Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-07-20
CONFESSED HE WAS A TRAITOR.

CONFESSED HE WAS A TRAITOR.
The ease with which the Japanese
captured Port Arthur during the Sec
ond war with China is explained to
some extent by an article in the Japan
Gazette. According to the Gazette, the
commander of the Chinese forts was 8
native of Japan, who had acquired
favor in Chinese councils through a
long residence in the Flowery King
dom, and Intentionally caused the
shots from the guns be to misdirected,
so that they would fall short of the
Japanese warships, having betrayed
his adopted land for the land of his
birth. The disgraced commander ap-
peared before the victorious japanese
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
getting within suitable range, opened
fire on the forts near the coast. The
batteries on Hwangokin he answered
from heavy guns. These were the strong
est forts at Port Arthur, their armament
being four Krupp guns, of no less than
30.cent. calibre. The squadrons ap-
preaching within range of such ord
nance expected a terrible cannonade,
and were not a little astonished by the
weakness of the Chinese resistance. 1t
is true that they opened fire on the
ships, but their shells always fell short
of the mark. The sailors supposed this
to be due to the inferior gunnery of the
Chinese, and greeted each shell as it
dropped into the sea with loud shouts
of derision.
"The officers, however, were puzzled
by performance to them uuexplaiu-
able. inasmuch as they knew that the ar
tillery In the forts, whatever the faulti-
ness of its handling. could not possibly
lack force. Meanwhile, the celebrated
naval station of China was stormed
from the land side, and the defenders
of the fort on Hwang Ching hill were
either killed or taken prisoners, their
retreat having been cut off by the in
vaders.
"When the officers that defended the
fort Hwang Chin were brought before
the Japanese generals, one of them, ap
parently an officer of distinction, step
ped forward, and thus addressed the
generals
"'I was the commander of the forts,
but now that I have incurred irredeem-
able disgrace, I should like to ask
special favor-namely, that I be per-
mitted to commit suicide in your pres
ence.'
''Such request was not only con-
trsry to the ordinary habits of the
Chinese, but, what was far more sur
prising, it was conveyed in perfectly
correct Japanese. One of the officers
to whom he had addressed himself asked
him where he had acquired the Japsn
ese language so well. The prisoner re-
piled that he was originally native OF
Higo, whence he crossed over to Chin
many years ago. Subsequently, ty
some chance, he attracted the attention
of Viceroy Lii, who gradually promoted
him, until at last be was appointed
commander of the forts. After making
the confession, the officer insisted upon
committing suicide, Notwithstanding
the remonstrances of the japanese gen.
erals. Making profound obeisance,
he sat down and 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"