Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-01-12
FALL OF PORT ARTHUR.

4
portant bearing on the Russo-Japanes'
war. IL was the first and real obIec
tive of the campaign. Port Arthur
has a sentimental value 70 the Japa'
nese. They took II ten years ago from
the Chinese, but were forced TO yield
il then at Russia's behest, backed by
Germany and France, on the plea that
the territorial sovereignty Of China
must not be violated. Posing as
ghina's friend, the Russian bear
shouldered out Japan, and then pro-
ceeded to acquire, as the price of her
friendship, the very port that Japan
was forced to yield. According to
/ Russia, it was a danger to China for
Japan to hold Port Arthur, but she
saw no such objection against herself.
| The plan was patent. Years ago
Russia cast a longing eye at the south
fern point of the Liaotung peninsula
where Port Arthur was the citadel and
Dalny the commercial depot. She
sought Pacific port not ice-bound in
winter, as Vladivostok is. Port Arthur
answered every requirement. In To-
cation and possibility of defence, as
well as by reason OF Ms nearness to
Pekin and the populous parts Of China,
| 81 had no rival. So, when Japan I'M
eypectedly took it in the war with
China, Russia, backed by other
bullies who had similar motives. made
her release it.
And Japan, not then feeling equal
to the task OF resenting the outrage,
bad TO look on while Russia seized and
fortified the port and established there
a great military and naval depot She
watched while Russia laid her great
Siberian railroad with its Manchurian
branches, binding northern China BY
commerce. She watched while Russia, |
leaving Japan and the other allies to
do most OF the work of suppressing |
the Boxer outbreak and rescuing the |
legations at Pekin, took the oppor-
tunity afforded by the disorder TO seize
all of Manchuria. She waited while
Russia shuflled and lied in regard to
her permanent occupancy of that
province. until satisfied that there was
no intention on Russias part % retire
She tried TO negotiate so as to secure
assurance that Russia would not en-
croach further on Corea or China.
every forward step of the northern
bear meaning added danger to her
self. She could get no such assur-
ances. She knew that inevitably,
unless she was prepared TO see all
about her fall into the clutches OF Rus
iia, and herself finally, she must fight.
She understood that delay meant more
advantage TO her sometime foe. She
lad prepared carefully for the trial,
full well its seriousness.
After parleying had failed. she struck,
Ind the blow made the giant OF the
North vince. 1t tell on the enemy's
leet at Port Arthur, and from that
lour the fortress was doomed. All
he wrong and insult OF ten years be-
ore rose for vengeance. Port Arthur !,
must be taken, at whatever cost.
Nuroki's movement across the Yalu /
md his advance to Liaoyang was to
threaten Port Arthur in rear and re-
luce its defenders.
Two armies landed on the peninsula Z
lbove Port Arthur, and while one FOL /
owed up the retiring Russians north
ward and made impossible their re-
urn for the relief of the fortress, the ,
'ther proceeded to invest it. At Nan
han Hill-the neck leading to the
over bulb Of the northumberland ,
y nature to retard just such an adj [
ance, the Russians bravely sought to
urn the enemy back, but his valor :
vas too great, and after bloody slaugh-
er the Russians were forced to retire. In
topping at the outer deiences of Port 5
lrthur itself.
Nature and the highest form of con-
tructive science, at an outlay OF mil h
ons, had made Of Port Arthur what d
,as fondly termed an impregnable b
ortress. Hills and mountains rose
er upon tier, each rear one com a
those in front, those at the il
arbor mouth highest of all. Nothing
sunted, the japanese set to work Al
task thar would have staggered a less F
esolute race. They carried some oil ia
ne detached outer works. but when V
ley assaulted the main defences Y
hose guns swept the plain they 7
'iled' with tremendous loss. Then "
ley dug and tunneled and borrowed 81
Ike ants across the inrarvani,r, A. III