The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1904-08-30
PORT ARTHUR IS A
HELL OF DESTRUCTION
TERRIBLE SIEGE OF


Dor almost nightly. the question went
| around the world: How long can Port
| Arthur withstand this double attack?
A chronological history of events
in and about the besieged city from
the time that communication was
| first completely cut off, taken from
cabled reports, best tells the story
of the days and nights of horror that
must have been the experience Of
the garrison within.
May 1O-Japanese fleet shelled the
city effectually. Many lives lost.
May 11-Railroad communication
opened long enough to get through a
| train load Of ammunition from Lao
| Yang. Japanese are attacking Cos
sacks as near to Port Arthur as ANU.
May 14-Japs destroy II miles OF
the railroad leading to Port Arthur.
Rumors begin to be circulated that
the fortress has fallen.
| May 16-Japs destroy so miles
more Of railroad.
May 17-Russans fall back on
Mukden, while Japanese move on
Port Arthur
May 19-Report denied that 10000
Russians were marching to the re-
lief of the fortress.
May 23-Entrance to Port Arthur
cleared.
| May 25--Bombardment by Japan
csc fleet, which has been going on
with persistency. renewed with great
err vigor.
May 27-Japanese army begins to
close in around Port Arthur. Vice Ad-
miral Togo bombarded the fortress
to create a diversion while Kin Chow
was captured. Complete blockade of
southern end Of Liao-tung peninsula
effected by Togo.
June Japanese said to have
placed mines in harbor. Russians
say 100000 Japs are on Lao Tung
peninsula.
June 5-Czar gives orders to save
Port Arthur.
June 6-Trustworthy reports are
that Port Arthur is without coal and
food.
June 9-Reports received of four
days battle on land within ten miles
Of Port Arthur. Car receives re-
port that the Japanese fleet has swept
the country back of Port Arthur with
shells, Tightening siege.
June 25-Jap fleet destroys battle
ship and damages cruiser.
June 29-Japanese army in force
closing in on Port Arthur.
July 3-Torpedo attack at entrance
to harbor results in two more ships
being blown up.
July 11-Russian fleet makes sor-
tie and returns to port
August Sin fight resulting from
Russian fleets sortie Japs are driven
OFF. one of their cruisers sunk and
another disabled. Japs take Wolf
hill with heavy loss.
August 10-Russian fleet steams
out of Port Arthur and engages in
, fierce fight Japanese pursue fleeing
! neutral ports. Port Arthur garrison
left to its fate. Many rumors that 1t
has fallen.
August 13-Mikado directs COM
mander-in-chief Of japanese land
| forces to permit women, merchants
priests and other non-combatants to
leave Port Arthur and give them
, shelter. Japanese army closes in
more tightly from the rear.
August 15-Japanese attacking
Port Arthur heavily from land and
sea. Fort Hanlaungshen captured.
August 16-Japanese reported urg.
ing surrender. Several Russian ships
, return to port and make another sor-
tie. Refugees flee from city on junks
! August 17-Oil warehouses burned
| August 19--Jap fleet renews at
tacks on port. Thousands reported
: killed by mines before Port Arthur
= Russians reported having retaker
l some inner forts. Desperate fight.
D ing all about the city.
And so the great struggle goes or
g with the fall of Russia's stronghold
seemingly but a matter of days.