The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1895-08-10
TURNED TRAITOR.
Strange story of the Capture Of
Port Arthur.


The ease with which the japanese
captured Port Arthur during the war
with China 10 explained to some extent
by an article in the Japan Gazette. Ac-
cording to the Gazette, the commander
Of the Chinese forts was native Of
Japan, who had acquired favor In Chi
nese councils through long residence
in the Nowery kingdom, and inten-
tionally caused the shots from the guns
to be misdirected 50 they would fall
short Of the Japanese warships, having
betrayed his adopted land for the land
Of his birth. The disgraced commander
appeared before the victorious Japan
ese generals, acknowledged his treason
and committed suicide in their pres
ence. The article continues:
'When Port Arthur was attacked by
the japanese army and navy the latter,
after getting within suitable range,
opened fire ON the forts near the coast.
The batteries ON Hwang Chin answered
from heavy guns. These were the
strongest forts at Port Arthur, their
armament being four Krupp gums. The
squadrons approaching within range Of
such ordnance expected terrible
cannonade, and were not a little aston
ished by the weakness Of the Chinese
resistance. It is true that they opened
fire upon the ships, but their shells al
ways fell short of the mark. The sail
ors supposed this failure to be due to
the inferior gunnery Of the Chinese,
and greeted each shell as It dropped
into the sea with loud shouts of de-
rision. The officers, however, were
puzzled by performance to them in
explainable, inasmuch as they knew
that the artillery in the forts, what
ever the faultiness of it's handling,
could not possibly lack force. Mean
while, the celebrated naval station of
China was stormed from the Landslide,
and the defenders of the fort on Hwang
Chin hill were either killed or taken
prisoners, their retreat having been cut
of by the invaders.
''When the officers that defended the
Fort Hwang Chin were brought before
the japanese generals one of them,
apparently an officer of distinction,
stepped forward and thus addressed the
generals:
I was the commander of the forts,
but now that I have incurred IRENE
diable disgrace / should like to ask
special favor, namely, that be per-
mitted to commit suicide in your pres
ence.'
"Such request was not only con-
trary to the ordinary habits of the
Chinese but what was far more surpris-
ing it was conveyed in perfectly cor
rect japanese. One of the officers to
whom the captive had addressed him
self asked him where he had acquired
the japanese language SO well. The
prisoner replied that he was originally
q native of Higo, whence he crossed
over to China many years ago. Sub
sequently by some chance he attracted
the attention of Viccroy Ii, who
gradually promoted him till at last he
was appointed commander of the forts.
''Aftcr making the confession the
officer insisted upon committing sui
eide, Notwithstanding the rcmon-
strances Of the japanese generals.
Making profound obeisance, he sat
down aud slew himself according to the
strict canons of the japanese samurai.
The officers were much struck by the
manly conduct and caused the remains
to be inferred with due ceremony"