Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-12-20

Why the Japanese Troops Waited, and How,
When All Things Were Ready, the
Plans for the Capture of the Chi
| nese Gibraltar were Carried Out.
Correspondence OF the United Press Per
Steamer Gaelic.l
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 15-Tokio,
Japan, Nov. ga peace party is
gradually growing up in Japan, the
motive of its formation being derived
partly from the general sense of the
sufferings and losses entailed by the
war and partly from perception OF
the immense issues involved in the
disentegration of the Chinese empire.
Japan's Rothschilds, the Mitany fam
tensive plant of machinery designed
| senal to receive this costly equipment
is to be set in Moi, a town on the
straits of Shunonosoki that has sprung
into sudden prosperity as the distrib-
| uting center of the coal mines in the
north of Kinshu.
On November 81 the japanese min
lister of state for finance increased the
issue of domestic loan of so. GOO, 900 yen
(sa6, 600, 900 gold approximately. being
| the second installment of the total war
fund of $50, 200, 900 yen voted by the
diet in it's recent special session. The
first installment, 10000, 900 yen, was
| placed on the market in August, and
was subscribed nearly three times over,
the per cent. bonds being all taken by
the public at par, portion even sell
ing at a premium.
There have been SO many rumorS of
| mediation between China and Japan
that the recently circulated intelli-
Pence of an offer in that direction
from President Cleveland was not inn
mediately credited. Yet the president
did really try to step into the breach.
Thinking that he detected signs of a
coalition of European powers to die
tate peace, and perceiving that Japan
must surrender many of the just fruits
of her victories in the presence of such
interference, he suggested the advisa-
bility of arranging terms at once, and
rendered his own good Offices for that
purpose. The Japanese government,
however, knowing that an European
coalition need not be apprehended, re-
piled in that sense, at the same time
intimating it's own natural desire that
China should sue direct. Before that
answer could be conveyed to him Mr..
Cleveland had himself discovered that
the apprehension inspiring his offer
need not be entertained, and SO the
project was abandoned by mutual con-
sent.
Port Arthur fell into the hands of
the japanese on the 21st of Novem Der
just month after the transports car
rying it's assailants had steamed away
from the shores of Japan. The man
ner of it's fall astounded every one, not
excepting the japanese themselves.
Theoretically the place was impreg-
nable against an attack from the sea
front. On the land side its defenses
were not so strong, but there had been
ample time to strengthen the: mand
abundant material was at hand, while
nature had lent powerful aid by
throwing around the east of the for
tress semi-circle of hills, varying in
height from 800 to $50 feet and offer
ing ideal sites for batteries and in
trenchments.
An English newspaper correspond
ent, writing from the place ten days
before its fall, told how thousands of
Chinese infantry and cavalry, well dis
ciplined and armed with magazine
rifles of the most approved pattern,
were drilling for hours every day, and
declared unhesitatingly that the Jap
anese could never take it; that they
had missed their opportunity; that the
garrison was fully prepared, and that
Port Arthur would justify the predic-
tions of those who had foreseen the
moment when the petty tide of Japan
csc aggression would be shattered to
foam against the rock of China's vast
resources.
The japanese themselves did not I'M
derestimate the task. On the very eve
of the receipt of the final news, their
military experts said gravely that
there would be heavy loss of life.
The slow march of events in the pen
insula had also begun to wear an omi-
nous look Chin Chow and Talien were
taken on the 9th and 18th of November.
Thence to Port Arthur the distance
was only forty miles. Yet two weeks
passed and the attack had not been de-
livered. There had, it is true, been no
actual reverses. Evil tidings of that
nature would have travelled swiftly.
But the apparent hesitation of men
like Lieut.. Gen. Yamaji, who is the jap
anese ideal of stern determination
and sagacious bearing, seemed to imply
the existence of the most formida BILE
obstacles. The ominous impression
grew stronger when it was learned
that there had actually been proposal
to rush on the place on the heels of the
fugitives from Talien and Chin Chow,
but that Lieut.-Gen. Yamaji had
shaken his head and said: Wait"
Yet, after all, Yamaji's wait meant
only that he wanted his siege train.
Thirty 12-centimetre guns and six
rified mortars were still on board ship
To land them at the original place of
debarkation would have involved an
overland journey of 100 miles, and big
guns do not cross mountains easily or
travel swiftly along narrow roads, al
ready insufficient for the passage of
the troops. Therefore, Lieut.-Gen.
Yamaji's plan was to keep his siege
train on board ship until Talien had
been captured.
Talien is within forty miles of Port
Arthur. 1t has a magnificent harbor
| fully equipped with stone jetties, lift
ing cranes and all the paraphernalia
| of modern station. Lieut.. Gen. Va
mali intended that these appliances,
| prepared so carefully by the Chinese
| for their own use, should be turned to
| the advantage of the invaders. He
| took Talien ON November z, and so