Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-12-29
Fall OF Port Arthur.

During last week the Japs blew ul
and captured several more OF the hus
sian forts around Port Arthur. To
wards the latter part of the week the
resistance to the Jap assaults became
very feeble, and it became known tina
but eight thousand Of the original gar
rison of thirty-five thousand were OF
duty, II, 900 haying been killed or hay
ing died of disease, and 1880 beinf
wounded or sick, the remainder hal
starved and short of ammunition. Some
Of the positions captured by the jap
commanded the town, and they swep
it with shrapnel and shell, making II
uninhabitable, even the sick and wound
ed crept out Of the hospitals and sought
shelter in caves. Some Russian Officers
who escaped in a torpedo boat, during
snow storm to Chefoo, said that the
place was "hell on earth.
On Sunday night Gen. Stoessel listen
ed to the pleadings Of those about hin
and agreed 10 surrender. He sent wore
of his intention to Gen. Nogi, thai
night, and blew up all the vessels that
yet remained sfoat in the barbor
On Monday the commissioners ap'
pointed by each General met and con
cluded terms, but what they were wal
not made public at the time. 1t wal
known, however, that Gen. Nogi had
instructions from his government to tt
generous And thus ended the greates'
siege OF modern times, and also one OF
the bloodiest, as ii IL estimated that the
Japs lost four men to one of the Rus
slams, or about eighty thousand in all
during the seven months fighting.
BY the terms of capitulation the mer
Of Stoessels army are retained as priso
ners Of war, while the officers are par
oiled and allowed to return to Russia
but they were required to turn oyel
complete plans OF the forts, harbors and
mines.
OF the $1,000 men of the origina
army, II, 900 were killed. 10000 are sicl
Or wounded, and but 5000 remained ir
fighting condition. Gen. 5toessel at
tributes his surrender to lack of ammu
milton and scurvy among his men.
All Japan has been celebrating the
victory this week; while in Russia the
sorrow has been mixed with admiration
for the desperate defense. The garrl
son marched out Of their forts yester
day.
Capturing Port Arthur has cost the
japanese about 80, 900 lives and about
one hundred millions OF dollars. Par
Of the mining under the forts was done
through solid rock.
What will follow the fall of Port AR
thur 10 a matter Of conjecture. The
Japs will Immediately repair the forti
fications, mount guns. thoroughly
equip and garrison the forts, remove
the mines in the har0or, etc, and theii
poesessionof it should be the beginning o.
the end OF the war. but the Russian
ministers at London and Washington
say the war will be continued to the
bitter end-wherever that is. Nothing
has been heard from the Baltic feet, o.
late. which is about the only hope lef
to the Russians at present.
Gen. KuropatkiI's army is being
strengthened, bnt he has been com
planning bitterly. of late, regarding tn,
management OF the Russian commits
sary department. and says he is losinl
men by exposure and lack OF propel
clothing and supplies, and in Russia th'
general dissatisfaction with the govern
ment is continually showing itself. A
ST. Petersburg few days ago, tn,
Grand Duke in charge of the Navy WA
hooted out Of theatre, for recognizing
an actress, arrayed in diamonds, one o
the spectators yelling those jewell
were Bought with monsy appropriated
for the Navy"
The people there stopped giving to thi
Red Cross, on account of the misappro
priation OF the funds and material, ant
the Siberian railroad Is said to be clog
ged.
In Japan Immense preparations fol
the strengthening OF Oysmas army
are being made;that part OF 0en. Nogij
army not needed at Port Arthur vii
also probably .go there. and Admira
Togo's Geet is being overhauled, pre-
paratory to goisg 10 meet the Balti,
squadron.