The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-09

George w Missioner, English stenog-
rapher for the East Asiatic Transpor-
tsuon Company. who. in a tour Of the
world, has found himself at a troublous
hour within the gates of Port Arthur,
writes an interesting letter 10 his
brother of the attacks on the Russian
stronghold by the fleets Of Japan. His
brother is John J. Missioner. of Mount
Joy, Pa. The letter is as follows:
Port Arthur, Feb b. 1904.
This is Saturday morning, and / am
in Port Arthur. and expect TO stay here
for some time 70 come. Tuesday noon
the Japs bombarded the place forty
minutes. No inhabit ants were killed,
but many houses were blown 10 pieces
Cno building except stone being al
lowed. there were nA agrations).
Everything IS excitemApt The major
ity of foreigners have elready left the
place by the few boat4 that were III
the harbor at the time bnd have since
left ! gave a telegram 10 our Chinese
boy 10 send from Chefco, and hope that
he has done so. It was to the effect
that the war was on In earnest, but
THAI I am safe and sound. Having
bombs shot over your head with good
chance Of its blowing you TO pieces. is
by no means a pleasant experience. but
j
have been so far before I run away.
..Of course. during the commandment
All the inhabitants rushed to the sur
rounding country. but were back IN
about an hour. as the forts, although
attacked by surprise and without the
proper declaration of war, such as IS
usually given by civilized nations in
these days, soon demonstrated to the
jar commanders that Port Arthur -
not 10 be taken so easily. The forts,
b the way. We're only partly in action.
They have guns here that. TO shout
them off. causes such a conclusion thitt
the whole town would tremble, and tie
officials have Informed the town that
should another engagement occur and
windows in the houses would commence
70 crumble. that it Is by no means
sign that the Japs are close by but
that il is caused simply by the firing
OF the Russian guns
The Horrors Of War.
..Var is something awful. This is the
first time that ] have seen the real ar
ticle. but the way sailors on warships
and gunboats in the forts were mangled
Is something dreadful. AS to the dam
age done TO warships and whether the
Japauesc Jared worse or better than the
Russians II is useless for me to write.
At present private kilograms are not &C
crpted by the telegraph company ana
mail only goes by way Of siberia. ms
Office cannot even communicate win
the +. y. Company in Shangnal. my
self don't worry much as 10 detillis' an"
American newspapers VIII nave pun
hshCd a great deal more than 1 now
know long before you get this letter.
That Russia viii eventually win IS al
most certain, and that the JapS get
thoroughly beaten / sincerely hope 1 ne
idea Of nations like America and Eng
land wasting sympathy on them because
they have made little progress IN the
last ten years! People should not FOR
get that with all Russia faults that a
comparison between the two nalOu5
looks about like this. Russians white;
JapS. black: Russians, Christians; JapS.
hcathens, Russians, family protected
by strict marriage laws; Japs, notorious
tho world over as immoral. Russians,
vet unenlightened. but Japs have no
equal in the world for priggiShneSS and
SwcllcG head. ! have learned what /
talk about from living among the people
| Of whom / write
The Japs don't know what the word
/ truth means. They viii enter into q
/ contract without the least intention Of
! fulfilling obligations, and on the witness
| stand I'm the face Of undeniablc proof
viii lie without relaxing a muscle In
! their face. Jap manufactures are all
! imitation. it's all varnish and no
/ strength. / find out that we American
/ IN getting our opinions about the Rus
I slams nave been reading books that give
as good an idea OF actual present COndi-
/ lions IN Russia as If one were TO read
] an American book written before the
/ civl war on the benefits OF slavery; the
/ fact is lost sight Of that great improve
/ mt has been made.
Land Forces to Determine.
Now, then. 20 the present war. II