The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-06
TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE.
Japanese Will Make Port Arthur
 StrOnxer Than Ever.

Chefoo. Jan. 5.-(Nlght.) t.)-Japaness Consul Mizoune tonight informed Rus sian Consul Tiedmann that the first portion of the 1000 resident non-com- batants at Port Arthur. who are to come to Chefoo. will arrive Friday. It will be some time before the entire thousand reach here, owing to "a. short age of transportation facilities. Most of these non-combatants are in good health, although some of them are barely sufficiently convalescent to reach here. 6sU t The authorities at Tekio having re- fused proposition made by the Rus sian Minister at Pekin to send . ship loaded with medicalsanpplies and foods for the invalids, 1t has been suggested that this ship be diverted to Chefoo for the benefit of the, expected non-com- hatants.
 The local Russians are busy tonight endeavoring to find quarters for tomor- rows arrivals here.
 Consul Mizoune says that the refusal of the Japanese to allow either the Andromeda or the ship ordered by Min- ister Lessar at Pekin to visit Port Ar thur is in pursuance of a strict policy not to allow any foreign ship to ap- proach the harbor.
 Sympathy for the sick and wounded Russians at Port Arthur is widespread, but an idea to care for them at Chefoo. Tientsin, Shanghai, Weihaiwei and Tsintau. has led to an inquiry which developed the fact that the combined facilities of the places named are equal to harboring only very small per- centage of them.
 Some time ago Russian residents at Chefoo collected a fund in anticipation of this emergency. but at a meeting of nNfk tal ,f- the local health officer, the fact was de- veloped that the present conditions at Chefoo are equal to caring for only a few. The conditions at Shanghai and Tientsin are approximately inade- quate.
 The general opinion here Is that the great mass of sick and wounded will be compelled to remain at Port Arthur until they are sufficiently convales- cent to return to Russia.
 The refusal of the Japanese to accept the aid rendered by the British cruiser Andromeda was an error born of their desire to show the world that Japanese humaneness was equal to the occasion.
 The statement of the censored dis patches from correspondents with Gen craI Nogi's army that the Japanese lost only 50,000 men in taking the fortress is declared to be absurd by Russian naval oncere here. Their lowest esti- mate. they say. based on both personal observation and on stories told by pris- oners. is that the Japanese lost so.00O.
 Adviees from Japanese sources say that the condition of Port Arthur Is chaotic. but that General Nogi and General Stoessel are rapidly system atizing affairs there. General Nogi Is prepared. through agents who have been recruiting for months. to put a force of Chinese coolies at work re- fortifying Port Arthur immediately af- ter the Russians are disposed of Vast quantities of cement and timbers are ready on the Yalu River for this pur- pose, while steel plates and other man ufactured necessaries are ready in Ja- pan for transportation to the fortress.
 The Japanese are confident that the re-fortification of Port Arthur will place the fortress in a better condition than ever with the Russian defects eliminated. long before Russia can be- siege 1t. if such a thing ever occurs at all.
 Ammunition, food and medical sup plies to last for years will be sent to Port Arthur. Japan being heedful of the mistakes made by the Russians.