The Savannah morning news., 1904-05-29
sTRoNGHoLDs OF FAR EAST.
MuIzden and Hardin Are Great De-
pots for Troops and stores.
From the Philadelphia Ledger.

From the Philadelphia Ledger.
Mukden, the second city of impor-
lance in Manchuria, having in times of
peace at least 900 inhabitants, is Sit
uated in the csnter of an immense al
luvial plain, about three miles from the
Hunho, a tributary of the Lao river.
1t is about $50 miles north of Port Ar
thur, forty-two miles north of Lao
yang and $50 miles south of Hardin.
Gen. Kuropatkin discovered. early in
March, that Hardin was too far north
to serve as military base for the
campaign in Southern Manchuria, and
he selected Mukden for his headquar-
tiers because it ie favorablY situated on
the railway and on the Pekin road.
The city of Mukden has an outer wall
of mud, and a lofty quadrangular inner
wall three miles in circuit. built of
brick, flanked by lofty towers and
pierced by eight gates protected by
lofty brick bastions. This wall, on
which three carriages could drive
abreast. protects the commercial and
official part of the city, which is dense
~ crowded.
Mukden, besides being rhe great
grain emporium Of Manchuria, is the
center of the Chinese fur trade. and
attracts buyers from all parts of the
world. Fine streets divide the city into
nine wards or districts, the central dis
trict containing a Chinese palace with
much decorative yellow thing and q
public examination hall. The Russians
have erected spacious barracks, with
accommodations for more than 100000
soldiers. There are said to be now
more than $4,000 Russian troops at
Mukden.
Mukdens streets are regularly built,
and it's fine residences are we'll kept
up. It is a busy place, both in times
of peace and war, and does large and
lucrative trade in grain, Leans and
furs. 1t has various industries, which
include the tanning and dressing OF
| furs and the weaving of silk stuffs; ITS
bankers and merchants are rich and
erterprising.
Mukden is the ancient royal city of
| the Manchus, and the former burial
place of the rulers of China -Four miles
east of the city is the tomb OF the
founder of the Manchu dynasty, Nura-
| chu. The sepulchre itself forms a
| great mound built up over the coffin. In
! front of this stands funeral hall, the
whole being surrounded by high wall
| pierced by one grand gateway, which
| holds three arched portals. The avenue
| of approach is spanned by two lofty
| and elaborate arches of carved stone,
| the bases of their columns resting on
carved lihenesses of frogs
| Hardin is the most Important INuo-
sian military depot in the Far East,
! and is situated on the Transsiberian
Railroad to Vladivostok, just where
the Port Arthur Nne turns directly
south The Russians have within the
| past eighteen months erected more
| than 5000 houses in Hardin, the mate
rails used being chiefly brick and cor
rugated iron. Forty thousand Russian
| soldiers were said to be quartered in
! Hardin. Immense storehouses for
grain and other forage, as we'll as
magazines for arms and ammunition
! have also been erected. and millions Of
| rubles have been spent to improve the
warehouse facilities alone.
From Hardin the Chinese Eastern
Railway, a branch of the Transsioerian
Railway. runs southwark to New
Chwang, $50 miles distant. on the Gulf
of Lao Tung, and thence southwark
$50 miles to Dalny and Port Arthur.
A new branch line was recently con-
structed from Hardin to Kirin. one of
the most important trading centers of
Manchu-ia and the junction of the
principal trade routes to Northern
Manchuria and Korea.