The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-02

W. OlHtI DCElLlOlls were 'htlAith III yum
succession with heavy losses 10 the Jspa-
nese. Eighty guns and an enormous
quantity OF rtce were taken. II was wholly
a land fight but the course Of events was
siRnalled % the Japanese feet OF the coast
The capture Of the fortress then might
have been a much harder task had the
Chinese been better soldiers, or had their
officers been skilful enough in warfare 20
take complete advantage OF their splendid
position, which. in addition TO It's natural
strength. was guarded by nine forts In
addition TO these were the redoubts and de-
fensive earthwork encircling the fortress.
By the treaty OF peace signed at Shi-
monosekt on April II, 1895 Port Art hur
was coded 70 Japan, with practically the
whole Liaotung Peninsula. including all
islands appertaining thereto.
But Japan did not hold this advantage
long. Owing 10 the action OF Russia. back ed
up by France and Germany. she was COM
PEELED TO retrocede under Article Of the
convention signed at Pekin on Nov. 8, 1895,
all the territory occupied by her in Man
churia, and by the end OF that year the last
Japanese soldier had been withdrawn
Russia gave as her reason for demandin &
Japan's withdrawal that the latter's con-
templated possession OF the Laotung
Peninsula would not only constitute a con-
slant menace TO the capital OF China. but
would also render the independence OF Corea
illusory. and thus ieopardize the permanent
peace OF the Far East Japan was in no posi-
ton TO defy the three great Powers that
had united 10 strip her Of the fruits OF her
victory. Accordingly the Emperor pub
~ al nth
rescript in which he yielded to the dictates
of magnsnimity and accepted the advice
TO withdraw Of the three Powers
But the pill was a bitter one for Japan.
and from that time on a feeling Of keen
resentment against Russia filed the minds
Of her people They were still further
embittered by the failure of an attempt to
obtain from China an undertaking that she
would never cede TO third Power the re-
stored territory The precedence OF her
Statesmen in asking for this pledge was
made apparent three years later when
China granted 70 Russia lease for twenty
FIVE years OF Port Arthur and Talienwan,
now Dalny, with tie adjacent territories
and territorial waters. The Cars Gov
eminent also received permission TO carry
its Manchuriau railway down TO Port Ar
thur through Chinese territory.
No sooner had the lease Of Port Arthur
been extracted from China than Russia set
10 work to render its new and important
possession impregnabe for all time.
As TO the physical features Of the place
the harbor ia an oval inlet Of the sea, two
miles long from east to west and mile
from north 70 south IL is surrounded by
hills Of various elevations and its sole en-
trance is on the southern side by narrow
channel guarded at the southwestern enc
by couple Of dangerous reefs and pro-
tected against bad weather uy narrow
spit of rocky land known as the Tigers
Tail which runs diagonally across its north
ern extremity. This nsrbor was so snail
( low, howey 81, that until extensive Dredging
operations had heen undertaken no vessel
of any size could enter.
The approach to The harbor and basin
is very confined, and from the nature ol
It's surroundings is easily defended. 10
he east KwanG- hin Hill rises TO height
Of nearly go feet and itS elevation was
( AIKEN advantage Of for the erection on ana
around its summit Of powerful hsiferles'
mounting besides smaller guns. four new
breech loading cannon weighing 6313 tons
zach on the side facing the entrance,
1 and half way down tho slope, were two
batteries Of quick 0rers. also a torpedo
and soarchigh station.
=
rhin-Shan tort for dist ance NJ nearly
fort, rerste in the nou hern direction,
and this line IL oincd hv circle Of batteries
on the hiiltops surrounding the town Ia
Z the second long line Of delences stat
nc south around the peninsula from the
NI9ufow Hi On the west The most i'm
nortant fort vas Woi-Nuen, and this was
ioined 10 several small qnic, fire batteries
commanding tho entrance. by castellated
bridges
On tho Tiger Tail wore placed seven
5.5-iuch Ulick firerF IN an omen battery,
al an elevation Of not more than 100 feet
above the ,oa level AZ tho extreme end
Of the spit vas built psdruple launch
ing slim for destroyers BEHIND this again
Circular observation tower and flagstaff
yvas constTlcted.
Thc dir dock repaired and enlarged by
the R,,ssiana Is ~ feet over all $40 feet
over blocks. - feet wide at he entrance,
and has a depth on inc ill at high tide Of
r feet Near by immeree engine shops
and ref air horses were built.
When the Rus-i1ps gained control the
old Chineaa CITY WAS RAPIDLY transformed
INTO a mass Of barracks and in place of The
7 chinese houses flne stone Buildings sprang
an Tho modern town il uit on the Euro
,,aan nian. but It is eXcessiS ely filthy owing
"a a complete lack Of drainage Fine water
,vr-ks we're IN fhe course Of corsf ruCtion
when the siege began. aud y vas the infen-
ton of the Russians ~ illuminate the city
Wild ci"CTll iikit-
on the hiah hill hacl of the town sro
placed 2 lghthonsA. sigma station and
Telephone oilce. From hero = superb
-4e.v Of Inc surrounding country NAV 10
n lsiDo1 IL he Tlrhf ~ This hill facing
seward j. the nawlT built residence Of
. The Niccrov the only respectable hahitstion
In Tint quarter of the Town. To the left
stretches the uev town. reaching almost 70
, the surrounding hills about iour miles 70
/ tho oaN
Prominent among the many huIidings
/ are tie new barracks. 4 series OF twenty
four gray ston" edifcef placed in four rows
Of sly each Nearer the harhor are the
prison. telegraph office, court house and
customs, but nothing IN tho nature Of
r,ricata' dwelling - 20 he seen anywhere
% Brvond the nov town and divided from
the east par nv p narrow strip OF land Is
a large shallow lagoon and = second smaller
orc into which empties a river. which cuts
of tho old town from the now \ wide
/ bridge spans ms nj - hdit"West pacc
/ and leads down broad road to the gates
NJ Inc arsenal and dockyarr1
Given time. the Russians would have
made model city ~ Port Arthur. but tho
+ stress Of circumstances required that more
attention he paid 10 its defences than 70
- Development along peaceful lines The
. admin ~ RI ton Of the town was intrusted
10 a committee Of officers under the prssi-
dency Of the Niceroy, or, in his absence,
! Of III, senior naval officer present