CO129-269 - Governor Sir Robinson & Public Offices - 1895 [12] — Page 501

On the

The Etappe stations established so far are at

the Landing Place, at Yurgchang, Purioson, Seitosan and

Mokasho, all of which are marked on the sketch which I

sent to Mr Trench, and which I expect he will send home.

Temporary depots have also been arranged

nearer the front on account of the somewhat unexpected

delay in the advance to the town of Wei hai wei.

5th February Transports began to come into the bay

immediately to the East of the harbour, and this is now

used as the first Eteppe station. It has long sandy

stretches, and at low water it is difficult to land

stures, as boats cannot come right in, but a pier is

being constructed of wood and it is doubtless expected

that Wei hai wei harbour will be evailable before long.

There was no point of special interest in the fighting

on the 30th January. The Eastern Coast forts held out

rather under difficulties for about 3 hours, since the

Japanese had gained a commanding position behind them,

The Chinese in these forts had made some preparation for

an attack from the rear; they had built up walls partly

of atone and partly of large sand bags (sand sacks one

might call them) about 6′ 6′′ high in rear of the gun

emplacements, and a few fougasses, and abattis had been

arranged outside the forts in rear. I have not been

This

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able to learn yet for certain exactly how the Japanese

fleet acted on the 30th but I am told that their main

object was to disable the centre fort of the Eastern

Coast forts, as this contained the heaviest guns.

was the fort in which thore was an explosion, and it is

possible that the explosion was originally caused by the

fire of the fleat setting fire to some part of the Fort;

but I think this is unlikely, and that it is more pro-

bable that the Chinese themselves caused the explosion.

They removed two breech blocks from the Fort, and in the

next fort an explosion was only just prevented by the

timely arrival of the Japanese sailors; so that they

evidently had the idea in their minus of making the

guns useless before giving them up. The two breech

blocks were found not far from the fort some days later.

It is said that the Western forts were abandoned by the

solaiors without disabling any of the guns, but that a

party of Chinese sailors was sent ashore to do it, after

the soldiers had left. As the Japanese have been unable

to use these guns, they have sent their 9 c.m. Howitzers

round there. By Feby. 3rd, the Army considered that it

had uone its work, and it has stood still since, await-

ing the action of the Navy against the Chinese Fleet, and

the Island and the action of the Navy is a good deal

V

criticised as being very slow,

The

able