Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-01-23
he Naval >StronGbolds of Russia, orea and Japan

deciding point ~ the war between ia
pan and China was the taking OF Port
Arthur by the japanese When peace
was negotiated Japan claimed Port Ar
thur Russia had long cast longing
eyes In that direction herself, however.
and entered protest, The matter ended
by the ear taking Port Arthur for
himself although leaving II nominally
under Chinese control Japan has never
recovered from the bitterness engen-
dered by that act, and one Of her most
cherished ambitions Is to be able some
day to wrest Port Arthur from the
Russian.
The chief object OF the cars govern
meut In seeking this harbor that has
been called "the key to the orient was
that 1t might have a vantage ground
fol the inevitable struggle for eastern
control Nladiyostok is not entirely
satisfactory. as during part Of the year
II is locked In ice. Besides, its position
tx not SO strong from strategic
standpoint as that Of Port Arthur.
This city has had many other appella-
NlNltNf hlllDIk lllNu 10 wv hibiti'
OF Asia" OF course II Is a habit OF
some writer's to term almost any sort
Of fort a Gibraltar until In the war
literature OF the day there are Gibral-
tlrs strung all around the world, Port
Arthur, however Is really entitled to
the name, for it il apparently impreg-
uublc. Looked at from the sea, 1t also
bears a certain physical resemblance TO
the famous fortress at the entrance OF
the Mediterranean. The natural fea-
lures surrounding It therefore render It
well nigh invIncible, and IN addition to
these Russia has spent millions OF dol
lars I'm improving and fOrtifying 1t.
Intimately connected with Port Ar
/ thur-in fact, forming part or the
| scheme Of its defense-ls the port OF
, Dalny. This is nominaly a free port,
open alike TO oil the nations Of the
world but IN reality It is Russian, IL
| is ON the coast Of Manchurla, only thlr-
.y-hyc miles from Port Arthur, and
was especially built at the command
Of the Russian government. The order
/ for construction was given In 1892 and
the port was opened for entry In De-
cember. 1901.
Dany is the southern terminal Of the
| great Transsiberian railway that for
| merry ended at NladIvostok. II Is thus
connected by rail with Port Arthur, II
Is one OF the finest deep water harOors
on the Pacific.
! From the position OF this port II,
rather than Port Arthur, would prob
ably be- the objective OF an attack, for
| Port Arthur IN the event OF the fall OF
Dalny could be approached from the
| land side with much more hope of
success than could be afforded by an
! approach from the sea.
The city about the harbor. which can
be said 10 have literally Sprung up in
a night now consists of over so, 900
| population, for the most part Chinese.
japanese Koreans and Russians over
10000 men are employed in construct
ing the docks and piers and similar
government works, so that Dalny is one
of the busiest places in the orient.
The only other considerable Russian
port in this part Of the world is Via
divostok, which is far to the north Of
Port Arthur and Dalny and is only
reached by water 10y passing around
Korea and through channels in danger
Gus proximity to Japan. The meaning
Of the Russian name IL dominion OF
the east" The harbor lies at the head
Of an inlet and is strongly fortified.
originally Nladyostok was practically
closed during nearly four months Of
the year by ice, but recently the Rus
sian government is introducing greut
"ice breakers that win go far In the
direction of eliminating this difficulty.
There are many important Chinese
ports about the yellow sea that are Of
uudoubtpd importance as strategic
points chief Of these. perhaps, is
Welhaiwci, which is under British in
. Nueuce. ARTHUR Q, FETHEL.