The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-25

deciding point in the war between Ja-
pan and China was the taking of Port
Arthur by the Japanese. When peace
was negotiated Japan claimed Port Ar
thur. Russia had long cast longing
eyes in that direction herself, however.
and entered protest. The matter ended
by the car taking Port Arthur for
himself although leaving it nominally
under Chinese control. Japan has never
recovered from the bitterness engen-
dered by that act. and one of her most
cherished ambitions is to be able some
day to wrest Port Arthur from the
Russian.
The chief object of the cars govern
ment in seeking this harbor that has
been called 'the key to the orient was
that it might have a vantage ground
for the inevitable struggle for eastern
control. Vladivostok is not entirely
satisfactory, as during part of the year
it is locked in ice. Besides, its position
is not strong from a strategic
standpoint as that of Port Arthur.
This city has had many other appella-
lions, among which is "the Gibraltar
of Asia" OF course it is a habit of
some writer's to term almost any sort
of a fort a Gibraltar until in the war
literature of the day there are Gibra1-
tars strung all around the world. Port
Arthur, however, is really entitled to
the name, for it is apparently impreg-
nable. Looked at from the sea, it also
bears a certain physical resemblance to
the famous fortress at the entrance of
the Mediterranean. The natural fea-
lures surrounding it therefore render it
well nigh invincible, and in addition to
these Russia has spent millions of dol-
lars in improving and fortifying it.
Intimately connected with Port Ar
thur-in fact, forming part Of the
scheme of it's defense-is the port OF
Dalny. This is nominally a free port,
open alike to all the nations of the
world. but in reality it is Russian. It
is on the coast of Manchuria, only thir-
ty-five miles from Port Arthur, and
was especially built at the command
of the Russian government. The order
| for construction was given in 1899, and
| the port was opened for entry in De-
| cember, 1901.
Dalny is the southern terminal of the
great Transsiberian railway that for
merly ended at vladivostok. 1t is thus
connected by rail with Port Arthur. It
is one of the finest deep water harbors
! on the Pacific.
From the position of this port it.
rather than Port Arthur, would prob
ably be the objective of an attack, for
Port Arthur in the event of the fall of
Dalny could be approached from the
success than could be afforded by an
approach from the sea.
The city about the harbor, which can
be said to have literally sprung up in
a night" now consists of over $4,000
population, for the most part Chinese,
Japanese, Koreans and Russians. Over
10000 men are employed in construct
ing the docks and piers and similar
| government works, so that Dalny is one
| of the busiest places in the orient.
| The only other considerable Russian
port in this part of the world is Via
| divestol.. which is far to the north of
| Port Arthur and Da1ny and is only
reached by water by passing around
Korea and through channels in danger
Gus proximity to Japan. The meaning
of the Russian name is dominion of
the east" The harbor lies at the head
OF an inlet and is strongly fortified.
Originally Vladivostok was practically
closed during nearly four months of
the year by ice, but recently the Rus
sian government is introducing great
''ice breakers that will go far in the
direction of eliminating this difficulty.
There are many important Chinese
ports about the Yellow sea that are of
undoubted Importance as strategic
points. Chief of these, perhaps, is
Weihaiwei, which is under British in
f1uenee= ARTHUR @. FETZEL