Chinese Naval Stations.

Manawatu Herald, 16 October 1894, Page 2

Chinese Naval Stations.

— ♦ Weihai-wei, a naval depot, is situated in the province of Shantung, on the borders of the Yellow Sea, and about fifty miles east of the treaty port of Cheefoo. It is a strongly fortified bay. The arsenal is one of the most complete in China, and the batteries commanding the bay, which have been constructed under the supervision of European engineers, are heavily armed with Armstrong and Krupp guns. One hundred and ten miles north of Wei-hai*wei is Port Arthur, situ* ated on the south-eastern extremity of Liautong peninsula. It may be termed " the Gibraltar of China." The entire Chinese fleet could find a safe anchoring ground in this harbour, and bid defiance to the attacks of a stronger naval force than Japan could hope to bring against them. The entrance to the port is guarded by two bluffs 350 feet to 450 feet above the sea-level. . The channel leading to the anchorage is about half a mile long and 400 to 500 yards wide, with a depth vary.

ing from 24 feet (on the bar) at low Water to 40 feeti The West harbour affords goods atitihorage for the largest war-shipa, with a depth varying from Si feet to 4S feet of water. $he Blast bd,siti, or dockyard, which Measures about 550 by 420 yards, with a uniform depth of 25£ feet at lbw water And 83* feet at high water, is surrounded with workshdp's, stores, magazines, barracks, Sec. ; and at the extreme north-east corner a dry dock * has been constructed 385 feet long by 80 feet wide and 32 feet deep. A slip for repairing gunboats, torpedoboats, and small craft has been built in the West Port ; the torpedo stores being close at hand. More than thirty forts and batteries of different akeij, armed with Armstrong and Ifrupp guns, many of which are of the heaviest calibre and of recent type, have been erected on every coign of vantage round the bay.