[Illustration: William Maxwell. (Taken in the Mou-tien-ling Pass.)] FROM THE YALU TO PORT ARTHUR A PERSONAL RECORD. BY WILLIAM MAXWELL, Lately Special Correspondent of _The Standard_, now of _The Daily Mail_. _WITH 33 ILLUSTRATIONS AND 3 MAPS._ London: HUTCHINSON & CO., Paternoster Row, E.C. 1906 PRINTED BY A. CHRIS. FOWLER, MOORFIELDS AND SHOREDITCH, LONDON, E.C. _PREFATORY NOTE._ _So many accounts have been written of the War between Russia and Japan that apology may be demanded for adding another to these records. My excuse is that a very limited number of European and American correspondents accompanied the Japanese Army, and that I may claim to be the only correspondent who was with General Kuroki from the Yalu to the Sha-ho; and, with my interpreter, Mr. Ito, the only observer, European, American or Japanese, present at these engagements, and at the last assaults upon and surrender of Port Arthur._ _To General Kuroki and the Officers of his Staff I am under many obligations. Especially am I indebted to General Fujii, Chief of the Staff, who showed me many favours and gave me much valuable information which now appears for the first time._ _In the opening chapter will be found a short summary of the events that led to the War. It contains matter that may throw a little new light upon some phases of the diplomatic struggle. In the appendix are studies of the Russian and Japanese Armies which were issued as confidential papers before the War. I commend them to the close attention of all who have a professional interest in military science._ _WILLIAM MAXWELL._ Contents of Chapters CHAPTER I The Origin of the War--A Glance over Three Centuries--Korea and Japan--War between China and Japan--Peace--Russian Intrigue--A Temporary Agreement--Russian “Instructors” at Seoul--Protest and Exasperating Delay in Negotiations--Korean Emperor Unexpectedly Firm--Russia Obtains the Use of Port Arthur--Her Traders in Korea--Japanese Patience Exhausted. CHAPTER II Japanese Study of the Russian Army--Remarkable Confidential Paper--Concise and Accurate Estimate--Incapacity of the Russian Officer--Lack of Discipline--Kuropatkin “Not to be Feared”--Necessary to Frighten the Russian Soldiers--Contempt for the Cossack. CHAPTER III