The morning news., 1894-11-26
BATTLE OF PORT ARTHUR.
The Japanese StOTminS Divisions Met
With Hard Fighting.

The Invading Armies Two Weeks in
Approaching the Plaoe-The Chinese
Loss Much Heavier Than That of the
Japanese Heavy Artillery Used Eff
fectively by the Defenders-The Jap
anese Warships Play Only a Minor
Part in the Engagement.
London, Nov. 25.-The Port Arthur corr
respondent of the Central News sends this
dispatch: Marshal Oyama had ap-
preached Port Arthug steadily for two
weeks with his armies in two divisions.
The passage was slow and difficult, as
the roads. where there were any, wers
poor, and the artillery could be brought
forward only after the prisoners had pre-
pared the way. The villages were almost
empty of supplies Many of them had e
been pluudered bare by the Chinese.
"skrmshing began on Nov. II. Every
fort had heavy artillery. which was used
with effect. The large Krupp guns All
Hoknsan, apparently were served by
skilled artlllerymen. and were especially
destructive. On the evening of Nov II
the Chinese still held eight or nine re-
doubts on the coast and had twenty guns
in working order, The Japanese bivouacked
on the hill
early in the morning of Nov. % they
began storming the redoubts. They cap
tured Fort Laomu. after a sharp. short
fight. The other positions were taken i'm
quick succession, without heavy losses
to the Japanese Eighty guns, and an
enormous quantity of rice were taken-
1t was wholly a land fight. The courses
of events was signalled to the Japanese
fleets Off the coast"
From Toxic the Central News hears
that Admiral Ito sent this report yesterA
day: Port Arthur was taken on the 22ds
by the army alone The united squadron
merely attracted the attention of the ene~
my's seaward batteries Since yesterday
/ have been removing the torpedoes irons
the mouth Of the port, dock yard and ar
senal The ships in the port are handed
over to the naval department. The dock
yard and arsenal are in perfect working
order"
The Toxic correspondent remarks that
Admiral Ito neglected to specify more
closely the ships captured, and he denies
the report that there was a naval battle.
1t Is believed, he says that the ships In
question are Chinese war ships, which took
refuge at Port Arthur after the battle at
! the mouth Of the Yalu, and although fully
/ repaired, did not venture out again. Un-
| official news is to the effect that Admiral
Ito did not take part in the attack, be-
! cause the entrance to the port was
! studded with torpedoes, and all the usual
| landmarks for the guidance of pilots had
| been removed.
"A dispatch boat has left Ping-Yang in
let for Port Arthur, to convey the mika-
| dos congratulations to the officers"
dispatch received here to-day from
Shanghai states that Chinese officials are
/ telegraphing broadcast saying that the re-
/ ports of the downfall OF Port Arthur are
/ falsehoods The place, they say, is de-
Tended by 30 600 brave soldiers.
dispatch to the Times Union from
/ Hiroshima says that during the attack
| on Port Arthur the Japanese fleet as
sisted the land troops. All the Chinese
/ ships, factories and docks were taken In
| tact and ready for use.
| The Chez Foo correspondent of the
/ Times telegraphs under to-day's date that
/ Port Arthur Isl still burning. Twelve Jap
! anese vessels have been seen there and
the cruisers are still near the peninsula.
! The Chinese fleet is at Wei-Hai-Wei.
From Shanghai the Times hears New
! Chwang reports say that Gen Sungs
/ army is divided. one part holds Mothsn
/ Ling firmly constantly repulsing the Jap
anese. The other part, under Gen. Sung,
! IL marching rapidly toward Port Arthur
/ to attack the Japanese A portion of the
first Japanese army will attack Mothsn
/ Ling and the remainder will follow Gen.
4 Sung"
The Times correspondent In Hiroshima
says During the attacks on Port Ar
thur the Japanese fleet assisted the land
troops. The Tonghaks have revolted again
in Southern Korea and Japanese and Ko-
rean troops are busy suppressing the dis
turbances."
Toxic, Nov. 25-Gen. Oyama, in COM
mand Of the Japanese forces officially
reports from Port Arthur under date
| of Nov 22 that the Japanese forces at
| tackled the forts near that place. The
/ right division of the army stormed and
| captured the fort to the westward with
its artillery and parade grounds, at $3.50
o'clock in the morning, and then advanced
in the direction of Port Arthur, storming
| and capturing the Kokinsau fort en- route.
In the meantime the left divisions
stormed and captured the fort to the
! southeast
On Nov. p all the other forts we're cap-
tured
The enemy fought bravely throughout.
/ The Japanese loss In killed and wounded
will not exceed 200, while the num-
ber OF Chinese killed and wounded
and taken prisoners is as yet unknown.
The japanese captured a great guam
tlty Of ammunition and other materials.
| as well as many cannon. The Chinese
forces numbered over 10000.