The San Francisco call., 1904-12-31
SAYS FORTRESS is DOOMED.
Russian Writes of Existing Conditions
at Port Arthur.

at Port Arthur.
TOXIC, Dec. 30.-The Navy Depart
ment published tonight letter written
by a man on the battleship Sevastopol
which had fallen into the hands of the
Japanese. The writer despairs of the
relief of the fortress and tells of the
destruction wrought by Japanese
shells He says the Russians are re-
signed to their fate and are deter
mined to fight to a finish rather than
suffer the shame OF surrender owing to
starvation. Following is the text of
the letter:
The fortress cannot resist after December.
principal line of outer defenses is not fully
known. but it is irresistible.
We are sadly disappointed over the nom
arrival of the second Pacific squadron and are
daily nearing our miserable end.
General Stoessers so-called impregnable line
of outer defenses is now myth With 2O5-
Meter Hill lost the fall of Port Arthur cannot
be avoided. Its capture by the Japanese means
the fall of the town, however strong the other
defenses-
The new town is at the mercy of the enemy $
fire. The old town alone is defendable and
here alone may resistance be prolonged
Two-thirds Of the defenders of 2OS-Metei
Hill were lost
The Sevastopol. which was exposed to the
enemy's fire in the daytime. on the night OF
December s. without being towed. left the
harbor with only III instead Of her compile
ment of 66O souls. When she went out she
had her nets down, but struck twice
By the enemy's torpedoes and was heached.
irreparably damaged. General Stoessel highly
praised the officers and crew of the ship.
Fuel is almost unobtainable and it is i'm
possible to keep our bodies warm.
We no longer have a wireless telegraph sys-
| with the outside world. ( our isolation is com
no information for a long time.
1t is impossible to smuggle ammunition.
The captain of the King Arthur brought only
barley.
(The King Arthur British steamer,
was cautpred December 10, while at
tempting to leave Port Arthur, by the
Japanese guardship Asagari. She had
on board Russian naval officers who
were attempting to join the Russian
| Second Pacific Squadron. She is now
at Sasebo undergoing trial)
There is a large hole in the hull of the
Seyastopol and she is completely disabled.
All that remains for those on board her Is
to do their utmost in repulsing the enemy
attacks.
The enemy's torpedo boats came close to
the Sevastopol and attacked her as If they
going through ordinary maneuvers
Should the Sevastopol sink we are to land
at a place already decided upon. All are.
however prepared to fight to 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 threatened star
vation We would rather die than be thus
shamed
From December 1 the enemy's ten-inch shells
began TO fall on the deck of the Sevastopol
and some of them pierced through the decks
to the bottom of the ship.
Who is responsible for the fate we face
II is he who did not give instructions for
the prevention of a Japanese landing on the
Liaotun= Peninsula.
Among our officers there are verv few who
dare to brave death. the majority having no
other desire than to save their own lives. but
we are determined to die fighting.