battle OF the Yalu,
and, although II was In readiness and
under orders TO sail from Port Arthur
before the middle OF October, IL was too
completely demoralized to venture upon
trying conclusions once more with the
enemy's cruisers Thus II came 10 pass
that the delicate operation OF landing a
large army upon hostile soil was accom-
plished by the Japanese without the
slightest molestation, and the first and
greatest step was taken toward the cap
ture OF the arsenal.
The last trustworthy report as TO the
garrison was that twenty thousand
Chii.es troops. well armed, well drilled
and fully provisioned, occupied the de-
fences. The majority OF the six thousand
persons who live in the town In times
of peace moved away several weeks ago.
Three English officers have said within the
| last month that the fall of Port Arthur
would probably end the war.