The Irish standard., 1904-12-24
During the Long Struggle the Defenders Have
Lost About $1,000 Men and Jap
anese About $4,000.
After Siege Of 800 days the Russian Gilral.
ter Of the East Still Resists all Attacks
of the Japanese.

and profit the defenders nothing.
Although the reader of war news
has scarcely heard of any forts but
the Keekwan series, Else, Antse and
Sungshoo, the importance Of the others
is that Of the ounce Of prevention
which saves the pound of cure, for
they insure these positions against cap
ture from the rear or the flank.
For the purpose of description the
encircling forts may be considered in
series beginning conveniently with
Golden Hill and following the line of
bastions around to the westward.
Golden Hill (Zolotaya Gora) is a
rocky eminence facing south and rising
to height Of 400 feet Immediately
south of the old Chinese town. It is
surmounted by a Marconi mast, a
searchlightstationof 10000 candle pow
er and three forts, Golden Hill, Laolui-
chui and Hwangchin. The Golden Hill
position is the heaviest fortified, being
protected by 80 and % centimeter bat
teries. On the sea level below Hwang-
chin is battery Of 1S quick-iring
guns, and there are nearly 100 guns
operated from the three forts.
The series to the. northeast of Gold
en- Hill inclose little valley command
cd by the Ortung forts, Petou, Taku,
Kinghiatun, Urlung and subsidiary for
tifications. This general position serves
tacks on Golden Hill to the south and
the Keekwan series to the north.
Eighty guns of large caliber-2S, % and
Is centimeters- in place, sweep
ing the plain to the northeastward.
To the north and tending toward
the west lie the five Keekwan forts,
which have been the constant brunt Of
the japanese attack. These forts mu-
tually protect the Ortung series, al
though of greater Importance in resist
ing a frontal attack from the north.
The central fort is Rihlung, Of which
much has been heard.
To the west of this third series of
forts the hills sink to a level with the
northern plain, and through the valley
runs the railroad track to the station
on the east side of the harbor. This
; little valley was in less dangerous
times the parade ground, and just at
the base of the fortified eminence is
Tongchaitze, where are the arsenal and
storehouses, although the provisions
have doubtless been removed to a less
exposed situation.
The fourth series of forts includes
the important ones of Sungshoo, Else,
Antse and Pai-yu the first three
| known also as Sungshan, Etseshan and
Antseshan-the suffiX "shan" meaning
mountain). Sungshoo stands far with,
in. able to command the Tongchaitze
valley and the harbor entrance alike
1t also protects the flank Of the posi-
ton, which is one mile and half in
depth and of greater front. Three 9th
er forts complete the series, besides
open works. The position mounts &C
guns, perhaps of Is centimeters.
Else fort marks the western trend
of the fortified line. Running soutl
from it is the Table Heights series
which includes White Wolf Hill, where
the scarpment line begins to turn east
ward. To the southwest Of White
Wolf Hill lies Liaoti fort on the tip Of
the peninsula and 1850 feet high
while to the westward around Pigeor
bay are several projected forts.
The last series of Port Arthur's for
tifcations comprises the chain along
the Tigers Tail. Here are five forts
and several positions, set on rock.
eminence corresponding to that Of
Golden Hill and rising from an altitude
Of 20 feet at the point Of connection
to $50 feet near the tip of the Tail
The gorges, or rear side of the forts
are easily commanded from the wcs
harbor, so that if Sungshoo is once
captured Tigers Tail can effectually be
attacked from the rear. The forts al
this position are four in number
mounting, as nearly, as may be ascer