The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-06-01
the GREAT EASTERN war.
laring eossasks Raiding in corea
and Threatening Japanese
Communications.
I)aIny Abandoned by Russians and
Will Fall into Hands of Japanese
as Soon as They Will to Take
it---How Port Arthur can
be Taken.

st, PeterSOurg, May 29.-Ine I'M
preston in army circles is that the
Japanese will push operations against
Port Arthur with the greatest energy.
but it is also believed that month
or more will be required to bring up
the siege guns. In the Chipo-Japan-.
ese war, although Kin Chou was taken
practically without opposition. eleven
days were necessary to prepare for the
storming of Port Arthur.
Colonel Novtzky, of the general staff
in an interview, points out that Port
Arthur, although generally denomi
mated fortress, is in reality an in
trencbed camp, whereof Kin Chou
was onlv an advanced improvised posi-
tioD. It would be unwise to judge Of
the strength of the permanent connect
ed fort6catons around Port Arthur by
Kin Chou. These fortifcatons, he
said, support each other scientifcal-
ly. Operations against them will re-
quire the most careful systematic pre-
paration.
ssThe japanese now before Port Ar
thur - said Colonel Novtzky, may
proceed in three ways: First, an
OpSu oGloSh al eO1 pAOpo1 dtOiJ olt1-
lery fire; second, progressive siege.
an6 third, a blockade I think the
japanese Will adopt the FIRST course,
as it is not to their advantage to
wait while Russian reinforcements
are arriving. The second method is a
long and complicated operation that
might last months.
"lPort Arthur, generally speaking,
is i1npregnable, but impregnability is
relative term. Nothing in fortifca-
tion is really invincible. Guns will
destroy any structure. Cannon will
defeat each other. Sappers can re-
bitches. Scaling ladders will over
come any walls. Mine can be met
with counter-mine
GA blockade would involve passive
activity for many months and an enor-
nous number of troops Therefore,
I believe that the japanese will at
tempt to carry the place by assault,
with the aid Of their artillery.
.sThe Japanese are copying on a
larger scale their campaign of 1894.
While Gen. Oku is at Port Arthur,
Gen. Knroki, after a junction with
the adancing army landing at Taku
Shan. will move on Hal CbeGg and
New Chwang until they are occupied.
do not believe Gen. Kuroki will
move against Gen. Kuropatkin's main
position until he has formed base at
New Chwang."
One of the Associated Press's Rus
sian correspondents has just returned
from Port Arthur. He has been over,
and is thoroughly familiar with. the
forts and defenses there. His opinion
is that the Notifications cannot be
taken except by systematic seige ope-
rations that will require many months.
"Unless the japanese are able to
carry it in less. than three months, ;"
the correspondent says, '"they will be
too late, as Gen. Kuropatkin will then
have enough men to send an army to
relieve the garrison. Fock is great
fighter. Stoessel has 10000 men, in
cluding the sailors. on the war ships.
The garrison is provisioned for a
year.
The correspondent also explains that
the abrupt declivity in the rear of the
position at Nan Chen made it impossi-
BILE for Gen. Fock to take away heavy
guns when he retired.