The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-12-26


respondents Estimate That Two
Thousand of the Latter Were Put
to Death.
NEW YORK, Dec. 19.-The World to-
morrow will print the following special
advices from it's correspondent, James
Creelman, who was with the japanese
army. dated Port Arthur, Nov. a. via
Van Couver. Dec. 10: The struggle for
the emancipation of Corea has been sud
denly turned into a headlong, savage war
OF conquest. 1t is no longer a conflict be-
tween civilization and barbarism. Japan
for the last four days has trampled civil
ization under the feet of her conquering
army. The taking Of Port Arthur and
the possession of one of the most power
full strongholds in the world was too
great a strain upon the japanese char
acter. which relapsed In a few hours back
into the british state from which it was
awakened a generation ago.
Almost the entire population found in
Port Arthur has been massacred and the
work of butchering the unarmed and I'M
resisting inhabitants has been continued.
The streets are choked up with mutilated
corpses. In spite Of the vastness of the
battlefield and the strength of the batteries
massed in this mighty chain Of land and
sea forts, the taking of Port Arthur is
robbed of its dignity as a battle by the
fact that a large and well trained army
attacked a mere rlbble. There was a
great deal Of artillery thunder and scen-
tific maneuvering Of the troops among the
cannon-crowned hills, but the infantry
fighting was incidental and the butchers
BILL" as. the hardened campaigner would
call 1t. was Insignificant.
The Jananese lost about fifty dead and
$50 wounded in carrying a fortress that
would cost them 10000 men had it been oc-
cupied by European or American citizens.
China is now at the mercy of the Island
empire. In a few days the fierce Sennal
troops will be ready to leave Japan to join
Field-Marshal Oyama's army, and then the
third and final movement toward Pekin
will begin.
Up to the moment Port Arthur was en-
tered l can bear witness that both Of
Japan's armies now in the field were
chivalrous and generous to the enemy.
There was not stain on her flag.
Council of War.
Shortly before the battle the field
marshal and his staff met Gems.
Yamaji, .Nishi, Noghi and Hassagawa with
their STATS for a council of war. 1t was
decided that part Of Yamajis division
should make great turning move on the
flank of the Chinese and attack the
left, while Hassagawa's brigade should fol-
low with an attack from the east on the
forts forming the Chinese right. The rest
of Yamaji's troops were to move straight
down the Sulshiyeh valley and with field
and siege batteries to attack the Chinese
front from the north and move into Port
Arthur
Meantime the independent column,
marching along the east under Lieut.. Mat
FuG rn'I ~tIsy move
against the eastern forts BUT while the
council Of war vas proceeding The Chinese
began to realize that the japanese had es-
tablished their mountain batteries on the
hills commanding the left center Of the
Chinese position and decided to move out
Of Port Arthur and dislodge them Then
began a tremendous artillery fight.
Within a few minutes regiment after
regiment uld be seen ~ < in ciJu'is
OF 4 Isl . -Css ;hs head OF the V5.ley into
thu ravine sa' "A u = sdI p'-t Of the
Japanese artillery position. The air was
filed with shells, and the Chinese gradu-
ally concentrated their fire until the trees
began TO disappear from the western
slope The Chinese marched out Of Port
Arthur in three columns. One descended
from the Two Dragon forts and the other
two came out Of the Port Arthur valley.
Torn with Shells.
The ground was torn with shells as they
marched forward. but they never faltered
for a moment. Within quarter of a mile
of the Japanese artillery the Chinese line
spread itself out and wheeling to the left
went straight for the hills to carry the lat
terles by charge. The fire became too hot
and they lay down on their faces with their
banner poles stuck In the ground, a mag
nificent target upon which the crack Jap
anese gllnners trained their pieces.
Within three minutes two shells struck the
line exactly and tore great gaps in it. In
stantly every flag dropped and the China
men took to their heels. but in few min
utes they reformed and prepared 10 receive
the japanese infantry hurrying down un-
der the shelter OF the batteries. Just be-
hind the heroic band Of Cinnamon was an
other Chinese line on a knoll with three
field guns which checked the japanese adj
vance and enabled the broken line to make
a safe retreat.
The garrison scrambled out over the hill
tops and Hasa gawa's men came sweeping
around the rough mountain TO find the
fort mass of flames. That ended all hope
Of defending the seven forts. The Chinese
fed along the ridges and down the valley
roads. Hassagawas troops were in pos
session Of Shoju and Nerio hills
Away to the right could be heard the
sound of Noghi's flying column trying TO
force its way across the neck Of the little
peninsula, where a small force of Chinese
had made a stand and were defending the
way to the three forts.
Stretched in line parallel with the coast
in front of the harbor were eight or nine
japanese warships, and the peninsula forts
were Smelling them clumsi.y and without
effect.
Beginning of the Massacre.
Torpedo boats were going through the
waves and sinking junks loaded with men,
women and children endeavoring to escape.
The water was filed with drowning In
habitants- The massacre had begun At
last part of he troops moved from be-
hind the wai.s OF the camp and under