Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-12-18
EVE WiTNEss TELLS OF
BATTLES IN THE EAST
LIsutsnant Sent to Orient by the Navy
Department Describes Adventures.

-0
(William Il. Curtis Correspondence OF
Chicago Record Herald.)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6-Lieutenant
Newton A. McCully Of the navy. who
has Just returned from vladivostok
and Mukden, after series Of exciting
adventures In Port Arthur. tells his
story in 4 very modest but interesting
way.
Il WAS sent over in February. 1904"
he says, ITO go with the Russians as
aA observer for the navy department.
I went via St. Petersburg and the
great Siberian railroad to Liao-Yang.
and reported at the headquarters OF
General kouropatkin. I was delayed
there for two weeks, trying to get n
permit to to Port Arthur: and A.
nally obtained 1t Just as the Japanese
were landing to begin the siege. On
the eth of May started for Port Ar
thur with . scouting party Of Primor-
Ski dragoons-from a Russian prov
ince BY that name, which means by
the sea- They were under command
Of Captain Boutakoh, cousin Of the
present naval Attacne OF the Russian
embassy here. The railway had been
torn up In places. The Japanese had
blown up bridge to prevent the Rus
SLAMS from using It, while the Rus
slams had torn up lot Of track to
prevent the Japanese from using It,
90 we had to 20 on horseback until
We reached the lower end OF the line,
which was In working order. We
were three days on the march. All
I had was the clothes I wore. a cam
era and 4 canteen, but I got part of
my baggage a few days later. The
dragons drove the Japanese OF so
a. 70 let an ammunition train through.
Ny friends at Liao-Yang had put some
Of my baggage on one Of the wagons.
I got the rest Of II six months later.
They sent 1t back to headquarters and
kept 1t carefully for me until my re-
turn.
upon arriving at Port Arthur was
assigned quarters In Chinese house
near the navy yard. with two Ger
mans-Captain Hopman and Lleuten-
ant Won Gilgenheim-and the French
observer-Viscount Cuverville. had
. good room and we took our meals
at the naval club. There were no
Americans or English In Port Arthur
at the time. Hector Fuller, a newspa-
per correspondent came In while
was there. but did not see him or
know anything about him until after
he had been sent away. remained
In Port Arthur from May to Aug. IA.
I'VE were reasonably comfortable
and had nothing to complain OF. Ev-
erybody was very polite to us and
there was plenty Of timed goods to
eat and plenty OF tea to drink, but
very little fresh meat or vegetables.
We were allowed 10 10 around the
hills and up and down the beach. and
could zee q great deal. visited ali
the ships In the harbor. but they
would not let me go out with them
whom they went to meet the Japanese
1eet did not expect they would, be.
cause II II not customary to permit
fcrsigners to accompany ships of war
into action.
The blockade was not very strict
before the 9th Of July. I saw the
Asst 20 out on June % and Aug. 10
for those two nights. as a fleet; and
single ships or squadrons of battle
hips and cruisers frequently went out
10 engage the enemy. They would ex-
,hsnes shots and then return to the
aarbor, Tho Russian officers were
and talked freely, but would
lot givo us any of1cial data. They
,avs 10 every opportunity. however.
0 ~ their msthods Of laying mines
"a taking them up. and the enect OF
10 ninas upon the enemy. did not