Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1905-01-12
Surr ender OF Port Arthur.

Surr endsr Of Port Arthur.
The surrender of Port Arthur
opens the new year auspiciously for
the japanese, to whom the event Is Of
the utmost Importance from the point
of view of sentiment, as well as mill
tary strategy. 1t will be recalled
that the japanese took the place ten
years ago, during their war with the
Chinese over Korea, and by the treaty
of Shimonoseki were given permanent
possession, but were soon after thrust
out of it, at the instance of Russia, by
ioint demand of France, Germany
and Russia. on the ground that con-
tinued possession of Port Arthur by
Japan menaced the integrity Of China.
Soon after Jspan's withdrawal, by
reason Of her inability to resist the
combined naval forces Of the three
powers, Kiaochou was obtained by
Germany as an indemnity for the
murder of two German missionaries
by Chinese mob, and little later
Russia intimidated, or cajoled, China
into conceding to her the possession of
Port Arthur for SO years, with leave
to build a railway through ManchU-
ria to the sea and exercise police pow
ers of an extensive character. The
Czar at once began to fortify Port
Arthur, at enormous expense, making
it plain to the world that not only
"this Gibraltar of the East" but the
whole Liautung peninsula and all
Manshuria were to become Russian
territory, regardless of the effect of
this shameless encoachment upon
"China's integrity"
Necessarily Japan submitted at
that time to the superior force of the
three powers, but did SO with indig-
nation, and began to prepare to re-
gain by force what had been taken
from her under pretext. A power
full navy was built with feverish haste,
the army was reorganized, and in Jan
uary, 1902, treaty of alliance was
made with England, whereby the lat
ter power obligated herself to come
to Japan's assistance should she be
attacked within the next FIVE years
by more than one power. This ar
rangement operated to stand of
France and Germany, making it pos
sible for Japan, as soon as ready for
war, to demand of Russia guarantees
in regard to the future of Korea and
Mancburia-guarantes which Russia
was sure to refuse. By this stroke OF
diplomacy the Mikado was enabled
to engage the Car singls-handed and
win victories before Russia was pre-
pared at all points. The operations
against Port Arthur may be said to
have begun February 8, with Admi-
raj Togos attack on the Russian
squadron at that place, and the par
tial blockade of the port contributed
materially no doubt to its reduction.
But the chief credit Of its capture be-
longs to the army of General Nogl
which on May q stormed Nanshan
Hill, 80 miles north Of Port Arthur,
where the Kiuchau Isthmus is mar
rowest. The siege proper, however,
did lot begin till July 90, when the
heavy artillery first got into position
to reply to the fire of the Russian
forts. All sieges are in principle the
same. The fret step is to invest the
enemy, cutting off his communication
with the outside. The question then
arises whether the place can be taken
by assault, or may be overcome by
bombardment, or must be reduced by
starvation. Many of the outworks Of
Port Arthur were taken by assault,
but like attempts upon the stronger
inner line Of works caused the Japs
such enormous losses Of life that they
had ultimately to rely upon the slow
er process Of placing preaching bat
teries and digging zig-zag approaches
under protection Of iron screens, sap
rollers, etc. Even so, the siege was
heart-breaking task for the Japs,
who made many futile assaults and in
almost every important success
counted their dead by the thousands.
1t is estimated that, from first to last
the siege has cost them $4,000 dead,
with as many wounded.
The first event Of the siege Of crit
ical import was the capture on De-
cember 4 of 203-Metre Hill, which
enabled the Japs to drop shells in all
parts of the harbor and destroy or
drive away all the Russian warsbips