New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-07
PORT ARTHUR INVESTED.

The Gibraltar Of the East" is now practically
invested by both land and sea. Since the be-
ginning of the war 1t has been beleaguered by
the japanese fleet. Now the Japanese army is
moving against it from the landward side. One
force has been debarked at Pitsu-Wo, on the
eastern side of the peninsula opposite the Elliot
Islands, which have as we long ago predicted,
been used rs a base of invasion of the main
land. Another force IS said TO have been stimuli
taneously landed at or near Port Adams. That
is on the west coast exactly opposite Pitsu-Wo
and not more than dozen miles from 1t. 4
junction Of the two forces on that narrow neck
Of land will cut off the railroad between Port
Arthur and Moukden, and completely isolate
the whole hwangITung Peninsula, including
Port Arthur and Dalny. There has been much
talk, we know about the Indifference of the
Russians to such a move, and the ability of Port
Arthur to stand siege for n year or two but
We believe there is little in it, Admiral AleXieff
and Grand Duke Boris have discreetly fastened
away from Port Arthur, and 1t is said that most
of the garrison and such of the guns as could
be moved have also been transported north
ward, so that only few thousand Russian sol
diers remain. 1t is not impossible that the fall
OF Port Arthur will soon be announced.
1t was remarked that in the crossing OF the
Yalu River the japanese repeated almost ex-
aetly their plan OF campaign OF ten years ago.
They are continuing that repetition in their adj
vance upon Port Arthur for IT was from Pltsu-
Wo that they set out for that fortress in 1894.
The sequence Of operations in that campaign is
worth recalling. On September 10. 1894. Lieu
tenant General Nozu won the battle of Ping
Yang, which cleared the Chinese out of Corca
and gave the Japanese full possession Of that
country. Two days later Admiral Ito won the
great sea fight off the island of Hai-Yang. thus
securing the practical control of the sea. On
September % and 90 Field Marshal Yamagata
forced his way across the Yalu River at Kulen-
Cheng, almost exactly as 1t was done last Sat
urday and Sunday. Then, on November l,
japanese army was landed at Pitsu-Wo at al
most precisely the same interval after the cross
ing OF the Yalu as has this week elapsed be-
tween the two occurrences. We shall see how
much further the parallel is continued. In 1891
on November 6, five days after landing at Pitsu-
Wo, the japanese captured the fortress OF Kin
Chow, and fifteen days later Port Arthur Itself
fell before the onset of Field Marsha! Oyama-
After that the northward movement was begun.
Feng- Wang Cheng was taken on December 10,
Kai-Ping on January 10, New Chwang on March
and Ying-Kow on March Z.
Thus far, it must be confessed, the Japanese
have been marvellously successful in this war.
They have met with not one single defeat OF
any importance and they have made Il series
Of most substantial gains Perhaps the sub
stantial character of their gains is their most
noteworthy feature. bold march up into the
heart of AIanchuria would have been more
sensational, but it would have been incom-
parabIy more difficult TO sustain permanently.
In occupying Corea, on the contrary, the Japa-
nese have taken something which they can hold
against almost any attack. The same may be
said of Port Arthur. Powerful as are the ford-
fications of that place, they need the support OF
q fleet Without a feet, the place is scarcely
tenable. With the cooperation OF fleet strong
enough to command the seas, It is impregnable.
To occupy Corea, to maintain command OF the
sea md to possess themselves of the ports and
fortresses along the coast have been the essen
tiaI objects of the Japanese campaign Those
objects are steadily and even rapidly being at
tanned When they are fully attained, 1t may
be that the Japanese Will think 1t well to rest
content ,Inon that vantage ground.