Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-11-24
PORT ARTHUR FALLEN.
The Japanese Capture China's
 Chief Naval Station.
THE ROAD TO PEKING IS NOW OPEN.
After Failing Three Times the Mikado's Troops Made a Fierce Onslaught and Were victorious-Eightcen Hours of Fighting. The Fleet Did but Little.

Alter Failing Three Times the Mi<ado's
 Troops Made n Fierce Onslaught and Were Victorious Eighteen Hours of Fighting.
 The Fleet Did but Little.
 CHEFu, Nov. 24.-Dispatches have been
 received here stating that the Japanese
 captured Port Arthur on Wednesday last
 after IS hours fighting.
 The fighting was continuous from noon of the goth. The Japanese fleet did not take part in the engagement though the
 torpedo boats attached to the fleet did. The Japanese arc now leaving Port Ar thur.
 The attack on Port Arthur by Japan's
 second army under General Oyama was
 so carefully planned that when fire was
 opened the Japanese troops assailed' the
 city at every point.
 The fighting was terrible and was only
 ended when the Chinese. unable to strug- gle any longer, withdrew in retreat to the mountain passes near by. leaving the city nt the mercy of their foes.
 Tho fall of Port Arthur leaves clear the
 way to Peking for Japan. Whether or
 not that city will suffer n like fate must depend upon what action China will take
 within a very fow days
 Already China has asked for peace on
 the terms of paying 250, GOO. 900 taols. or
 Sl75. 900, 00U for it. With Peking in peril
 no one can estimate what figure Japan
 will place upon peace.
 Road to Picking Clear. The plans of the Japs for an advance | upon Peking have succeeded completely. At Mukden advance through the interior was so hazardous as to be almost impos
 sible. The second army was sent to si-
 fence Port Arthur. and it has dono so. With the great naval station in Japan 6
 hands. and with Japan's victorious fleet guarding that place on the water side, China's fleet Is powerless.
 Port Arthur, the native name of which
 Is Lu- Shun- Kou, is the chief naval sta | ton of China Eleven or twelve years
 ago it was simply a good wind bound | harbor for the junks that traded along
 the coast. carrying timber from the Yalu river to ports in the gulfs of Pe-chi.li and Liaotung or those of a larger class | from the south on route to New Chwang | and west Chin Chou. At that time the
 village consisted of about 50 to so mud | houses, with few shops and three ol | four inns, which afforded accommoda-
 tion to travellers to ana from tho north. The port is almost surrounded by ranges | of hills varying from 300 to 1. 500 feet in
 height. the valleys between being well
 cultivated. The town at the present time
 has increased to nearly ]. 900 houses and shops, and exclusive of the garrison tho population is estimated at over 6, O0O There are two principal and smaller ma 1 tive banks. two large temples and two large theaters of recent construction. In 1881 1t was finally decided to con
 struct a dock and refitting basin there After moro than one failure the work wa | given to foreign contractors, and in tho | early part of 1887 n French company SC | cured contract to construct the neces
 sary works needed for a naval dockyard | At the end of 1890 the contractors com l pleted the task intrusted to them. Tn, entrance to the port was deepened and basin constructed inside. There ar,
 10 Krupp guns varying from 6 inches
 to 9.o6 inches, including some rifled nor tars. In addition there is n torpedo boa | station and an elaborate system of sub | marino mines. The western side of tn, | port is protected by the shoaling of tn,
 harbor. The garrison was said to consis l of about :. .OOO men.