Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-01-19
Aftermath Of Port Arthur.

When Nogi's 11-inch mortars were
dropping their igh-explosive shells upon
the Russian battleships and cruisers In the
inner harbor OF Port Arthur and sinking
them, one by one, with that scientific
precision with which all the Japanese
operations OF the war have been carried
on, one could not help experiencing feel
ing OF pity that so many splendid vessels
should be thus ruthlessly destroyed For
nobody at that time imagined for q
moment that any OF these ships would be
again set afioat or II floated, be capable
OF being put into thoroughly servlceable
condition. Not only was IL supposed that
the shells which sank the vessels must
have damaged them beyond successful re-
pair, but II was taken for granted that
before the Russians surrendered the city
Of Port Arthur they would be careful to
complete the work OF destruction by blow
ing up the sunken ships with heavy
charges Of high explosives
Great was the establishment with which
II was learned upon the occupation OF
the fortress by the japanese. that the
latter, after making a thorough survey
of the sunken ships, were confident that
at least two or three OF them could be
raised and repaired. The statement was
received with widespread incredulity both
here and in Europe. But when cable dis
patches from Toxic began to announce
II
ship, and now a cruiser. the world per-
ceived that, as usual. the Japanese were
going to make good" and not only raise
the vessels, but place them in such
thorough repair as to be able to enroll
them on the list OF Japanese ships in
commission. The story Of the sinking OF
the Russian Port Arthur fleet belongs to
the closing days OF the ever-memorable
siege of the fortress and city. After the
return of the roughly handled remnants
of the Port Arthur fleet on the day fol-
lowing its defeat by Admiral Togo in the
great sortie in August, the ships were
moored on the northerly side of the
harbor and in the lee OF a lofty hill that
served to screen them from direct obser-
walton from the positions occupied by the
besieging army. AS long as 203-Meter
Hill remained In the possession of the
Russians, the ships were practically safe
against bombardment, the only shots that
did any damage being those which, thrown
blindly into the harbor, happened to fall
upon a ship at her moorings. Compare
lively little damage was done to the fleet
by this blind bombardment, and 1t was
only when 203-Meter Hill was captured
that japanese observers stationed thereon
were able to render the fire OF the 11-inch
mortars accurate. For the sinking OF
the ships, Is Of these 11-inch pieces were
available, and once the Japanese were
in possession of the hill they set about
the sinking Of the feet with Characters
tic elaboration. The shots from any given
battery were noted as they fell In the
water and the distance that they were
long, short, to the right or to the left,
was duly telephoned in from the signal
station. Proper corrections in the eleva-
tion OF the mortars were made, and 1t was
only a question OF a few rounds before the
exact range was secured. One by one
the vessels were sunk at their mornings
-[Scientific American.