16th March.
Some of our readers, whose sympa~ thios in the present struggle seem to be decidedly not on the side of Japan, appear te have misapprehended our remarks onthe 14th on the reported' fall of Pot Arthur. We gave the news as xt came to us with the authority for it, and the telegram from our very well-informed correspondent at. tokio was very guarded.
lo said: It is stated that the Russians have virtually abandoned Port Arthur." We carefully began our editorial remarks by saying: "The news from 'Tokio that the Russians have evacuated Port Arthur was not. officially contrmed last night." As soon as we tad' an opportunity of} seeing the Rissian telegrams denying the evacuation, we sent out an Extra to that effect. As to these telegrams, the one from Tientsin is a mere denial, and it is doubtful when ther much more is.nown in Tientsin: than in Shanghai of the course of the war. As to' the private telegram from Admiral Makaroff, it contains no denial or explanation; it is merely evidence that Admiral Makaroff; presuming the place and time to be rightly given, was in Port Arthur at 3 am. on the 14th of March; which might be perfectly consistent with a. virtual abandonment, It must be remembered that there has been no official denial. On the other hand, we have the evidence of the "Daily Mail's" dispatch-boat Chefoo, that they saw no troops or flags or other signs of life, and a vast cloud smoke in three columns was rising; from the new town. It will be note that of the fleet in Port Arthur, which, according to Saturday's "Echo de Chine," is again fully fit for active service, Admiral Makarofl could only take two cruisers to the rescue of the destroyer Steregustchi, and they were obliged promptly to return to the harbour. It is casting no reflection on the courage of the Russians to suppose that they will fad it prudent to evacuate Port Arthur before their retreat is cut off. The command of the sea once lost, as it has been, Port Arthur is of no more use for the present to the Russians.
On the other hand; a statement is made that the repairs to the Russian ships in Port Arthur are progressing satisfactorily. A mud dock is being dug to take the Retvizan, and it was hoped that, Admiral Togo p rmitting, the whole fleet would be' ready for action in two months, There are also, we are told, two years' supplies of all kinds at Port Arthur. Some of these, it is to be feared, the cankerworm has eaten. That Port Arthur is doomed is evident from one fact that has been brought' out by the various bombardments during the last month; that the Russians have no guns in their forts which can silence the twelve-inch guns of the Japanese battleships. It will, doubtless, here been noticed that all six of these battleships were' engaged in the bombardment on Thursday last.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.