New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-29
RUSSIANS Confident.
Firm Belief That Port arthur is
ImpregnabIe.

81 Petersburg May 2S.-Emperor Nicho4as re-
sneived the news of the result OF the hghting at
Kin-Chow and in its vicinity at the palace OF
,rssrsl,oe selo. He at once sent for the War
Minister, General Sakharof, with whom ms MAJ
astv and the members of his military cabinet
went over the dispatches The Emperor re-
.oeivea with composure the report that the Rus
SLAMS were compelled 10 retire before the heavy
artillery fire Of the japanese batteries in front
aY,d Of the warships on their flank, but he was
considerably agitated by the later reports thaI
General Fock had not succeeded in saving the
Russian guns.
The members of the military cabinet pointed
mt that this later report was not ofhcial' ana
they expressed complete confidence that Port
Arthur itself could not be reduced except al an
immense cost OF time and men, and with the ald
b of the heaviest kind Of siege guns General SAX
haroff also said he did not believe the report
that the Japanese had arrived within ten miles
of Port Arthur twenty-four hours after the des-
perate fighting at Kin-Chow-
The news in the foreign dispatches has pro-
duced the usual crop Of sensational stories about
The Russian government concealing the extent
az the disaster but the only justification for this
allegation seems TO be the sudden stoppage Of
all newspaper dispatches from the seat of war
Most Of the foreign reports are allowed TO be
printed as soon received.
LOSS OF GUNS UNAVOIDABLE
high officer of the general staff said that
the loss Of the guns reported captured was una
voidable If confined to those mounted in the
works on the mills below Kin-Chow, as they
could not be carried away when the Russians
retired but the breech blocks. he added, had
rrobablv been removed. Before the japanese
could use the guns against Port Arthur they
would have TO manufacture special cartridges,
mai a.
The important thing to ascertain was whether
the Japanese had captured any field guns
The same officer said the works at kin-ChoW
had been hastily constructed, and were no cri-
terion Of the works al Port Arthur, which could
not be fanked, and which were scientifically
built and connected 10 support each other. He
added:
II the Japanese lost 5000 men in taking Kin.
Chow they will lose 10000 men, at least, II
they try 10 take Port Arthur Even with such
sacrifice, consider the capture OF the Iotlress
30 be impossible Port Arthur, In my opinion,
Is inpregnable, as long as food and ammunition
hold out
Captain Jakovleff, former commander OF the
Russian battleship PetropaTovsk. in inter
view regarding the possibility OF the japanese
capturing Port Arthur, said that it would take
10000 men. with fine artillery, to accomplish
the task. Asked as TO the number Of men in
the FORT arthur garrison Naplaln JakOyleI
said It was much larger than stated in the tele-
graphic report
He gave some details Of the difficulties OF the
approach. After the outer line OF fortihcations
was reached. great number Of detached posi-
ti0ns would have 10 be captured before the Jap
anese could reach the inner ring Of defences.
The taking OF each position would make neces-
sary a bloody battle. and the capture Of all
would leave the citadel untouched, and. in his
belief. impregnable.
RELATIVE STRENGTH OF ARTILLERY.
A great deal. OF course. would depend upon
the relative merits Of the artillery Of the oppos-
ing forces The Russian guns could not be
judged by the results the Yalu, where the
Russians had only light advance guard artillery
against the heavy siege guns which the Japan
csc were bringing up for IN Manchuria
Port Arthur, Captain Jakoviefr said had
mounted numerous large guns landward. while
Makarofrs system OF range finding is so nearly
perfect that the japanese never yentured With,
reach OF the shore batteries
AS illustrating the fact that the IaDap.ss