PORT ARTHUR FALLS TO THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES

Cortland Semi-Weekly Standard, Tuesday, November 27, 1894.

PORT ARTHUR FALLS.

CHINA’S GREAT STRONGHOLD TAKEN BY THE JAPANESE.

Captured After Eighteen Hours’ Severe Fighting—Meagre Reports of the Battle, Which Occurred Last Wednesday. Japanese Led by Field Marshal Count Oyama—Description of the Military Fort and Its Defenses.

   CHEEFOO, Nov. 24.—Dispatches have been received here stating that the Japanese captured Port Arthur on Wednesday last after 18 hours fighting.

   Port Arthur, the native name of which is Lu Shun Kou, is the chief naval station of China. Eleven or 12 years ago it was simply a good windbound harbor for the junks that traded along the coast carrying timber from the Yalu river to ports in the gulfs of Pechili and Liaotung or those of a larger class from the south en route to Newchwang and West Chin Chou. At that time the village consisted of about 60 to 80 mud houses, with a few shops and three or four inns, which afforded accommodation to travelers to and from the north.

   The port is almost surrounded by ranges of hills, varying from 300 to 1,500 feet in height, the valleys between being well cultivated. The town at the present time has increased to nearly 1,000 houses and shops and, exclusive of the garrison, the population is estimated at over 6,000.

   There are two principal and smaller native banks, two large temples and two large theaters of recent construction. In 1881 it was finally decided to construct a dock and refitting basin there. After more than one failure the work was given to foreign contractors and in the early part of 1887 a French company secured a contract to construct the necessary works needed for a naval dockyard. At the end of 1890 the contractors completed the task entrusted to them. The entrance to the port was deepened and a basin constructed inside with a depth of 25 feet at low water.

   The port contains spacious wharves and quays fitted with steam cranes and connected by a railway with the workshops. There is a dock over 400 feet long, having 25 feet of water on its sills at low tide, which can be emptied in a few hours by means of a steam pump. There is also a smaller dock suitable for torpedo boats. The founderies and workshops contain the most modern machines, engines, etc. The dockyard can be lighted by electric light.

   For the last six years dredges have been employed to deepen the natural harbor. The bar has been deepened from 12 to about 24 feet to enable permanent moorings to be laid down for the larger men-of-war. About four miles north of the port there is a spring of fresh water. This water is now run through pipes to the dockyard, and the town is also partially supplied with water in the same way.

   Although the port is free from ice during the entire winter, ships cannot be docked for cleaning and painting purposes between the middle of November and the middle of March, as the weather then is too cold for ordinary paint to dry.

   The defenses of the port consisted of well-constructed forts armed with modern guns of heavy calibre. The coast defenses are spread over more than four miles of seaboard, and consist of about 13 batteries equally distributed on either side of the entrance of the port.

   The armament consists of more than 40 Krupp guns, varying from 6 inches to 9.06 inches, including some rifle mortars. In addition there is a torpedo boat station and an elaborate system of submarine mines. The western side of the port is protected by the shoaling of the harbor. The garrison was said to consist of about 7,000.

   The second Chinese-Japanese army, under the command of Field Marshall Count Oyama, minister of war, consisted of about 80,000 men, and when this force arrived off the Regent’s Sword promontory it was divided into two detachments, one of which, aided by part of the Japanese fleet, operated against Talienwan while the other directed its movement against Kinchow on the western side of the promontory, some miles north of Port Arthur. Talienwan and Kinchow were both captured, after which the army again combined and the march on Port Arthur commenced.

   Several engagements of minor importance took place along the route, but according to the reports the Japanese were invariably successful.

   The roads leading northward from Port Arthur were supposed to have been mined by the Chinese and the Japanese commander, therefore, declined to take the risk of marching his troops along them. Consequently they were compelled to cut roads through the forests to allow of the passage of their artillery, ammunition trains, etc. The march was thus necessarily slow.

   Dispatches received a few days ago stated that the Japanese were close to the city and had attacked the Chinese outposts driving them back to their entrenchments. It was also said that the Japanese attacked the entrenchments three times, but were repulsed each time.

   It is evident that later attacks must have been made and that the outposts were compelled to fall back upon Port Arthur.

   Several times the town is reported to have been captured, but later dispatches have shown that these reports were inaccurate and that the Japanese were conducting their operations against this place with great carefulness and that they intended, when the real attack was made, that it should be successful.

   Chefoo, from which place the dispatch announcing the fall of Port Arthur is sent, is a Chinese city on the north coast of the Shan Tung promontory, some 90 miles south of Port Arthur, from which it is separated by the Gulf of Pechili.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

After Port Arthur, What?

   The capture of Port Arthur by the Japanese is the blow which ends all hope of further resistance by the Chinese. It was the most important stronghold possessed by the latter, commanding as it did the entrance to the gulf of Pechili on the north, and containing the chief arsenal and naval dock yard of China. Nature gave it great defensive capabilities, and it had furthermore been strongly fortified by European engineers. Its series of forts was armed with modern guns, while its harbor was full of torpedoes, and the land approaches in the rear protected by mines containing high explosives. Moreover the place was garrisoned by 20,000 of the best soldiers in the Chinese army. These had been organized, equipped and trained by European officers, and were really regarded as the only effective body of troops in China. They had been concentrated at Port Arthur after the battle of Ping Yang, with the purpose of making its defense a demonstration that the Japanese could be checked in their approach towards Pekin.

   It was the general impression that this almost impregnable stronghold could be taken only after a long siege. The Japanese have shown a military genius, equaling if not exceeding anything previously displayed in modern times, by capturing the place by assault. While making a feint of attacking from the sea with torpedo boats, and attracting the attention of the enemy by an artillery fire from shore batteries, their infantry made a general charge from the rear. There was at first some very hard fighting and it took several assaults occupying nearly two days before the Japs gained a complete victory. The Chinese resisted well at the start, bearing out General Gordon’s experience that they were good fighters behind stone walls, but after the first line of fortifications were taken they became panic stricken, as at Ping Yang, and threw down their arms. Some of the officers, however, refused to surrender and were cut down. The most effective work done by the Japs was with machine guns.

   With the fall of Port Arthur, the Japanese are masters of the situation. The Chinese navy is no longer a factor of opposition. To the ships lost in the Yalu battle are now added the two captured at Port Arthur, and the Chen Yuen hopelessly disabled by carelessly running into a torpedo across the straits. Moreover, the invaders do not stop to rejoice over their victory. The greater portion of Count Oyama’s army is marching to Niuchwang in order to take possession of the railroad between Tien-Tsin and Moukden. The latter place will soon be confronted by Count Yamagata’s army, which is marching through Manchuria. Meanwhile a third army has sailed from Japan. Its destination is supposed eventually to be Nankin, in order to prevent the escape to that place of the emperor of China, In fact, it is evident that the Japs do not propose to listen to terms of peace until they enter Pekin, Then they will ask an indemnity of $75,000,000 and besides the payment of their war expenses, which will be over $100,000,000. They may also insist on the ceding of Formosa to them. Pending the payment of her claims, Japan will doubtless hold Port Arthur, Moukden and the Shantung fortress of Wai-Hei-Wai. The Chinese still hold the latter, but its garrison is rapidly deserting for fear that Japan’s third army may pass that way enroute to Nankin.

   It is said that the Washington government is still anxious to offer Japan its good offices. But the Washington government, as the Utica Herald truly says, as at present conducted, isn’t a factor. Japan will make peace with China directly, and the indications are that even England will not dare to insist on any other course. The splendid work of the Japs at Port Arthur has convinced every nation that they are fighters with whom it may be prudent not to interfere.

A BICYCLE TRACK.

Hitchcock Mfg. Co. Building the Largest Indoor Track in the World.

   The Hitchcock Manufacturing Co. is now building the largest indoor bicycle track in the world, It will be 450 feet long and 50 feet across and 12 feet wide. It is located in the fourth story of the great brick building just east of the D., L. & W. railroad tracks. It is composed of hard wood material planed and polished, and will be as smooth as skilled workmen can make it. The ends and corners will be raised at an angle fixed by an engineer, so that the speed of a wheel need not be retarded in going, around them. This track will be five laps to the mile. The famous track in Madison Square Garden is ten laps to the mile.

   The company is also laying out a track outside of the building which will be four laps to the mile. This will be for use in the summer and in good weather.

   Both of these tracks are designed for the testing of the new motor bicycles which are now being made, for each wheel will be thoroughly tested before it leaves the factory.

A SPLENDID WORK.

And a fine Gift in Prospect for the Franklin Hatch Library.

   After many months of diligent search and inquiry, and at considerable expense, Mr. G. J. Mager of this place has succeeded in finding the "war numbers" of Harper's Weekly, namely: 1860, '61 and '62. He has now thirty-four complete volumes from 1860 to 1894 inclusive without a number or a leaf missing, and all handsomely and uniformly bound. They are considered very valuable indeed, as they contain a most interesting and complete typographical as well as pictorial record of all the important events of this great country and Europe, and are probably one of the most perfect collections of this able journal in existence. Mr. Mager intends at some future time to present the same to the public library.

Political Clubs in Schools.

   At a recent meeting of the Normal school principals of the state, a vote was taken on the desirability of political clubs in Normal schools. The vote stood, six for and six against. We are glad to know that Dr. Cheney was with those in favor of politics in school. In this school the formation of political clubs and a free discussion of political subjects have not been attended with an evil result, while the increased interest in the affairs of state is a great benefit. So strong is the spirit to hold and uphold political convictions among the students that the absence of a political belief impugns one’s personal worth at once. Let the good work go on.—Normal News.

Plums for Anti-Snappers.

   Mr. John W. Babcock of Cuyler has just been appointed clerk in the naval office in New York City at a salary of $900.

   Notice has also been received in Cortland that Mr. W. H. McCray, formerly of Willet, Cortland county, has been appointed assistant to the master mechanic in the public printing department at Washington, D. C.

   Both of these gentlemen are pronounced anti-snappers and are now picking some of the fruit from the anti-snapper tree. Mr. Babcock was a member of the Democratic convention of September 8 and was an active worker in county politics. Mr. McCray, while not so well known in Cortland village as in his native town, will be remembered as the husband of the lady who was formerly Miss Jessie Benjamin of Cortland, the daughter of an old soldier.

    Both of these gentlemen owe their appointments to the efforts of Messrs. John C. Courtney, Jr., and R. W. Bourne.

Now Owns a Bear.

   Mr. H. F. Bingham, senior member of the clothing firm of Bingham & Miller, is the possessor of a bear. The animal came into his possession last Saturday night. It is the same bear that was caught by the hunting party in the Adirondacks last summer, which was for some time on exhibition at Ed Robbins’ cigar store. “Bert” is thinking of starting a menagerie and is looking for a cage so that he can keep “Bruin” in the front window of his store to amuse the small boys, until he starts out on the road with him.

   During the winter he means to have his partner teach the bear tricks so that he will be in prime order to dance and climb trees next spring, In fact, there is quite a little strife among the partners as to which shall manage Bruin’s tour.

BREVITIES.

Have you got a good thing?

Let the people know it.

Do not keep it to yourself;

Advertise and show it.

Bait your hook with printer’s ink

And throw it.

   —Mr. W. T. Smith shipped, Monday morning, a fine omnibus sleigh which will seat twelve passengers, to Mr. Sherwood of Peekskill.

   —The Merry Bachelors will give their second party in Empire hall Thanksgiving eve. All friends of the order are invited to be present.

   —The next entertainment in the Normal course will be an illustrated lecture on Monte Carlo by Robarts Harper on the evening of Dec. 5.

   —Mrs. Louisa U. Knapp died Monday morning of pneumonia, aged 63 years. The funeral will be held from her late residence, 37 James-st., at 1 p. m., Wednesday.

   —Syracuse university is soon to have a new hall of science, divided into three distinct sections for chemistry, physics and biology. It will be located near the hall of languages.

   —Mr. H. D. Phillips has secured desk room in Mr. C. F. Brown’s drug store in the Squires block and has opened an office. He represents the Home Industrial club of Syracuse and has already secured quite a large number of members.

    —A horse attached to one of Squires’ delivery wagons slipped on the street car rail Monday morning in front of the bakery of T. M. Marks, and fell, breaking one of the shafts. The horse was led away and the wagon was sent to the repair shop.

   —At about 3 o’clock Saturday afternoon Mr. Duke Borthwick had the thumb and first finger of his left hand painfully lacerated by being caught on a part of the elevator machinery of Wickwires’ Mills. He walked to the office of Dr. A. J. White, who found that the injury was not as bad as at first supposed.

   —Editors, as a rule, are kind-hearted and liberal. An exchange tells of a subscriber who died and left fourteen years’ subscription unpaid. The editor of the paper appeared just as the undertaker was screwing down the coffin lid, and put in a linen duster, a thermometer, a palm leaf fan, and a recipe for making ice.