Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-18
REFUSES TO GIVE UP
General Stoessel Declines to
Surrender Port Arthur.
MISSING SHIPS SAFE
RUSSIAN CRUISERS ARRIVE AT
VLADIv0SToK.
Conflicting Reports Regarding Kuro-
patkin's Intentions-Alleged
Change in Plans.
MISSING SHIPS SAFE

TOKYO, August 1S.-Lieut Gen. Stoessel
in command at Port Arthur. has refused to
surrender and has declined the offer made
by the japanese of the removal of nom
combatants there. Reasons for this latter
action are not given, but 1t Is probable that
the non-comba tants are unwilling to accept
a favor at the hands of the Japanese. They
confess, however that necessity for their
removal exists. 1t is expected that the
japanese attack will be resumed imme-
dia tely; it now enters upon It's final stage
LONDON, August 1s.-A dispatch to the
Japanese legation from Tokyo announces
that a reply was received from the COM
mander OF the Russian forces at Port Ar
thur yesterday, refusing either to surrender
to the besiegng force of Japanese or to
send out the non-combatants.
According to the correspondent of the
Daily Telegraph at ChefoO. refugees ar
irving there bring news of serious con-
dition of affairs at Port Arthur. They say
that Japanese shells have ignited lighters
in the docks. which contained supplies of
coal, resulting in a terrific confiagration.
Many of the buildings have been demol-
ished. and the hospitals are crowd-d
The Tokyo correspondent of the Times
says that the capture of the Wolf Hills,
near Port Arthur. entaled the most ardu-
Gus operations. The assault began on July
rs. and the Japanese carried the position
OF July q, but were driven out by strong
Russian reserves which had been prepared
for this emergency. During the night of
July q the Japenese assaulting force
greatly increased, enabling 1t to attack
from three directions, and on July 2S the
position was finally carried. The Russians
abandoned two Maxim guns and one Nord-
enfeldt. By the evening of July 20 all the
outer works were in possession Of the
Japanese, who began to mount siege guns.
The correspondent of the Standard at
Tien Tsin says that Lieut.. Newton A. Ne
Gully of the United States navy and Lieut..
De Cuverville of the French navy. the only
two naval attaches at Port Arthur, have
left that port.
The Japanese line has been drawn still
closer around beleaguered Port Arthur.
The right wing of the Japanese line has
penetrated to the vicinity of Pigeon bay,
while the center has moved forward from
Paling Ching. which is south Of Shushiyen,
and two miles north of town. Chinese are
authority for the above outlines of the new
japanese positions.
ST. PETERSBURG, August 1s-The re-
port that General Stoessel. the Russian
commander at Port Arthur, declined to
capitulate in response to the Japanese sum-
mons creates surprise. The war office
would have been amazed If he had yielded.
The Japanese legation has received the
following cablegram from the foreign Of
flee at Tokyo:
THE commander OF the Japanese forces
besieging Port Arthur reports that on the
10th he sent to the enemys outposts an Of
ficer under q flag of truce bearing a COM
munication embodying the wishes of the
Emperor of Japan for the relief of the
n-combatants and letter demanding the
surrender of Port Arthur. These docu-
ments were handed to the chief of staff Of
the garrison. On the 17th the enemy sent
an officer under flag Of truce with a reply
refusing both proposals.
Minister Griscom at Tokyo cabled the
State Department that the Russian COM
mander at Port Arthur yesterday rejected
the summons to surrender, and also the
offer to permit the removal of the non
cOmba tantS