The record-union., 1894-12-20

guns OF the IrlDle IOrlS covered Lne uiIL-
side with flame and smoke. The Chinese
had tive-inch hrupp rifles ana nlne-lnch
mortars, with auxiliary batteries OF re-
volving and quick-irin guns. Shells
began to drop upon US from all sides.
The Nero forts, the giant guns or Ogun-
san and the Chinese field batteries turned
tire against us, for isuiyama was the key,
and only it fell, the whole LETT hank OF
the Chinese would be exposed.
The taking of lsuiyama was the sig
nal Tor Hassagwa. to attack the forts on
the right wing. As the batteries Splin-
tered the hillsides and sent clouds of
earth up out of the plowed ground the
infantry line, kneeIlng at the base OF the
slope in front OF IsuIyama, opened tire
and kept up steady volleys ten or twelve
minutes. General NishI was below di-
recting the attack. Suddenly the men
stood up and advanced i'll the teeth OF the
guns, nrlng continuously as they
marched. ON, on, pressed the slender
black line. Then the battalion in the ra-
vine moved forward ON the right to at
tack the side of the first fort.
AS the line reached the foot of the
steep scarp in front Of the walls it sud-
denly swung around aud joined the col
umn on the right, and the united bat
tallonS rushed up the steep bank toward
the sidewalk, while the Chinese shells
tore gaps in their ranks. by this time q
mountain battery had been hauled up u
dizzy ridge, where ANAL stood, and five
minutes atterWard these guns were in
position. We were dropping shells in
side on the first fort. With a ringing yell
the Japanese dashed to the tort and scaled
the ramparts, shooting and bayonetting
the flying garrison and chasing the
enemy along the connecting walls. A
cheer went up from the hills and the
valleys as the victorious troops pushed on
rn l,n Il
fugitiyes out of the redoubt down into
the Port Arthur Valley.
"lsulyama iell at $50, after an hour and
twenty minutes hard lighting. The jap
anese field and siege guns were pounding
away at the seven forts, and Yamaiai's
mountain batteries joined them. 1t was
a colossal duel from Sboiu. There Shot
out strange sprays of fire. The arsenal
in Port Arthur had caught fire, and was
ripping, roaring and vomiting flame and
smoke like volcano, as an acre OF massed
shells and cartridges exploded. The
Shoju and Nero forts were the prev of
Hassagwa, and as the cannon battered the
garrisOns he charged up from the eastern
valley, taking the advantage of earth
seams and small ridges. Hassagwa had
about 5000 men, the finest lighting blood
IN Japan. The northern fort of Shoiu
was most active factor on the Chinese
slde. Two mines were exploded in front
Of the invaders, but the key was touched
too soon.
'All over the valley were sunken
mines, connected by wires with the
walled camps ana forts. But in the heat
OF the fight the Chinese failed 10 use
them. Just as the front rank of Has
sagWa'S brigade was closing in upon
Shoju Japanese shell exploded inside
the northern fort, and with a groan and
shock that stopped the battle for a mo-
meut, the shells for the heavy guns
which were piled on the floor of the fort
blew up. The garrison scrambled out
over the hilltops, and Hassagwa's men
came sweeping around the rough mount
ain to find the fort mass Of flames.
THAT ended all hope OF defending the
seven forts. The Chinese fled along the
ridges and down the valley roads. Has
sagwas troops We're In possession Of
Shoju and Nero Hills. In order to take
the town the troops had to cross the
bridge or wade i'll the river but on the
other side was a road leading between
two small hills, and on either side of the
road were rifie-pits filled with Chinese
infantry. On the hill to the right OF the
road was q battery OF three field guns.
manned by the only good gunuers on the
Chinese side. Every time the Japanese
attempted to move out of the cover of the
camp the Chinese ritiemen swept the
parade around with continuous yOlleys
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 stand and were de-
tending the way to the three forts.
stretched in a line parallel with the
coast in front of the harbor were the
eight or nine Japanese Warships and the
peninsula forts were shelIing them clunl-
silly and without effect. Torpedo boats
were going through the waves and sink
ing junks loaded with mon, women and
children, endeavoring to escape. The
water was filled with drowning people.
The massacre had begun as the last of the
troops moved from behind the walls of
the camp and under shelter Of the east
ern wall of the drilling grounds.
Then they opened ire upon the Chi
nese pits guarding the entrance to Port
Arthur, sending voIley upon yolley
across the stream against the rifle pits,
For fifteen minutes the three skirmish
lines kept up fire, and the plucky Cni-
nese were driven from their position.
Finally small column, covered bv the
skirmishers, advanced across the bridge
and marched along the road leading to
the town. At the same time Marshal
Oyama ordered the reserve center to
move down the valley, and thousands
of them came pouring along the road
behind the troops already on their Way
to the town. Not a shot was fired in re-
ply. The battle was over, as far as Port
Arthur was concerned. Even Ogunsan
was silent and deserted. The soldiers
had made their escape, and the fright
ehed inhabitants were covering in the
streets.
''As the troops moved on they saw the
heads of their slain comrades hanging by
cords, with the noses and ears gone
There was rude arch in the main street
decorated with bloody Japanese heads.
A slaughter followed. The infurfated
soldiers killed every one they saw. No
attempt to take prisoners was made.
Women ana children were hunted and
shot as they fled to the hills with their
protectors. The town was sacked from
end to end, and the inhabitants were
butchered in their homes.
The van of the Second Regiment
reached Ogunansan, and found it de-
serted. They then discovered a Junk in
the harbor crowded with fugitives. a
platoon was stretched across the end of
the wharf and fired into the boat, until
every woman, man and child was killed.
The torpedo boats outside had already
sunk ten junks filled with terror-strick en-
people. 1 am satisfied not more than 100
Cinnamon were killed in fair battle at
Port Arthur, and that at least 1000 un-
armed men were put to DEATH"
nv r--AE--' - W JAI a y iSE 1hOOPS.
WAsHINGToN, Dec. 19.-The Japanese
Legation here has received a dispatch
from Hiroshima, sent through its Minis
ter at st. Petersburg, detailing the move
ments OF the Japanese troops in China.
Following is the message:
HIROSHIMA, Dec. l9.-The third di-
vision OF the first army took Hsi- Mo-
Chang on December 18th, and occupied
Hal Chong on December 18th. Both
places are on the route to and near Nai
Chang and Lao Chang. MESSED