The San Francisco call., 1904-12-18

from Fort Art0ur say that she is
aground and is evidently completely
disabled
CHEFUs Dec. 17.@Persons who
have just arrived here from Port Ar
thur assert that the unprecedented
slaughter Of japanese during the tax
ing Of 2O3-Meter Hill has caused the
besiegers 70 change their tactics. Ap-
parently they no longer hope TO cap
ture the city by assault. This is be-
heved TO be proved by the fact that
their shell fire was concentrated on
the Russian warships in the harbor
until the vessels were sunk.
The refugees maintain that the de-
structiOn Of the Retvizan, Pobieda,
Pallada and Peresvet could have been
accomplished at any time within the
last three months had not Japan
hoped 10 capture the fortress soon and
thus gain possession Of the vessels
Now that they have deliberately de-
strOyed the warships il is believed they
have abandoned the hope Of early
capture of the city.
Since December l two steamships
with provisions and one with ammuni-
ton have run the blockade and un-
loaded their cargoes at Port Arthur
Around the city the ground is frozen
hard and the bodies of japanese who
fell in the storming OF 2O3-Meter Hill
still lie unburied, it being next to i'm
possible 70 dig graves for them. Thou
sands OF frozen corpses strew the ac-
clivities OF the hill and the neighbor-
ing sand dunes.
Commander Mizzeneoff. who was
executive officer Of the Russian bat
tleship POltava until that vessel was
disabled and who on December Is
headed a party Of seven Russians who
left Port Arthur in a sail boat and ar
rived here yesterday with dispatches,
said tonight in an interview that
Port Arthur is a desolate and. except
for the firing OF guns, a silent place.
The Russians" said he. ARE hus-
banding their artillery ammunition.
firing only when the effect will be GER
tain There are sixteen thousand men
in the line Of forts and their periods of
rest are few. All the generals except
General Stoessel live in the forts.
Every building in the whole town is
more or less damaged
General Stoessel has put the en-
tire population on regular rations suf-
icient 70 last three months. The am
munition is sufficient TO last much
longer. I believe the japanese will
never take the fortress under present
conditions"
TOXIC, Dec. IA report received
from the headquarters OF the Japanese
army besiegine Port Arthur says that
the following letters from Lieutenant
General StOesseI TO General Nogi
reached headquarters AT o'clock on
the evening of December Is:
4 have the honor to inform you that
your artillery is bonbarding our hos
pitals, which are plainly distinguished
5y Ped Cross Tags These insignia are
visible from your artillery positions
I request you TO prohibit this bonn
bardment- I make this request be-
cause Of high esteem for our brave he
roes. who, after glorious fighting with
your force, lie wounded in our hospitals
under the Red Cross. Among these he
roes are some japanese wounded.
7 avail myself OF this opportunity
70 convey TO you the assurances of my
high respect"
The second letter said:
7 hereby entrust the bearer, Bara-
shon Langa, huntmaster to the EN-
peror Of Russia and superintendent of
The Red Cross. 10 negotiate with your
Excellency to remove the hospitals out
side the dangerous zone during the
Commandment
1t is needless 10 say we have respect
foT your right 10 promote the success
Il your operations"
Penciled on the envelope containing
.he letters was the following:
Barashoh I.anga viii come to the
SINE place on the afternoon Of Decem-
Der Is to receive your reply"
General Nogi reports that he sent
Major Saito. accompanied by Profess
sor Ariga and an interpreter, to Sali-
chiao 20 deliver the following letter ad-
dressed to General Stoessel:
i have the honor to assure you that
the japanese army, respecting human
ity and the treaties since the beginning
Of the siege. has never purposely di-
rected shells against the buildings or
vessels flying the Red Cross; but the
greater part OF the garrison is invisi-
bic from our gun positions.
AS you know, shells do not always
reach the place against which they are
directed. and especially, owing 10 your
long and brave resistance, the devia-
ton OF our guns is becoming greater
and greater; so. with the greatest re-
gret. we are unable TO guarantee to
reach the places aimed at
Il avail myself Of this opportunity
70 convey TO your Excellency the as