Domestic instability kept the Chinese government under pressure to conceal the defeat, rather than castigate the Japanese for the atrocities. The "China Gazette" reported on the attempted cover-up: "Telegraphic notices have been sent ... all over the empire by the officials saying that a wicked report has been set on foot by the enemy that they have captured Port Arthur, but it was utterly untrue, the place being garrisoned by 30,000 brave Chinese soldiers who would never give it up to the Japanese." As late as a month later, the "China Gazette" reported the defeat remained unknown even to many government officials. The pro-Japanese "North-China Herald" attempted to defend the perpetrators of the massacre by proposing "The circumstances were such as might have taxed the control of any invading force."