The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-10
MILITARY WRITER SAYS
PORT ARTHUR MUST FALL
Points Out How the Japanese
Fleet Can Reduce the Forts
in Time.
LONG RANGE FIRING

LONDON. March "a military writer in
the Daily Mail says It may be assumed that
BIZ this time Admiral Togo with his fleet
has completed the first part of his pro-
gramme. and driven what Russian ships
arc left intact within the harbor of Port
Arthur. The next step Is 10 infiict on the
arsenal itself and dockyard damage equal
10 that which he has inflicted on the Rus
sian feet.
To do this without risking his own fleet
seriously is not so difficult a task as may
appear Port Arthur Is protected it is true
BY forts which are reported 20 be OF enor-
nous strength At the very mouth OF the
harbOr is "a work mounting four thirteen
inch guns of French pattern, weighing
sixty-three tons Sweeping the entrance
SO as TO defend IL against tOrpedo-bOat at
tack is powerful battery of quick
firers. On the heights which inclose the
harbor are other works in all directions,
fin which forty or fifty heavy guns have
been mounted. If the Russian statements
and the reports Of visitors can be believed
The western forts on the heights Wnlch
were known TO the japanese in the last
war as the MantOw Hill are OF special I'M
pOrtance, they are 80 placed as TO render
matters warm for any assailing fieet Wnich
endeavors to lie of the coast In such
position as 10 fire up the harbOr mouth at
the docks and the basin.
Nevertheless, IL is thought that the Jap
anese will be able 10 cause the Russians
very serious Inconvenience ana POSSIBLY
utter destruction by lOng-range fire. II
they do not want 20 risk their ships-and
under no circumstances ought they TO risk
their ships against the forts, however
tempting the prospects of successfully can
lie off the harbOr at "A long distance and
throw their shells over the high ground
into the water behind bring uD mortar
boats and powerful hOWtzers, which they
are believed to have quietly provided. know
ing, as they did, from their previous Occu-
patton OF Port Arthur exactly what their
task would be. They have the most ac-
curate charts and plans imaginable; know
every bearing. and il will be chids play TO
them to place their fleet so as TO Use its
guns TO the utmost effect
The ground over which shells have TO be
thrown by fleet far out to reach the basin
and east port is 250 feet high. This Is the
high rocky hill known to the Japanese as
Hwang-Chin hill, and now crowned by
powerful fort, with searchlignt and all the
modern appliances. To reach the western
harbor the height over which shells have
TO be thrown is, toward the part near the
entrance, eighty feet and further west $40
feet.
WHAT HAPPENED AT SANTIAGO
The problem before the Japanese Is very
similar TO that which confronted the Amer
leans off Santiago in the war with spain.
Here there was an inclosed harbor, With
a narrow. difficult entrance, surrounded by
heights. Here also it was for many Tea-
sons unwise for the American ships to ap-
preach; while if they had been inclined to
try conclusions, Admiral Sampson had di-
rect orders from his government not TO at
tack the forts seriously.
Inside the harbOr was a powerful squad
ron, though Of infinitely less value tnan the
Russian force inside Port Arthur.
On June s. 1898. Admiral Sampson lea in
his ships and opened fire, aiming his guns
4ifalxr Of fha FORTS of 80 holt.
whether purpOSely directed ~or missing the
forts. passed over the ridge and fell in the
water behind among the ships which were
About the armOred cruisers Vfzcaya and
Teresa the American shells fell steadily,
but they we're not hit. The Reina MERCEDES.
however, was struck on this and the fol-
lowing days thirty-hve times, losing five
men killed and fourteen wounded. while
tanned so much injury that she was good
for little after the firing ceased and she was
afterwards sunk by the SpaniaFds in the
entrance to the harbOr.
A more terrible bombardment took place
on July 10. when the American warships
Indiana. Brooklyn and Texas opened fire on
miles, firing right over the heights at the
harbOr mouth They used their eight Inch
guns, and the extent to which the weapons
had TO be elevated shook the ships severely.
The firing went on for an hour, and then
was stopped, as the shells were falling
short. But on the 18th the same ships the
New York replacing the Brooklyn. got To
work again. and this time the Indiana used
her thirteen-inch guns
WRECKAGE OF THREE HOURS.
The ships fired steadily without the small
est idea of the terrible damage they were
doing. On this day the shells fell all over
the city. striking hfty-seven buildings,
which were wrecked and set on fire. The
bombardment was stopped after it had pro-
ceeded for three hours to learn what injury
had been caused. and full preparations were
made to resume il.
For various reasons it was not resumed.
But it is now known that had it been con-
tinued the whole town would have been laid
in ruins. and this though the gunners could
not see their target or the bombarded the
guns which were plying them with pro-
Jeetiles The Generalization caused by this
attack coming. so to speak, out OF the
sky had much to do with the surrender OF
the place.
Only in the light of the past can we di-
vine the future" The things stated above
are known TO few in this country; they
have never been examined with the atten-
ton that they deserve, yet they point def
initely TO the fact that Port Arthur Is all
but helpless before long-range fire If the
Japanese lie six or seven mics out, their
ships Will offer little or no target TO the
Russian gunners; for even at 5000 yards
the normal battle range of our day battle
ships are a small enough target Yet the
town. the dOckyard. and the basin packed
with damaged ships offer 10 the Japanese
gunners enormous targets. which with the
skill they are known TO possess, they are
certain 10 be able 10 hit I'm one shot out
OF four.
1t Is simply a question for them whether
the time has as yet come 10 use a large
quantity OF ammunition on their enemy
But they are reported TO have accumulated
vast stores. some part of which by thi:
: time has been removed 10 their advanced
base close TO Port Arthur. in the Blond,
Islands whence they made war i'm 1913
We may expect to hear any minute thai
the long-range Smelling OF Port Arthur ha:
begun. Ii viii be infinitely terrible. for tn,
huge twelve-inch gun of our day fires an
S50-pound proiectile loaded with lyddite
end IL capable Of doing the most fearful
damage where il strikes II lyddite was ;
failure In the South African war il mus
be remembered that il was then used ii
shells which We're too small To give gooC
results with high explosives. The twelve
inch shell i something very different from
the AZ or siX-inCh.
Ths only protection for naval base il
our day is a mobile fleet which is not "a fraie
20 fight. Japan has grasped that fact. anC
Is now pressing her initial success 10 IN,
utmost. true TO the stern spirit of moder1
war.