Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-02-29

China, Japan captured Port Arthur
on the 2ith of November, 1894 but
only remained in possession few
months. Ii was the largest and most
important naval station In China, and
Tor protective and strategic reasons
the mikado desired to hold it. Rus
sia. however. had for years cast GOV
etous eyes on the place. 1t lis free
from ice perennlally. while, Vladivos-
tok, the other Russian port ON the Pa
cihc. is frozen up four months in the
year. Russian motives and schemes
were speedily apparent after Japan
had been ousted. The port and docks
were reconstructed under the direc-
ton of Russian engineers. and practi.
cally since that time the Muscovite
has been master OF the place. 1t was
only in 1898, however. that the czar
became the actual owner OF Port Ar
thur. In that year he procured lease
of the territory from China, having
| previously got permission to build his
trans-Siberian road straight through
Manchuria. and to construct from the
| trunk line branch road to Port Ar
thur. This concession naturally an.
| gered Japan, who saw her own terri.
tory placed In peril by the contlguity
of the grasping Muscovlte TO her is
land shores. Russian possession OF
Port Arthur was speedily followed by
other agrresslons until at last japan
was compelled to interpose for the
| purpose of protecting the integrity OF
Korea and China Russia refused to
abandon its pretensions in the East,
and Japan decided to let the grim ar:
bitrament of war settle the disputed
| question. Port Arthur is situated at
the extreme southern point of the
Liaotung peninsula. and until 1851.
when China decided to establish u
naval station there, was but collec.
ton of mud huts. Its native name is
Lu-shun-k'ou The naval port Itself
Is located on what Ia called the re-
gents sword, promontory nearly op-
| posite Wei-Hai-Wei, and commands
the entrance to the Gulf of Pechili.
which Is the gateway to the Chinese
capital Peking. Since It's occupation
by the Russians the town has been
built up until now II might he called
a metropolis, and the fortlncations
have been 80 much improved and per
fected that 1t is almost impregnable.
1t would appear. however. as If the
japanese do not consider 1t to be so,
for now they have the city practically
besieged. 1t Is not generally known
that Port Arthur takes Its name from
n British naval lieutenant, William
| Arthur. who, In 1860, on the gunboat
| Algerine. daringly entered the narrow
passage, buttressed by high and rug
ged hills. that leads to the harbor,
| He found but few miserable coolies
| there. where now is city of many
thousands. whose trade. with that OF
adjacent ports, with the United States
amounts yearly to nearly 100000
| 600
LONDON. Feb. 2G.-There seems TO
be no question today that the Japan
ese have succeeded In bottling up the
Russian battleships and cruisers In the
harbor of Port Arthur, and by magnlH
cent gunnery have destroyed large
part OF the city, silenced number OF
guns and killed many people. Just
what Is the loss OF the Russians Is not
known, because up to this afternoon
Viceroy Alexieff has made no report
whatever to his sovereign.
1t is believed here in high official
circles that the late achievements OF
the daring japanese have been far
more brilliant and effective than the
| .t....s fat. o
The Russian papers today give full
confirmation of the blockading Of the
harbor OF Port Arthur, but they en-
deavor to bellttle the damage done.
| LONDON, Feb. 2G.-The japanese
embassy issued the following state
ment regarding the attempt to block
the entrance to Port Arthur:
EARLY on the morning of the 2itb
four old vessels were escorted by tor
pedo boats to the entrance of the har
Dor. the object of sinking these vessels
being attained. The officers and crews
returned In safety. Though there is
no report regarding our fleet direct
from Admiral Togo. no doubt can be
entertained as TO Its safety"
TSINDIDbiNb, Gu
General Pflng. chief of stan. has no
yet sent details of the attack on Por
Arthur which he promised yesterday
. CHEZ Foo, Feb. 26.-Arrivals from
Port Arthur report that before thu
Tuesday attack the Russians received
timely warning from three TORPEDO
! boat destroyers which met the Japan
ese fleet twenty miles outside the hai
Dor. The japanese fleet approaches
! within eight miles OF the entrance an
, commenced the attack. The first u
retaliate were the forts followed b.
) the four Russian cruisers The er
gagement lasted until dawn. the Japan
/ ese making an effors to destroy the al
I senal. The damage 10 the town wa
I very serious, but thousands of me
= are working day and night strengthen
( ing the garrison and repairing tn
3 damage done by the Japanese guns.
e MOSCOW. Feb. 26.-Russia Is plar
? ming long. slow land campaign tina
5 includes drawing the japanese into
D huge trap and crushing them. Rei,
0 ious sentiment Is to take a large plac
[ In the coming battles. This week th