The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-12-22
MADE IT A SLAUGHTER PEN.
The Frightful Barbarism of Japs at
Port Arthur.

NEw YORK, Dec 2O.-The World today
prints the following special advices from its
correspondent, James Creelman, who was
with the Japanese Army, dated Port Arthur,
November "a:
''The struggle for the emancipation of
Korea has been suddenly turned into n head
long, savage war of conquest. 1t is no longer
a conflict between civilization and barbarism.
Japan for the last four days has trampled civ
ilization under the feet of her conquering
army. The taking of Port Arthur and the
possession Of one of the most powerful strong
holds in the world was too great strain upon
the Japanese character.
almost the entire population FUND in
Port Arthur has been massacred and the work
of butchering the unarmed and unresisting in
habitants has been continued day after day
until the streets are choked up with mutilated
corpses. In spite of the vastness of the bat
tleGeld 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 large
and well-trained army attacked mere rabble.
''There was great deal of artillery thunder
and scientific maneuvering of the troops
among the on-crowned bills; but the in
fantry fighting was incidental and the butch
er's BILL as the hardened campaigner would
call it, was insignificant. The Japanese lost
about so dead and $50 wounded in carrying a
fortress that would have cost them 10000 men
had it been occupied by European troops.
BUTcHERED LIKE CATTLE.
''China is now at the mercy of the island
Empire. In few days the fierce Seminal
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
entered 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.
''But | can also say as an eye witness that
the wretched people of Port Arthur made no
attempt to resist the invaders. The Japanese
now claim that shots were fired from the
windows and doorways, but the statements
are utterly false. No attempt to take prisoners
was made.
II saw man who was kneeling to the
troops and begging for mercy pinned to the
ground with bayonet while his head was
hacked off with sword. Another Chinaman
covered in a corner while squad of soldiers
shot him to pieces.
"An old man on his knees in the street was
cut almost in two.
"Another poor wretch was shot on a roof
top. Still another fell in the street and was
bayoneted through the back a dozen times.
Just below me was hospital flying the Red
Cross flag, but the Japanese fred upon the
rnarmed men who came out of the doorway.
A merchant in a fur cap knelt down and rails
him he put his hands over his face. saw his
corpse the next day. 1t was slashed beyond
recognition.
WOMEN AND CHILDREN SLAIN.
''Women and children were hunted and shot
at as they fed to the hills with their protectors.
The town was sacked from end to end, and
the inhabitants were butchered in their own
homes.
"a procession of ponies, donkeys and
eamels went out Of the western side Of Port
Arthur with swarms of terrified men and
children. The fngitives waded across the
shallow inlet, shivering and stumbling in the
icy water. A company of infantry was drawn
up at the head of the inlet and poured
steady fire at the dripping victims, but not a
shot hit its mark.
s'The last to cross the inlet were two men.
One of them was leading two small children.
As they staggered out on the opposite bank
squadron of cavalry rode up and cut one of
the men down with their sabres. The other
man and the children retreated into the water
'.All along the streets could see the plead
ing storekeepers shot and sabred. Doors were
broken down and windows torn out. Every
house was entered and robbed.
GIoATING AMID CARNAGE.
'.About O'Clock there was sound of
music on the parade ground, where all the
generals were assembled with the field mar
save Noghi, who had gone in pur
suit Of the retreating enemy. What cheering
and what hand-shakingl What solemn strains
from the band And all the while we could
hear the rattle of rife volleys in the streets,
and knew that helpless people of the town
were being slaughtered in cold blood and their
homes pillaged.
ssThat was the coolest night of the year.
The thermometer dropped to 20 degrees above
zero. While the women and children were
freezing out in the mountains the work of ex-
terminating the men went ON all night.
SIN the morning ] walked through the
streets. Everywhere ! saw bodies torn and
mangled as if by wild beasts. The slain shop
keepers lay piled in the roadway with tears
frozen in their eyes and bloody ieicles hang
ing from their wounds.
dogs were whimpering over the stark
corpses of their masters. Here and there the
famished animals were tearing at the flesh of
human bodies still warm.
while in company with Mr. Cowan ! came
across corpse which had been beheaded.
The head lay two or three yards away and
dog was tearing the neck. A Japanse sentry
looked on and laughed.
''Then | saw white-haired, toothless |
disemboweled on the threshold of |
his own shop, which had been looted. Another |
victim had his breast ripped open by Japanese
sword, and pet dog lay shivering under his
arms.
s'There was a dead woman laying under a
heap of slain men in every conceivable atti-
ude of agony and supplication. At one corner
here were 25 corpses in pile. The soldiers
rad sbeen so close to their victims that the
.lothes had caught fire and partly roasted the
lying men.
The Japanese had tasted blood, and all
through the second day the reign of MUIR
Ter continued. Hundreds and hundreds
we're killed. Out on one road alone there
'ere 227 corpses AT least 40 were shot
own with their hands tied behind them.
~ am satifed that not more than 100
'llinamen were killed in fair battle at Port
lrthur, and that at least 1000 unarined men
ere put to death. 2