PORT ARTHUR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 36, 11 February 1904, Page 5

PORT ARTHUR.

OGCUPATiON_AND DEFENCES. ITS VALUE AS A NAVAL BASE CRITICISED. An interesting account of Port Arthur, where, as our cables to-day an--nounee, the Russian fleet is blockaded by the Japanese squadron, appears in Alexis Krause's "Far East,'"' published a few months ago. The writer says:— "Port Arthur, occupied by Russia in 1597, is at present the most southerly; naval station possessed by that Power in Asia. Formerly a Chinese arsenal, constructed under supervision of Euro* pean engineers, the Russians found the town laid out and the scheme of defences already planned; but they set about re-arming the forts and adding to. the military strength of the position, and at the "beginning of 1903 the state of the armaments and defences was such as to defy any probable attack. The entrance to Port Arthur is exceedingly narrow—in one place less thaa 200 yards; and this, of course, greatly, adds to that security within, which, like that at Vladivostok, is at right angles to the main channel. The water in the inner port is. however, of insufficienfc depth to permit of the largest vessel lying there, and the only available berth for ships drawing more than. 24ft. is the outer roadstead, which is exposed to the sea, and where they could be seen by an enemy and attacked. The entrance or exit of a vessel mnst always be conducted with extreme care, owing to the formation and shallowness of the channel; and altogether, wfeQe a well sheltered and safe port for vessels of light draught r Port Arthur cannot be compared with Vladivostok, although it possesses the great advantage of being open practically through.* out the year. One other disadvantage possessed by Port Arthur is its liability, to become isolated in time of war. The isthmus by which, it is united to the rest of the liaolung Peninsula is exceedingly; narrow, in one .place only 18 miles wide, and in ease of hostilities breaking outthe first aim of the attacking Power would be to seize this neck of land, and so sever all communication between Port Arthur and the rear except by sea. Taken as a Whole, while the possession of this place adds very materially to Russian resources and influence in the Far East, its advantage may be eon--sidered political rather than strategic, and the benefit attained is likely to be found in the continued extension of Russia's hold on China, rather than in the superiority of her military and naval position in the Gulf of Pechili. Wei-hai-wei, when once the breakwater is completed, will be a far superior naval harbour, and prove in every respect better suited, from a military and strategic point of view, to tlie requirements of a naval base than Port Arthur, notwithstanding the strength of that station's position and the formidable armaftient and garrison comprised. There is a dry dock at Port Arthur with a length of 385 ft.