The Washington times., 1904-02-28


as developed up to date seems to
be contained in a quadrilateral
drawn from Vladivostok southwest to
Port Arthur, east 10 Chemulpo, north
east TO Hakodate. and west TO the be-
ginning point. These limits include the
principal sea fighting and land engage
ments- Hakodate is the northerly sea-
port of Japan threatened by the enemy's
fleet from VladivOstok, and ChemuIpo Is
on the western coast of the Korean
peninsula not far from Seoul. the capt.
tai
Formerly the terminus of the Trans-Si-
berian Railway before the seizure of
Port Arthur by the rapacious Slav
Nladivostok was founded thirty-hve
years ago. Within the last decade vast
sums were spent 20 transform the simple
fishing village into the fortified Com
nand Of the East" Many forts were
built, and in 1S99-l9OO it contained a gar
rison of 5000. In process of construction
or completed are three docks. at a total
cost of about 100000 rubles: a wharf
two and One-han miles long. and extern
sive barracks. II the Japs held it il
sition. Until recently. there was a diff
hculty in the harbor being icebound from
December till April But now icebreak-
Ing machines are used to keep the port
clear. Ice. In fact, seems to play a part
IN the strategy Of defense and offense. 1t
is possible for the Russian fleet to make
a sortie on the eEemy's country. return
10 NladivostOk, and let the ice freeze
round them fast, so that the little brown,
men cannot get at them. This is nocounic
opera situation
magnificent sight greets the ap-
preaching traveller to VIadivostok
Around the shining blue roadgtead.
large enough To contain a dozen navies.
rise The green hills to a height OF 500
feet; along the crests appear the white
pcraDets Of forts. and below straggies
the red-roofed town for nearly five
miles. All this lies on the south side of
a peninsula called Maravief-Anurslxv a
score OF miles in length. Two narrow
passages, divided by Dundas Island
give entrance TO the harbor. which
bends north half a mile. and then turns
t. the east about one mile. The hills.
sioping sharply TO the waters edge
have been stripped Of trees. They were
formerly thought to contain gold.
"he-te the name Golden Horn. An
otter Eamc on old charts is Port May.
The steep streets Of the town. dusty
ln DIS weather. are lined with plank
sidewalks ana have a considerable traffic
OF siow-mcviug droskies. The fair-hair-
81 and n1t-nosed Russian drivers wear
hts 90 hats with rolling brims. jackets
with scarlet sleeves. plated black
SKIRTS. and top boots The fare is
eighty kopeks for thirty minutes-un-
lf-s there arc overcharges. One sees
~ go me picturesque troika with its
H-lddie horse trottiug under an arch of
wood All these blonde giants Of driv-
ers commune with their steeds in a con
haential sing-song which may include
criticisms OF the fare" inside
What have we got now. little broth
err Gays the driver 60 his horse in
slit'ian dialect What have we got
now is ne an American or is ne q
Crutch? Meaning Korean) ! don't care
ftr his looks, do you? That's right. give.
Inn good iolting, This place IS getting
L. De the gutter for the whole world -
There IS a great variety Of DWELLINGS
r@ngi1g from the mujiks log hut To the
coolies home Of mud and the paIatial
German residence with electric lights
The orthodox Greek Church al the
water s. edge is Of a weird tyne a
mingling OF Greek lines and buIbous
oriental effects. there being two large
towers and two smaller ones. At the
time this visit was made the officiating
priest had blonde hair and magnIfcent
robes Of golden cloth. The worshipers
were very devOut. doffing their hats out
side the church and kneeling through
the entire service. on coming ont OF
the church they kissed one another.
or public buildings there are two hos
pitfalls. military and naval clubs, a boys
seminary where science is unknown. an
institute Tor girls, and a museum. The
governors residence is surrounded bv a
public garden where the band plays ma
tional music IN summer At that season
cooling drinks are needed as well as
music, for the thermometer reaches l0l
degrees Fahrenheit. There are several
hotels. Of which the best have billiard
rooms. The Lutheran Church and other
denominations are represented There
Is a brewery. a photograph studio
greenhouses, brick kilns, banks enough
and sampan ferries IN the harbor at ten
eks fare.
he main impression one gets is that
the streets swarm with big. raw-boneo
soldiers IN dark trousers and great fur
5, swords hung in straps from their
2 shoulder.
adlvostok has a triple government.
N more OF less Independent. The
naval station is under an admiral, and