Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-05
DIFFICULT TO DISCUSS
SECRECY ABOUT DETAILS IN
OPERATIONS AT PORT ARTHUR.
Gen. chaffee Says the Effect Of Sur
render is Observation-Disclosures
in Military Circles.

The latest military achievement of the
Japanese forces in the capture of Port Ar
thur is a general subject Of conversation
among officers of the army and navy in
this city. but, acting under instructions to
refrain from public comment on the prog
ress of the war in the east, they general
ly decline to discuss the matter for publica-
ton at this time. 1t appears, however,
from the general tenor of the views Of the
military experts privately expressed, that
the Russian cause has sustained severe
blow by the latest Japanese victory, and Is
not likely to retaliate~ in kind unless the
Russian army in Manchuria is strongly re-
inforced.
Among the officers the general opinion
was that the siege just ended, while not the
greatest In the history of warfare, was still
of sufficient length and has great enough
bearing on the war in general to warrant 1t
place among the greatest Admiration
was expressed ON every hand for the brave
defenders, as well as for the victors. who,
1t was admitted, by their daring, in the
face of almost impregnable Notifications,
have carried their flag to every height
Gen. Chaffee's View.
Lieut.. Gen. Chaffee. chief Of staff was
one of the few officers who were willing to
say something Of a general character for
publication regarding the fall of Port Ar
thur. In an interview with newspaper
man. he said:
1.-The siege was one of the most remark
able in military history. 1t was one of
the longest in modern times. Not only
was it notable for the stubbornness of
the defense, but also for the determine
ton and fierceness of the attack.
1T is difficult for us to discuss the OPP
erations very definitely, because there is
little known in detail. The operations
were kept secret, and we had no Ameri-
can officers attached to the armies who
were in a position to get detailed infor-
nation or closely to observe all the move
ments.
THE artillery fire was evidently very
destructive. but I believe the rifle fire
was extraordinary on both sides in it's ac-
curacy and the execution it did"
WAS not the siege q marvel in engi-
neerfng, in construction of trencheS?' Gen.
Chaffee was asked.
THAT is something the full extent of
which nobody is able to tell outside of
the fighting armies themselves until full
reports have been made public and there
has been an opportunity for officers to go
over the ground where the fighting has
been done.
The Effect Of Surrender.
What effect the surrender of Port Ar
thur will have upon the war is problemati-
CAL Winter will prevent much further
fighting now, but look for the resumption
Of fighting about next March, when the
climate is more favorable.
I'VE know that the success of the siege
gives the Japanese considerable additional
strength-whatever the number of men is
that has been engaged in the attack.
There is another great battle to be
fought in the place where all this fighting
has already been done, right in the same
trenches. There are two great armies still
confronting each other Mukden and the
main line of the Siberian railroad are the
natural objective of the Japanese army.
The Japanese army is the natural objective
of the Russian army.
Each army must organize a moving
army; that is, in addition to the two ar
mics which face each other in about equal
strength there must be another force Or
ganized to strike on the enemy's flank. The
side which gets on the others flank first
will probably turn it out of its position.
But it will be hard fighting throughout
''Then there is another naval battle to be
fought. If the Japanese win this their po-
sition will be improved, for time at least
If they lose, their position will be despe-
rate"