New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-31
.PRTY. fTION IN FORTRESS.
CQpturcd Letter Tells Of Port ar
thurs Extremity.

Toxic Dec 30-The Navy Department pub
flished tonight q letter written by an officer
OF the batrlesbiP Sevastopoi. which had fallen
S3n,o the hands of the japanese The writer
despsirs OF relief OF the fortress and tells Of the
destruction wrought by Japanese shells de
SAYS the Russians resigned to their fate and
are determined TO fight TO a finish rather than
suffer the shame Of surrender owing TO starva-
zion.
Following is the text Of the letter:
The fortress cannot resist after Deem Der
The progress Of the enemy in reducing our
principal line OF outer defences Is not fully
fnou-n hut II Is irresistible We are sadly disap
,,ointed over the non-arrival Of the Second Pa
sihc Squadron and are daily nearing our hllseF-
able end . -,
General Stoessels so-calied impregnable line
OF outer defences is now myth With 2u3-
Metre Hill lost the fall Of Port Arthur cannot
be avoided. Its capture by the japanese means
the fall Of the town. however strong the olhei
desences The new town is 81 the mercy OF the
enenys fire The old town alone is defendable
and here alone may resistance be prolonged
Two-thirds Of the defenders OF 2u3-Metre Hill
We're lost.
The sevastopoI, which was exposed to the
enemy's fire in the daytime. left the harbor on
the night of December without being towed
She carried only III. instead of her complement
of $50 souls. When she went cut she had her
nets down, out was struck twice by the enemy
iorpedoes and was beached, irreparably dam
sged. General Stoessel highly praised the Off
GERS and crew of the ship
possible 10 keep our bodies warm. We no longer
have wireless telegraph system, and have no
means of communicating with the outside world
Our isolation IS complete. There is news
snd we nave had no Information for long time
j is impossible 10 smuggle ammunition. The
captain Of the King Arthur brought only barley
1.-THE King Arthur q British steamer. capt
nTed December Is while attempting to leave
Port Arthur, by the japanese guardshp Asagari
she had on bo.Td Russian naval officers. who were
attempting TO Join the Russian Pacific Squadron.
She is'now At Sasebo undergoing trial.
There Is large hole in the hull Of the Sc
vastopol and she is completely disabled. Ali
that remains for II ose board her is 10 do
their utmost fl TepusinE the enemy's attacks.
The eDeny's torpedo boats came close 10 the
Sevastopol and attacked her as If they were 60
ing through ordinary manPuyres.
Should the SeEastopul sink are TO land at
4 place already decided OF. All are, however,
prepared TO fight 10 the very last. On US OF the
SeVaStopol depends the duty of retaining the
honor Of The navy and avoiding the shame and
humiliation of surrender because OF threatened
starvation. We would rather die fighting than
be thus shamed.
From December J the enemy's 1o-inch shells
began 10 fan on the deck Of the SeVastopol and
some Of them pierced through the decks 10 the
bottom OF the ship
Mho i responsible for the fate We face? IL
IS he who did not give Instructions for the pre-
MENTION OF 4 Japanese landing tie Iliaotung
Peninsula
Among our officers there are very few who
care 10 brave death. the majority having no
other desire ;haG To save their own lives but we
Gre determined 70 die fighting.