from THe "Japan Tntes."
Important Tactical Explanation.
Major-General Ishimoto, VioeMinister of War, delivered a highly interesting speech on the Battle of Nanshan, at a meeting of the Imperial Maritime Association, on Monday afternoon. The audience included Admiral Ito, Admiral Ijuin, Admiral Saito, and about 100 other illustrious personages. The following is a resume of the spece!
The Nature of the Groun Nanshan stands midway Delwoan. Kin chou and Dalny, and the isthmus there is only four kilometres wide. But Kinchow Bay, the water of which is shallow for some distance from the shore, can be waded, as was dono by the Chinese when we attacked Port Arthur ten years ago.. Of course the shallowness of the bay is dependent on the state of the tide.
Permaneat and Semi-Permanent Forts.
Very strong forts had been constructed on the summit of Nanshan, but they were of a semi-, t and not of a permanent nature. Permanent forts are always constructed in time of peace, ab great labour and expense, and their materials are iron, bricks, stones, or concrete. Semi-permanent forts are usually constructed gineering corps after the outbreak of hostilities. The forte of Nanshan belonged to the latter category.
Opinion of European Fortification Authorities.
Some European authorities on fortifications now rather prefer semi-permanent forts to the permanent ones, which letter may possibly become totally useless according to the developments of war. In fact, a certain country has dispensed with permanent for-taosses. Wo cannot say, of course, that Russia applied this theory' to the defence of Nanshan, bub as a matter of fact, Nanshan was strongly defended with forts of a semipermanent nature.
A Comparison in the History of War.
The battle of Nanshan has been compared with one of the battles that occurred during the Franco-Prussian War. But it might be better compared with the Plevna of the Turkish War of 1877. The defences of Plevna were at first very simple, having been temporarily constructed. But the Russian Army attacked the stronghold and was repulsed several times. While the Russians aware li parations for another at-making pre] a the Turks strengthened their defence, finally it became absolutely impos-Bs for the Russians to take the place by consequence Russia was com-gee carry out a regular siege, which wy loss of troops and been taken on the yar. The capture of first day of attack was o brilliant feat from 1 tactical point of view, and the sacrifice of so many lives was unavoidable.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.