Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-17
SURRENDER DEMANDED.
Situation of Besieged at Port Arthur Is
Nearing Crisis.

A cableerarn from Tokyo last night says:
The emperor's offer to release the non-com-
batants at Port Arthur, coupled with de-
mand for the surrender of the fort. was de-
liyered yesterday (Tuesday). An answer Is
expected today "wednesday.
A cableeram from London last night says:
A dispatch to the Central News says that
the big oil house at Port Arthur Is olazing
furiously and that the position Of the be-
sIesed Is such that the Japanese are urging
them to surrender
Fate of Squadron Unknown.
cablegram from st. Petersburg last
night saws: Public anxiety regarding the
fate of the ships Of Rear Admiral Withofts
anna dron remaining unaccounted for is still
unrel,eyed. St Petersburg continues to be
entirely dependent upon foreign sources for
news the Russian authorities claiming 10 Do
quite as much in the Dark as the public
The admiralty neither confirms nor denies
the report that a majority OF the squadron
returned to Port Arthur, although 1t does
not fail to point out that only the most
desperate situation could have compelled the
vessels to return for refuge TO that port.
Nothing has been received from Russian
sources regarding the report from Chefoo
of a sortie of the Port Arthur warships to-
day The report may refer to the cruiser
Bayan and the gunboats and torpedo-ooa.
dastroyers left In the harbor, and one or
two Of Admiral WithOft's ships which were
forced to limp back to the port after the
fight of August 10.
According to the Chefoo report, the Rus-
sian ships made a sortie early today. AL
though they did not encounter the Japanese
fleet that had kept off some distance from
the entrance to Port Arthur during the
night fearing danger from torpedoes In the
darkness, the Russian vessels are SAID 10
have returned to Port Arthur.
Sinking Of the Rurik.
The report of the sinking OF the cruiser
Rurtk Is accepted as true in official circles.
and the public had been prepared for
definite announcement by the publication
tb,s afternoon of report that she had
bean erieyously damaged. The authorities.
ont Of consideration for the families OF tho
ofacers and sailors, decided to withhold an
official announcement until after they nave
received an official report upon the return
~ the cruisers Rossia and Gromoboi to
Vladivostok. where the experts figure they
should have arrived by this time.
There is a rumor afloat tonight that the
cruisers Diana and Pallada have reached
port Arthur but the source Of the report
cannot be traced, and 1t receives little
cIedence.
The opinion Is growing that the heavy
losses sustained by the Port Arthur feet
NAV completely alter the plans regarding
the Baltic squadron, division of which Is
cruising in the gulf ready to sail.
Holding the Fort.
A cablegram from, Chefoo last night CIV
inr undated advices from Port Arthur,
va that the Japanese during a lombard
ment occupied strongly fortified positions
with a number of siege guns After two
hours several OF the Japanese guns were
si The Japanese,. those advices say are no
longer irving to place their guns in the
higher positions. which are too easily
req hed by the fire of the fortress but are
busyiug themselves with mining operations
against the defensesfi
The spirit of the garrison continues to be
excellent and Lieut. Gen. Stoessel is going
everywhere, encouraging the troops. The
fortress is wei, supplied with ammunition
The mining feet still in the harbor Is
canable of effective work in hndering the
operations of Vice Admiral Togo's fleet.
There Is no sickness in the fortress. and
the losses in the successive fights are by
no means so heavy as represented in the
Japanese reports.
Novik Running for Safety.
cabIesram from Yokohama last night
saws: The Russian cruiser Novik of the
Port Arthur squadron was sighted today
pa ssing through Van Diemen straits, steer
ing for vladivostok
Van Diemer straits are at the southern
end of the principal islands of Japan
After passing through the Novik will be
In The Pacific Ocean. To reach VIadiyo-
stolr she must go the entire length of
Japan to the north and then dash through
the Tsugari straits to her harbor OF safety.