The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-18

fallen. Inasmuch as it was the strong
est naval port of China, this is an i'm
mense blow to the Chinese, and it's loss
may be the means of bringing them to
sue for peace. If terms of peace are
not agreed upon, it is probable that the
Japanese forces will march upon Mouk-
den-about 800 miles from Port Arthur
and having captured that city ad-
vance towards PelSin.
Facts About Ii Hung Chang.
Ii Hung Chang, the Bismarck of
China, placed great reliance on Port
Arthur, or Lee-Shem-Kow as the Chin
ese name it. Immense sums had been
spent in making it a second Gibraltar
in appearance. Unfortunately for the
Chinese, the details of their defences
would not always bear close scrutiny.
Sand for powder, and balls of mud and
coal dust for cannon balls are not at all
unknown. Hence when the critical
moment comes, the defence breaks
| down. And as such subterfuges and
trickery are well known to both officers
and prlvates, there is mutual lack of
confidence, which has deplorable re-
suits when they are face to face with
an enemy. If that enemy be well drilled
and well armed, the average Chinese
soldier is apt to think of the battlefield
that distance would undoubtedly lend
| enchantment to it's view; and he hur-
ries off to seek such enchantment.
And one can hardly blame him
Anticipated bows and arrows, the ging-
allan ancient muzzle-loading blunder-
buss, which it takes two men to carry
miscellaneous assortment of muskets
and Enfield rifles, discarded by western
nations, with spears,-such form theil
weapons of defense. And their field ar.
tillery is in keeping. With the exception
of a. few batteries, nearly all of theil
guns are of the old muzzle-loading style
useless in modern warfare. And to ado
to their inefficiency, large proportion
of the soldiers is employed carrying
huge banners, which float gaily enough
on the breeze, but do not perceptibly in
crease their fighting powers. l have
seen regiments marching along thu
highway with as many bannermen a:
riflemen They make q fine show un
der review, with their many coloreC
gigantic banners,-it takes man'
whole strength to hold one-but flag
are poor thing to lean upon in fight
An Unappreciated Statesman.
Ii Hung Chang, backed by a few o
the most liberal-minded of his country
men, has done what he could to brin.
the Chinese army up to the moderl
standard; but it has been a gigantic ant
well-nigh hopeless task. For one thini
he has arrayed against him powerful
combination, backed by the llterati, tina
: powerful class over the country, whicl
opposes these foreign innovations; an
amongst the rank and file of the arm
, itself there is deep ingrained spirit o
conservatism, which seizes every oppor
tunity to draw them back to the oil
ways and methods. AS an officer in tn
: British army, the late Captain Gill, L
: e., wrote: Prompt action, READINGS
: of resource, ability to seize on tn
smallest advantage or to neutralize
! misfortune, and the power to evolv
| fresh combinations, these are the quail
ties which make soldier, and these ar
the very qualities that cannot co-exis
l with Chinese want of originality an
l reverence for antiquity"
supposing the Japanese forces non
to advance from Port Arthur to Mou,
e den, what kind of country would the
l have to pass through? For the firs
/ part of the way, it would be rocky
: hilly and barren; the road winding i
: and out of the mountain defiles, cross
t ing chasms, and over bleak stretche
l bare of everything save stones. At thi
$ time Of the year, too, there woul