People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 November 1894 — A SEVERE BLOW. [ARTICLE]

A SEVERE BLOW.

The Fall of Port Arthur Renders China Helpless. ilteport of Capture Confirmed —Details of the Battle—Heavy Looses on Both Sides—Chinese Deny the Whole Story. Washingtox, Not. 27. —Officials of the 6tate and navy departments are agreed that the capture of Port Arthur renders China helpless, and no doubt is expressed that overtures for peace will be immediately submitted to Japan through the good offices of Ministers Denby and Dun. The Battle. Yokohama, Nov. 27. —Latest information as to the capture of Port Arthur says the Japanese attack commenced at daybreak Wednesday. It was directed against several forts in the rear of Port Arthur. The first army advanced from the right side and the Kumammoto brigade advanced from the left, while the heavy artillery was concentrated in the center in order to bombard the castle. The first army captured a fort on the west at 8 o’clock in the morning and entered Port Arthur at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. The W agonsen fort was captured at 4 o’clock in the afternoon. The Kumammoto brigade took the westward forts at 11 o'clock. The fighting was continued through the night and until the next morning, when all the coast forts were in possession of the Japanese. The third Japanese army, which 2eft Japan November 20, is supposed to liave been sent to attack Wei Hai, where a portion of‘the Chinese navy remains. The dispatch adds that the place will be easily captured, as the Chinese soldiers, who were encamped for its defense at Chiliz, are deserting in thousands. The whole place is said to be in a state of utter collapse and •confusion

Loss on Both Side*. London, Not. 27.—A dispatch sent from Port Arthur via Hwang Ju Thursday has been received here. It says 'the Chinese fought vigorously. The Japanese lost 250 men, killed or ■wounded. The Chinese loss was over 1,000. Several thousand were taken prisoners. The Japanese have taken quite eighty guns and mortars that were in use in the captured forts and redoubts and many others that were found in the dockyard. They have also captured an immense quantity of ammunition, completely ■equipped torpedo stores, and large quantities of rice and beans. Port Arthur Burning. London, Nov. 27. —The Chee Foo correspondent of the Times telegraphs that Port Arthur is still burning. China Denlei It. A dispatch from Paris says that the Ohinese 'officials are telegraphing everywhere that the story of Port Arthur’s downfall is a wicked invention and that 80,000 brave Chinese soldiers still defend that port.