Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-12-05
HOW PORT ARTHUR FELL.

Graphic Account of the Capture of the Chi
nese Gibraltar by the Japanese.
The Heralds European edition publishes the
following from its correspondent
HIROSHIMA, Nov. 80, 1891 am the
first person to reach Japan from Port
Arthur, which, as l telegraphed the
Herald, was captured on the 21st
On the 18th the cavalry advance
guard met two Thousand Chinese eight
miles from Port Arthur, aud fell back
upon the first brigade, leaving several
wounded behind. They returned
with one battalion of infantry, and de-
feated the Chinese
The wounded Japanese were found
with their heads, hands and feet cut
off and their bodies awfully mutilated
On the 10Th all the army had passed
before these victims, and the men were
much moved at the sight.
CHINESE MAKE A SORTIE.
AT night the army was about four
miles from the enemy, who held nine
sea forts and eleven land forts On
the Goth, while the japanese were look
ing for field artillery positions, six
thousand Chinese made a sortie in
three coInmns-on the left, the right
ing at US, and we were in great danger.
A part of the army and artillery be
hind the advance guard and two bat
talions of General Yamaji's division
repulsed the Chinese after five hours
fighting.
On the 21st the japanese fleet made
a demonstration at six in the morning,
but did no fighting. AT half-past six
A. M. the japanese artillery, which
had taken position during the night,
opened fire on the three forts on the
right, and displayed magnificent
craftsmanship. The Chinese forts on
a hill five hundred feet high answered
strongly.
THE PORTS TAKEN BY ASSAULT.
At eight o'clock the forts were taken
by assault by the infantry who show
ed magnificent courage. Lieutenant
O'Brien, of the United States Army,
was present.
At nine O'Clock our left brigade, com
manded by General Sasegawa, advanc
ed upon the remaining eight forts.
Fifty Chinese guns poured shells and
shot upon them, but nothing stopped
them. 1t was great fighting.
At one o'clock all the forts were TAX
en- by assault and the army advanced
had been armed with express rifles
the city, and the houses had to be
taken by storm. Many Chinese were
killed.
CHINESE GENERALS FLED.
The sea forts fell without fighting,
aud all was finished at five o'clock
The Chinese generals fled after the
first fort was taken. Had they sur
rendered, many Chinese lives would
have been saved.
Among the Governors papers were
found letters from Chinese officers of
fering the heads, hands and feet of
japanese. and asking for rewards
The barbariSm and cruelty of the
Chinese are indescribable. Many Chi
nese were killed during the battle, but
the japanese, however, treat kindly
those now remaining in the city
Some eighteen thousand men were
|engaged on each side. There were $50
japanese killed and wounded. The
Chinese killed number 1900 The
dead are being buried or cremated.
CHINA's RULER GETS A BIBLE.-Ac-
cording to the cable despatch of the
He?G1d's special correspondent at
Shanghai. the Emperor of China has
sent to the American Bible Society in
Pekin for a copy of the Scriptures. 1t
is some weeks since we heard that the
Dowager Empress had received copy
as a birthday gift, and that the young
ruler had taken such fancy to it that
he expressed desire to get one for his
own imperial perusal There will be
rejoicing IN Exeter Hall and in the
bosoms of the British dowagers who
love to see the heather on the high
road TO conversion.
And what will the harvest be Has
the Continuation of Spiendor desire
to find out the secret of Western civil
ization, which. filtered through Japan.
is bursting his hollow empire to pieces?
1t is much to be feared that the Bible
will not do Emperor Kwangsu much
good at the present moment. What
he needs just now is a visit of the
Mikado to the imperial palace at
Pekin-an eventuality which, our
Shanghai correspondent says, is most
likely to occur.-N. Z. Herald