The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-12-20
AWFUL CARNAGE.

/ The Terrible Massacre of the Inhabitants
OF Port Arthur by tho Japanese Troops.
Streets Choksd with MntiIated Corpses.
Absorption of the Battle.
NEw YoRK, Dec. 1o.-The World to.
morrow will print the following special
advices from Its correspondent, James
Creelman. who was with the Japanese
army. dated Port Arthur, November "a.
via Vancouver, B. c., December 19.-
The struggle for the emancipation OF
Korea has been suddenly turned into q
headlong, savage war OF conquest 1t Is
no longer conflict between civilization
and barbarism. Japan for the last four
days has trampled civilization under the
foot OF her conquering army.
The taking OF Port Arthur and the
possession OF one Of the most powerful
strongholds in the world was too great
q strain upon the Japanese character,
which relapsed in few hours bac k into
the british state from which 1t was
awakened q generation ago. Almost
the entire population OF the Chinese
in Port Arthur has been massacred, and
the work Of butchering the un-
armed and restricting Inhabitants
has been continued. The streets
are choked up with mutt.
lated corpses. In spite OF
the vastness OF the battlefield and the
strength of the batteries massed in this
mighty chain OF land aud sea forts, the
taking OF Port Arthur is robbed OF its
dignity as battle by the fact that q
large and well trained army attacked q
mere rabble. There was great deal OF
artillery thunder and scientific maneu-
vering by the troops among the cannon
crowned hills, but the infantry lighting
was incidental, and the butchers bill,
as the hardened campaigner would call
it, was insignificant.
The Japanese lost about 30 dead and
250 wounded in carrying fortress that
would have cost them 10000 men had
1t been occupied by European or Amer
lean citizens.
China is now at the mercy OF the is
land empire. In few days the fierce
sennal troops will be ready to leave
Japan to join Field Marshal Oyama's
army and then the third and final
movement towards Pekin will begin.
Up to the moment Port Arthur was en-
tered can bear witness that both OF
Japan's army now in the field were
chivalrous and generous to the enemy.
There was not stain on her flag
The correspondent gives q graphic
description Of the march on PortArthur,
the battle, aud the charge in which
$1,000 Japanese troops were engaged,
on the first day. He SAYS: No man can
say how many the Chinese lost. l saw
the Japanese deed on the road with
their heads gone and their bodies mutt
lated. Several corpses were without
hands, two had been butchered like
sheep and their hearts and livers torn
out.
The next day was the time appointed
for general council of war. The field
marshal and his stat met with the
staffs of the commanding generals. 1t
was decided that part OF Yamagata's
division should make a great turn
ing movement on the flank OF the
Chinese and attack the left, while
Hassaga with his brigade should fol-
low with an attack from the east from
the forts forming the Chinese rights.
The rest Of Yamagata's troops were to
move straight down the Sulshiyen val
Icy and over fields and siege batteries
to attack the Chinese fort from
the north and move into Port
Arthur. Meanwhile the independent
column marching along the east
under Lieutenant Matsumitsu would
simultaneously move against the two
eastern forts. But while the council OF
war was proceeding the Chinese began
to realize that tho Japanese had estab-
lished their mountain batteries on the
hills commanding the left centre of the
Chinese position and decided to ad-
vance out OF Port Arthur and dislodge
them. Then began tremendous attil-
lery fight.
The battle was fast aud furious, the
Chinese showing great heroism under
the terrible fire Of the Japanese guns.
at 6:45 the following morning the
mountain batteries began to play upon
Isuyama and the guns Of the triple forts
covered the hillside with flames and
smoke.
The taking OF Isuyama WIS the signal
for Hassagawa to attack the forts on the
right wing. As the batteries splintercd
the hillsides and sent clouds OF earth
up out Of the ploughed ground, tho in
fantry line kneoling at the base
OF tho slope in front oil lsu-
yama opened fire and kept up
steady volieys from ten or twelve
minutes. General Nishi was below d.
recting the attack. Suddenly the men
stood up aud advanced in tho teeth OF
the guns firing continuously as they
marched. On, on, pressed the slender
black line, with trails oil fire
and smoke running up and
down the ranks.
The shojo and Nerio forts were
the prey OF Hassagawa, and as
the cannons battered the garri-
son he charged up from the eastern
valley, taking advantage ot earth seams
and small ridges. Hassagawa had about
5000 men, tho finest fighting blood in
Japan.
The description of the battle con-
tinues, and says:
Isuyama fell at sos after an hour and
twenty minutes fighting. The Japanese
field and siege guns were pounding
away at the seven forts and Yamaji's
mountain batteries joined them. 1t
was a colossal duel.
Then follows the story OF tho final
capture Of Port Arthur and a descrip-
ton OF tho sickening scenes OF tho
massacre by the enraged Japanese on
finding that their countrymen had becn
barbarously slain.
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