Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-11-24
'PORT ARTHUR TAKEN.
The Japs Add Another Victory to
Their Already Long List.
A LONG AND TEDIOUS CAMPAIGN.
Port Arthur Was Splendidly
Equipped For Both Offensive
and Defensive Fighting-There
Were 1000 Troops There to
Receive the Japs, But They Do
Not Seem to Have Been Effec-
tive.

ICHE Foo, November 24.-Despatches
have been received here stating that the
japanese captured Port Arthur on last
Wednesday, after eighteen hours fighting
Port Arthur, the native name of which
is Lushun Kou, is the chief naval station
Of China. Eleven or twelve years ago 1t
was a village consisting OF about
sixty to eighty houses, wi n a few shops and
three or four inns, which afforded accom-
mediation TO travellers 10 and from the
north. The town at the present time has
increased to nearly ], coo houses and shops,
and exclusive OF garrIsons the population
is estimated al over 6,VOJ. Inore are TWO
principal and smaller native oanKs, TWO
large temples and Two large tuedItes VI 10
cent construction.
There is also a small dock suitable Tor
torpedo boats The foundrles and work
shops cont ain the most modern machines,
engines, etc.
The defences OF the port consist OF well
constructed forts armed with modern
Guns of heavy calibre The coast detences
are spread over more than four miles oil
sea aooard and consists Of about twelve pat
teries equally distributed on eacn siue
of the entrance OF the port
The armament consists OF more than torty
krupp guus, varying from SIX inches 10
O6 inches. Including some rified mortars.
In addition there is torpedo boat statlou
and al elaborate system or submarine
mines The western side OF the fort IS
protected bv the shOallug OF the harOor
The garrison was said 10 consist OF ABOUT
1000 men.
The second Chiuese-Japanese army, IN
der the command OF Fled Marshal Count
Ogama. Minister OF War, consisted OF
about 80, OOJ men, and when this force ar
rived of the Regents Sword Promontory,
IL was divided ntO TWO detachments, one
of which, aided by part OF the Japanese
feet, operated against Talienwan, while tue
other directed its movements against Kin
Chow. on the western side of the promOn-
tory, some miles north Of Port Arthur
Taiienwan and Kin Chow were both cap
tured. after which the army again COM
Dined, aud the march on Port Arthur was
commenced. Several engagements OF MI
nor importance TOOK place along the route,
but according 10 the reports tue
japanese were invariably successful.
The roads Leading northward from Port
Arthur were supposed 10 have been mined
bv the Chinese and the japanese com
mander therefore declined 10 Jake the risk
Of marching mis- troops along them Con
sequenIly th9y were compelled to cut roads
through the forests TO allow the passage OF
their artillery, ammunition trains, etc
The march was thus necessarily slow.
DISPATCHES received a few days ago
stated that the Japanese were close 10 the
city and had attacked the Chinese out
posts. driving them back 10 their entrench-
l. a "a ]
attacked the entertainments three times
but were repulsed each time. II is evil
dent thst later attacks must have been
made and that the OutpOsts were COM
pelled 10 fall back upon Port Arthur.
Several times the town is reported
10 have been captured, but later
dispatches have shown that these
repCrts were inaccurate and that the Jap
anese were conducting their operations
against the place with great careiulness
aud that they intended when the reai at
tack was made that 1t should be success
ful
Che Foo. from which place the dispatch
announcing the fall OF Port Arthur IS sent,
is a Chinese city on the north coast Of the
Snan Tuug promontory, some ninety miles
south Of Port Arthur, from which II is sep
arated oy the Gulf OF Pc Chi Ii.
WASHINGTON. d. c., November 23.-The
dispatch from Che Foo announcing the fall
of Port Arthur was taken 70 the Japanese
Legation here at late hour tonight and
shown TO one OF the officials, who was
much gratifed at the intelligence. Gre
ceuce is given 10 the news BY the legation
officials becaqse Of the fact that It comes
from Chinese sources, a matter not likely
unless il was well authenticated.
LONDON, November 23.-A dispatch 20
the Times from Che Foo says that Port
Arthur was taken "Wednesday evening.
The fighting was continuous from noon OF
the twentieth. The japanese feet did not
take part 10 the engagement though the
torpedo boats attached 10 the feet did.
The dispatch adds that the japanese are
now leaving Port Arthur.
A shanghai dispatch TO the Times coz
firms the report OF the capture Of Port
Arthur Il SAYS that the japanese torpedo
boats distracted the forts while the troops
entered the town.