However , during the First Sino - Japanese War , General Nogi Maresuke had taken the city from the forces of Qing China in only a few days .
Port Arthur had been widely regarded as one of the most strongly fortified positions in the world .
During the First Sino - Japanese War , General Nogi Maresuke had taken the city from the forces of Qing China in only a few days .
Port Arthur had been widely regarded as one of the most strongly fortified positions in the world .