Chapter XII The Fall of Port Arthur
The first day of January, 1905, witnessed the end of the gigantic siege that had furnished a tragic background for eleven of the twelve months of 1904. The first blow struck by the Japanese in the war was aimed at Port Arthur, and during the month that followed they and the defenders employed and endured more terrific forces of destruction than were ever used at any other siege in the history of the world. The fall of this Gibraltar of the East seemed to prove that there can be no such thing as an impregnable fortress. The attack on Port Arthur began with Togo’s dash against the Russian fleet on the night of February 8. Four months later, through the successes of the Japanese on the Liaotung peninsula, the fortress had been cut off from all outside help.
From the outer line of defence at Nanshan, and thirty miles from the town, the Japanese worked their way literally inch by inch, burrowing underground, digging deep trenches that zig-zagged toward the enemy’s lines, until near enough to make a rush. In many places the ground was solid rock and countermining was impossible. Barbed-wire entanglements covered the country for miles, and wide stretches of bare ground had been covered a foot deep with powdered white ash, which stirred into a thick white cloud when trodden on, so as to make a splendid target for machine guns. There were buried mines, some to explode automatically, others to explode when the lookout man in a distant fort pressed a button. At night searchlights flashed across every yard of the country near the lines of forts, and sometimes the Russian gunboats creeping along the shore outside the harbor got far enough to pour a cross-fire into the Japanese encampments. Day and night Togo’s squadron sent in from long range the terrible Shimose shells, worse than lyddite, on the battered town and forts. Where it was impossible to tunnel or burrow, masses of rock and bags full of sand were rushed forward at night to make a temporary shelter where a regiment could go forward a hundred yards, rest, fire for a few minutes, and advance another hundred yards, until at last they were close to the enemy. Then, in the teeth of fierce rifle fire, reinforced, perhaps, by shells from the other forts, the final charge was made.
The last stage of the advance began on November 30 with the capture of 203-Metre Hill. From this hill the Japanese were able for the first time to get the range of the Russian ships in the harbor. All the larger vessels of the Russian fleet were soon disabled. The great Keekwan Mountain fort was captured on December 18, and on the 30th Ehrlung Fort, the key of the inner defences, was stormed. That day and the next the Japanese captured half a dozen neighboring positions, and finally, on January 1, General Stoessel, who had said at the beginning of the siege that Port Arthur would be his tomb, sent a message to General Nogi offering to surrender. For a second time Port Arthur passed into the hands of those from whom the European powers had wrested it ten years before.
WITH THE JAPANESE DURING THE LAST DAYS OF THE SIEGE OF PORT ARTHUR
THE GREAT SIEGE GUNS THROWING ELEVEN-INCH SHELLS INTO PORT ARTHUR
SCENES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF PORT ARTHUR DURING THE LONG SIEGE
General Nogi sits in the centre, the gray-bearded man with the round decoration on his breast. On his right is General Ijichi, his chief of staff, who conducted the negotiations for the surrender. On Ijichi’s right is the Surgeon-General of the Third Army, and beyond, with the beard and many decorations, is Major Arriga, Japan’s greatest expert on international law
WITH THE JAPANESE AS THEY CLOSED IN AROUND PORT ARTHUR
INCIDENTS OF THE SURRENDER OF PORT ARTHUR TO THE JAPANESE
Although a woman was killed in this shelter shortly before the photograph was taken, they were, generally speaking, fairly effective protections. During the heavier bombardments, the occupants lived in them for days at a time. The Russo-Chinese Bank transacted business underground in “bomb-proofs” constructed in this manner for some time during the latter part of the siege
VIEWS OF PORT ARTHUR, IN OCTOBER, WHEN THE SIEGE WAS HALF OVER
INSIDE SOME OF THE RUSSIAN FORTS AT PORT ARTHUR AFTER ITS SURRENDER
SCENES AT PORT ARTHUR IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SURRENDER
SCENES AT PORT ARTHUR IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SURRENDER
SUNKEN RUSSIAN BATTLESHIPS AT PORT ARTHUR AFTER ITS CAPTURE BY THE JAPANESE
VIEWS OF THE HARBOR OF PORT ARTHUR WHEN THE JAPANESE TOOK POSSESSION