Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-27
PORT ARTHUR DErENsES
GEN. sToEssELq HOLDS KEY TO
EASTERN SITUATION.
Fate Of Whole Russian Campaign
Seems to Depend Upon His
Holding Out.

|
| From tho Scientific American.
Tho canter around which revolves the
v,ho,a consolidated naval ard military sit
ue,,on An tba far east ia located at Port
Arthur The kew TO the situation In held
hy .ha. h.-o,o oommapdar s+ce.ee, and
Wy 'na' noioi9 eo
In sense II may % salo that py ms stup-
born defense he has locked up three Of the
most important elements in the war, name
~ tho pues,ar feet within Port Arthur
- ...o ~.
the Japanese oiocAauiAs NEST "i.nou. NV
harbor, and the Japanese army OF invest
ment of 10000 men, Incidentally 1t may be
said fsttll heeninr to our rnataphor, that
s'oessei aiso hoios the Aes 70 tue ueauiosA
into which the opposing armies OF huro-
patkin and Oyama have fallen before the
walls of Mukden.
There ia. therefore. much more of meth
|. cd than Of madness in the heroic stand
taken by Stoessel and his gallant troops.
At the present juncture there Is no doubt
that the Russian forces and indeed the
an exceedingly critical condition. 1t is also
certain that If they can maintain the status
quo for two or three months longer, the
position may be entirely reversed, and the
opportunity for successful prosecution OF
thu. war by Japan be let slip forever.
-r
GVen1y Matcneo.
AS matters now stand the last two great
h. +t,as ~ Tho Moroburfan arno,es sean, TO
e.' w =. 49,, ata,aa
pio'o 'n"s 'AioS oAe ~ A'
that. in spite Of her successes. 1t Is i'm
poesioie ioi 'apah WIN .o. present W.
~ WI an .. te.,nn,ez oms ae .t.o -
erv tn understand that a decisive battle
can be won by the Japanese only II they
succeed In outfianking the Russian army
ana securing strons posltlon across tne
Iaiiroao' cutting ~ me nussians .aoa.
men oase ~ suppies a,, ~ 'ae ~ yama
nattles mat nave occurred at LAO dis
ana the sha-H ,o: nanK,ns movement .;Ii w.. s
iuaue py hu1oAl anu ny hulopathiil, any
M each case they 1alieo Lor the REASON .I.a,
the nanklng army was not powerful
enough to cut loose from the main pody
with any hope or successfully enectlns
its object. There Is no doubt that IN PLAN
ming the campaign, the japanese strate-
churian armies effected junction before
Liao-Yang, Port Arthur would have fallen,
and the army of investment would have
been available to give Japan the numeri-
cal superiority necessary for great turn
ing movement. 1t is the unexpectedly
stubborn resistance of Stoessel and his
troops that has saved the situation for
kuropatk in. Every day that Port Arthur
can hold out means the addition of SO
many thousand men and SO many scores
of guns to the Russian forces, and the
more complete development Of success
sive system of entertainments to which
the Russians can retire. should 1t become
Necessary to fight a series of rear-guard
actions.
The Baltic Fleet.
u,,rthar,,oro ,,ao,no .ror, +ho s,on,
work that has been made In reducing the
outer line Of forts at Port Arthur, it be-
gins to seem fairly possible that the Baltic
feet. on its arrival in Chinese waters NAV
va i'' a. - So '
ma the remnant OF the Port Arthur earrl-
son Still holding the line OF forts to the
as the Tigers Tail and the Liau-Tie-shan
peni 1s ana aithougn such possession
PORT Arthur for refittine - ,,n7sS 1919
the retention of a large portion Of Cen.
Nogis troops that are badly wanted else
where. Moreover. it cannot be doubted
s snas a certain anl so OF repair work is
driven hacs into port tth,,. o,ran w ere
sortie of August 10. wher, the fall Of the
fortress itself is imminent, and these bat
tie shlps are IN danger or being sunk by
oapaA.se ing nahsie ilie II - saIe TO say
effort to hreak tbronob adrnir.I Rona;
fleet and reach the shelterine mort of Viad-
ivostok. Every day that Stoessel can hold
out is another day gained for putting these
shlps IN CONDITION for running fight; and
1t is scarcely possible even If the Russian
meet should be scattered or sunk. that To-
COS pattle SHIPS viii come through the
nght with more or less serious injury. If
the dash Tor Vlad1Vostok can be delayed
LOT rev weeks longer, 1t Will take place
wheh the baltic meet Is WITHIN months
or even Tess than months steaming of
Forl rthur-al 100 snort time for the
Sapanese navy, worn as 1t is with the
s.less VI ioilg blockade, ana just emerg-
lis ~ III a. a nsht against superior num-
i nei 81 pa..ie slips, TO enter the drydocks
~ ~ oap ,a anu set ia shape 10 meet fleet
$50 So. oa tl sHigs most or which are
tie 11ar rdoii TIC ouiioers hanos IN the Bal
Result of Canitu1atIon
?.
'ne iashiiaa' one OF the Japanese battle