Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-11-13
PORT ARTHUR's DEFENsEs.

PORT ARTHUR's DEFENsEs.
Russia's Seemingly ImpresnabIe For
tress In tho Far East.
We anchored at the harbor's mouth
last night and were about to go IN
this morning when a Russian naval
officer came on board and directed us
to wait until the afternoon. The rea-
son soon became apparent, as. one al
ter the other warships began to come
out through the narrow entrance, the
last. a battleship, Of 1000 tons. sa-
luting the admiral. They anchored in
a line outside under the almost per-
pendicular cliffs, which were crowned
with forts, or, rather, batteries Of big
guns, for nature has practically con-
structed the forts. and has only left the
engineers some leveling and tunnel
ing to do. They then commenced
some manoeuvres.
There were two tagged buoys an
chored outside the line, and one after
another the vessels passed between
them and went off at full speed to diff
ferent points Of the horizon, leaving
lines of heavy smoke fanshaped from
the harbors mouth, that dwindled
away and then disappeared altogether.
Three hours afterward they began
to appear again, first blot Of smoke,
increasing to a dense streaming cloud,
and the white streak Of water waving
from their bows and sterns. 1t SEEM
ed to be speed test, and some OF them
were going at q terrific rate as they
returned between the flags.
When we were allowed to go inside
in the afternoon, on passing through
the narrow portals of the harbor, one
saw at once what an impregnable re-
treat Russia has got In the Pacific. On
the right hand side eight destroyers
were lying beside the wharves and in
the dock, and torpedo boats seemed to
be everywhere in each crevice Of the
harbor. There were ten, I counted. as
we entered, but during the days fol-
lowing I seemed always to be coming
on others in unexpected places.
At the inner side of the fort, on the
right hand side Of the entrance, most
elaborate work was in progress, and
the summit Of the Gibraltar-like rock
was blue, spotted with Chinese coolies.
On the opposite side dredgers were ex-
tending the anchorage, and the result
of their labors was apparent already
over half the area of submerged mud,
which, when they have done with 1t,
will be able to accommodate more
ships than Russia will ever have in
the Pacific. There was an astonishing
amount of hustle and activity when
one landed on shore. 1t was altogeth-
er different from any other place to be
found in the east. An overmastering
energy seemed to be driving these
streams Of coolies that jostled and
shouted and pulled heavy loads through
the crowded streets, and even the COO
lie labor seemed insufficient-a line Of
junks near the landing place with car
goes of fodder was being discharged
by Cossacks. Every other few yards
one passed Russian soldiers In uniform
Officers In their smart light gray
overcoats or companies tramping
through the streets with their simple
war-soldier outfit and their bayonets
always fixed.
Five thousand fresh troops had ar
rived the day landed. I was told
troops often. arrived-they never go
away. A friend Of mine there, whose
chief pastime is horse riding, told me
it was simply extraordinary the num-
ber Of new barracks they are building
In various directions behind the twen-
ty-eight forts that crown the environ
ing hills. The most drastic and start
ling Of their various preparations Is
the order that the whole Of the old
town is to be evacuated. All the men
who have offices. places Of business or
residences occupy them under leases,
in which Is the clause that they must
clear out in six months notice. This
notice they have all received.
The old town is to be converted into
a huge barracks. A new town is being
prepared for them, and the building Of
it is now seen in progress Of feverish
activity about a mile from the old one.
1t Is planned on the broad and ample
lines Of Dalny. AS yet not many
houses are completed, but the uprising
walls mark the course Of the future
street. A big restaurant and official
building are completed. and the after
moons was there military band
was playing in an unverdant park to
an audience of half dozen nondescript
listeners 1t would be laughable If one
did not see the deep earnestness Of un-
derlying seriousness in 1t all.-Pall-
Mall Gazette.
PROVING STATEMENT.-A certain
rnisister who Is an emphatic preacher,
IL, hi ffar