The Yale expositor., 1894-11-30
Particulars of the Capture of Port Arthur.

Particulars OF the Capture of Port Arthur.
London: The confirmation of the re-
port of the capture of Port Arthur by
the Japanese has been re ceived, to.
gether with particulars of the fighting
in detail. AS has been told in these
dispatches, Port Arthur had been sur
rounded for miles with fortified hills,
and in anticipation of this attack the
Chinese. under direction of the Euro
pean officers, had planted mines in all
the roads leading to the stronghold
and had connected them with Port
Arthur by electric wires. This neces-
STATED caution on the part of the
Japanese, and consequently they cut
roads through the woods and morasses
and hauled their light field pieces over
these for over 40 miles. Notwith-
standing these delays the Japanese
crept nearer the point of attack with
commendable speed. No organized
resistance was offered by the Chinese
for three-fourths the distance, and on
Tuesday the first skirmish occurred in
which the Chinese soon retired in good
order. One fort and one village were
captured by the japanese and the fol-
lowing morning they carried an adj
vantageous range of hills near Fort
Arthur with a rush. Guns were then
dragged up and fire opened. The
enemy returned the fire briskly. The
Japanese infantry advanced against a
well-directed fire without faltering.
Shortly be fore o'clock the fort was
carried by storm in most gallant
fashion. The Chinese stood for min
ute or two against the final onslaught,
fighting fiercely. Then they fled to-
ward the dockyards. The right divi-
sion then advanced in force against the
Kokinsan fort. which was armed with
several heavy Krupp guns, which were
well served. Scores of men were
killed or wounded in this brief adj
vance. At noon the fort itself was
stormed and captured after a short but
desperate fight. by 3 o'clock in the
afternoon the right division was in full
possession of the western part of the
stronghold.
Meanwhile the left division had been
engaged on the southeast where the
ground was less difficult, but far from
easy. Advancing over the hills the
first division had to clear the enemy
out of some outlying work apparently
of recent construction. The Japanese
artillery and Chinese guns in the forts
kept up steady fire. The latter were
all heavy pieces and they pounded
away for some time at the Japanese
infantry, who in the meantime were
advancing all along the line. The
final assault was splendidly delivered,
the enemy being driven headlong from
the works after making a gallant
stand. BY evening Port Arthur was
in possession of the Japanese, but the
enemy still held eight or ten redoubts
with total of about 30 guns on the
coast line. Early Thursday morning
Lao Mu and other forts were attacked
in succession, all being captured with
out loss on the Japanese side. 1t is
estimated that the Chinese loss was
over 1000 killed and wounded and
20, 900 were taken prisoners. The Jap
anese loss was about $50 killed and
wounded.
The Japanese have taken quite so
guns and the mortars that were in use
in the captured forts and many others
found in the dock yard. They have
also captured an immense quantity of
ammunition, completely equipped tor
pedo stores and large quantities OF
rice and beans.
The part taken in the battle by the
japanese navy was that % torpedo
boats made "a concerted rush upon the
! entrance of the harbor of Port Arthur
at the same time that the japanese
, land forces attacked the place from
rear, while heavy artillery fire was
poured into the Chinese forts.