The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1904-11-17
GEN, STOESSEL
RECEIVES WOUND
RUSSIAN LEADER AT PORT AR
THUR IN HOSPITAL.
WILL NOT GIVE UP COMMAND
Orders Troops to Die at Their Posts
Rather Than Surrender-Spirit of
Garrison Dampened by Hope
lessness of Situation.

Headquarters of the Third japanese
Army Before Port Arthur, Nov. 16, via
Fusan.-It is reported that wound re-
ceived by Gen.. Stoessel has necessitated
his confinement in hospital, that he re-
fused to relinquish the command Of the
garrison, and that he has issued orders
to the troopsto die at their posts rather
than surrender. 1t is said that the spirit
of the Russian troops has been dampened
by continuous work, the lack of supplies
and the hopelessness of their ability to
make any successful defense of the
fortress. 1t is said further that many
OF the Russian soldiers are ready to
surrender, but that they are kept at their
posts by officers, VITO threaten them
with revolvers and that several soldiers
who were suspected of desire to desert
have been shot as warning to others.
The Japanese now believe that the gar
rison has almost reached the limit of
human endurance.
Rations Reduced.
Headquarters of the Third Japanese
Army Before Port Arthur, Nov. IA, via
F'usan, Nov. 16-(Delayed in transmits
sion) Spies and Russians who have
surrendered report that rations in the
fortress have been reduced. The wound
ed found by the Japanese are emaciated.
Russian artillery shells are made partly
of wood and do not explode. This shows
that the Russians are short of material
for making heavy ammunition. The cap
ture of the eastern fortified ridge will
mean the surrender Of the fortress in a
couple of weeks unless the garrison
there retires to the isolated forts. This
seems improbable, however, and cold
weather and the lack of food and ammui-
ton render desperate resistance un-
likely.
Furious Bombardment.
Mukden, Nov. IS, via Tientsin, Nov.
15.-An unbroken cannonade of siege
guns, throwing so or 60 shells hourly
against the Japanese position in the
region of Shakhe station, begun early
this morning, ended only at nightfall,
when more than half a thousand big
contact shells had been thrown into
the Japanese army's strongest position
in the plain, for the purpose of de-
moralizing the work of fertilization
concentrated at that point for the past
four weeks.
To-day'S bombardment was the most
serious attempt yet made by the
Russian large guns, and it was made
on account of the apparent determina-
tion of the japanese to make Shakhe
station an impregnable defense of the
railway behind. Both sides have so
dug themselves into the ground, night
and day, that artillery fire Port
Arthur is practically ineffective and
the ammunition is nearly wholly
wasted. Both sides recognizing this
are resorting to the competition of big
guns, and regular field artillery is only
occasionally engaged.
Japs Say Kuroki Lives.
Toxic. Nov. 16.-The japanese army
staff pronounce the report of Gen. 4lu-
roltis death to be absurd.
Consideration for the Dead.
Mukden, Nov. IA. via Tientsin, Nov. l6
1.-THE Manchurian army, Vestnik,
published under the sanction of the
Russian officials, and the only newspaper
printed at the theater of war, gives de-
tails of the scrupulous care shown by
the Japanese for the relics and other
effects of the Russian dead found on the
battlefield, and tells how the Japanese
have forwarded such effects to st. Pc
tsrsburg. The paper highly commends
this action and announces that Gen.
Kuropatkin recommends that all his
commanders shall observe a similar
practice regarding the Japanese dead.
This humane practice, which was in
ittated by the Japanese, and which ap-
pareptly was calculated to secure con-
sideration for their dead, has met with
applause from the Russian army, and
will undoubtedly be initiated whenever
the Russians are in possession Of the
field over which battle has been fought.
Owing to the fact that the Japanese have
been left in possession of nearly all the
battlefelds, these humane and benev-
olent offices have entirely devolved upon
them. This may have given the impress
sion that the Russians have been incon-
siderate in their treatment OF the dead
warriors, but such an impression would
be obviously unfair. This recognition
by both sides, however, of the benevo-
lent care of the dead still further marks
the abandonment, of primitive practices
in warfare.