PORT ARTHUR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2196, 21 May 1908, Page 3

PORT ARTHUR.

WHAT THE JAPS ARE DOING THERE.

. In view of the renewed interest aroused in Port Arthur by the recent condemnation of General Stoessel, it may be interesting to translate from the “Voice of Moscow,” says the St, Petersburg correspondent- of the “Pall Mall Gazette,” portions of the article of a Russian correspondent in that Japanese fortress, who seems to lie particularly observant-. The- whole fortress, he says, is being reconstructed on a new and. unknown plan. Tho fortifications are being extended beyond their old limits, and the laborers and overseers are selected with the utmost care. The old redoubts are not destroyed, but all useful material in them lias been removed to other sites. In the construction of the fortifications great attention has been paid to the selection of the best positions whence.a plunging fire can be cousentrated on the passages through the hills in front, and in order to attain this end, constant practice firing is carried on. The landward side is protected by long-range guns mounted in excellent forts. At one point alone there are 120 guns. On the seaward side rows of guns are visible; many of these guns were taken from the Russians. r I rial-firing is carried on more and more frequently at night with tho’help of reflectors, and to assist the gunners, a whole series of signal stations has been erected on the hills. At the bottom of both harbors, and out along the seacoast up to a distance of two miles from tlie fortress, some sort of work is being carried on; perhaps mines are being hid. All the way to Mukden strategic positions are being selected and prepared, and strategic ranis are being run through the mountains. As for Dalny, it is strongly fortified on tho landward side, the entire environs of the village of Loukku having -been converted into fortress “positions,” and guns have been mounted there. The enormous barricks in Port Arthur and Dalny- are full of troops, and great stores of grain, fodder, beau 6; ots., have been collected.