The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-08-28

Was pointed out to him ny his foreign
sdviscrs and he was quick to take the
hint The design and construction Of the
lfortincations were entrusted to a German
OFFICER and so efficiently carried out by
hin that in 1854, when China became III
yolvcd In llostlttles With France. both the
lind ana sea defences were already so
Formidable that Admiral Courbet, the
French communicated chief, positively
declined to act on the suggestion Of his
government to attempt to take possession
OF the port Unless furnished with d far.
moro powerful fleet than that at MS dis
trcsal and an army Of at least 10000
men. Ii Hung Chang, anticipating q war
by nnd by with Japan. continued to-,
strengthen the fort, and II was IN strong
position In 1904 when war with Japan
began.
we are indebted to tho Nineteenth
Century magazine for these facts. II
tuay be added that after japan captured
1t, she was prevented by the Russian,
German and French coalition from oc-
oupying 1t, and on March 9th. 1898, the
Chinese government leased 1t to t.,issin,
with adjacent. territory, for a. period OF
twenty-five years.
1t Is proper to note Just hero that this
lie one Of the scores which Japan is now
settling with Russia and the coinctdente
above noted becomes all the more strik-
ing and Interesting fors this rca SON.. a t
the conclusion Of the war With China
the Liao Tung Peninsular, including Port
Arthur and tho coast line OF ldanchuria
as far as the boundary Of Korea and
extending thirty miles Inland along the
northern bank Of tho river Y;llu was
coded to Japan as a war Indemnity. But
Japan was not allowed to enjoy her pos
session for long rho treat had hal dlyi
Ghcen ratified when Russia, l'rance and
Germany In the way u ~ q iplotnhcy po-
lltcly advised Japan TO q bandon her
scla1m to any portion Of the mainland Of,
China. Japan understood that this bit
or friendly ..advice''t was equivalent to al,
order from three great powcrs---ni II order
which she did not dare dlsobey. she ac-
&C pied the Inevitable and g,Lvo UP the
territory that she had acquired as the
result OF war She had successfully
waged. Her people ere 4 mo titled S and
dlsgusted and sthe mai + sd beet 81 their
wrath was Russia, FOR they tArswl that
Russia. moro than either o { the otlleY
powers named, was responsible for tile
order. Russia was not long IN 4 taking
advantage OF her oppo rtunity. she lcnt
China money, with which to pay her r
Indemnity and In return SHE secuf ca from
China theSrigllt Of anchorage to llers fleet
at Port Arthur and the right TO extend
her railway through Man cluria. "A little
later as has alread y been said She leas-
Cd from China this 8val uable anu S rateg- 4
IL port and fortress, which 8 apa II had
been forced to relinquisl, attn 3;,yl Ii bto;
had gained 1t Iii war. It was bad enough,
Iii the sight Of j pan,Sto have been forced
by Russia to give8up Port Arthur It was
far worse-it WIS adding Insult, to In
jury It was giving to Russia. whom.
Japan feared, the strategic advantage
swricht{J apar had but recently held. and
was forced to surrender. lS SSF AT n
E \ Here, sthen,8ts the true nninlus 4 st the
war swhich j pan IS wa cling iaga inst R,ss-
STA. For many long years Russ.a liaa
kept ia pan on the anxious bench. Korea
q. toFall irtents and purnosesBa part of
1Japan's territory, and for Russia to seize
Korea and estate isli 4 herself firmly at
Port Arthur, with which she we CON
nected by rail- and to establish herself
AT various points in Manchurla, az che.
was doing---all this was a threat to the
very existence Of Japan. 4 Added to this
fear was the sense Of wrong, the cause
OF which we have pointed out, and 1T is.
rot strangc that the aps, have fought
With such fury and It Is not strange that
They nre now making a savage assault
upon Port Arthur. It Is the setting OF
an old score and the APPS Will see to it
that the account IS paid to the last far
thing We have all heard Of that tcrr,-
lie infliction and punishment called re-
Stributiye Justice.
atga3 4s S--=======
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