The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-05-30

IL
Intense interest is displayed in the
Japanese reports of the Kin Chou bat
tie. The people in the streets almost
mob newsboys to secure extras con-
tanning the dispatches.
Crowds stood around the bulletin
boards awaiting the Russian versions.
but none arrived. The official world.
as well as the public. is entirely de-
pendent on the Japanese for news.
Further details are eagerly looked for,
especially regarding losses.
The prevailing conviction here is that
the Japanese must have carried Nan
Shan at tremendous sacrifice. The ac-
counts of the heroically stubborn de-
fense made by the Russians. notwith-
standing their position, subjected to
the fire of artillery from the front and
from warships on the 1ank. are a
source of much satisfaction. Their own
reports, the Russians say, could not
have placed the fighting qualities of
their soldiers in better light than do
the 5sBSFgse.s gF'7.sr1--sze.. sses~qs
Both the admiralty and the war Of
fee are without news, and frankly con-
fess they do not expect TO hear from
the beleaguered garrison in Port Ar
thur again directly except by accident
until the fortress has been believed or
surrendered or the war ended. Some
native reports that drifted into head
quarters. at Lao Yang. and were for
warded here. say that the Japanese
lost many thousands.
Will Push the Siege.
The impression in army circles is
that the Japanese will push operations
against Port Arthur with the greatest
energy, but it is also believed a month
or more will be required to bring up
siege guns. In the Chino Japanese war,
although Kin Chou was taken prac-
tically without opposition, eleven days
We're necessary to prepare for the
storming of Port Arthur.
Col, Novtzky of the general staff. in
an interview, points out that Port Ar
thur, although generally denominated
a fortress, is in reality an entrenched
camp, whereof Kin Chou was only an
advanced improvised position. 1t
would be unwise to judge of the
strength of the permanent connected
fortifications around Port Arthur by
Kin Chou. These fortifications. he said,
support each other scientifically. Oper-
atons against them will require the
most careful and systematic prepara-
tiOn.
The Japanese now before Port Ar
thur" said Col. Novtzky, may proceed
IN three ways: First, an open attack
after preparatory artillery fire; second,
progressive siege, and third, the
blockade. 1 think the Japanese will
adopt the first course, as it is not to
their advantage to wait while Russian
relnforcements are arriving. The sec
ond method is a long and complicated
operation that might last months.
Not Absolutely ImpregnabIe.
Port Arthur, generally speaking, is
Mpregnable, but impregnability is
relative term. No fortification is really
lnvncible. Guns will destroy any struc-
ture, Cannon will defeat each other.
SaSpers can remove impediments out
Side and fill bitches. Scaling ladders
VIII overcome any walls. Mine can be
met with coUntermine.
blockade would involve passive
activity for many months, and an
enormous number of troops Therefore,
believe the japanese will attempt to
carry the place by assault with the aid
OF their artillery.
The Japanese are copying on a
.arger scale their campaign of 1894
While Gen. Oku is at Port Arthur, Gen.
huroki, after a junction with the ad-
'ancing army landing at Taku Shan,
VII move on Hal Cheng and New
hWang until they are occupied. 1
90 not believe Gen. Kuroki will move
3galnst Gen. Kuropatkin's main posi-
ION until he has formed base at New
Chwang.s'
Only by a Systematic Siege.
One of the Associated Press Rus
san correspondents has just returned
ON Port Arthur. He has been over,
'id IS thoroughly familiar with, the
'Prts and defenses there. His opinion
s mat the fortress cannot be taken
Aoept by systematic siege operations
az will require many months.
Unless the Japanese are able to
aIry " in less than three months" !"
.'e correspondent says, they will be
'o late, as Gen. Kuropatkin viii then
"aNe enough men TO send an army to
HeVe the garrison. Fcck is a great
usnter. Stoessel has 10000 men. in
-ualng the sailors on the warships.
ne garrison Is provisioned for a year"
Inc correspondent also explains that
ne abrup, decliyty In the rear OF the
pOsilon al Nan Chen made II dmpos-
.lole Tor Gen. Fock TO kake away heavy
runs when he retired