The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-11-09
OFFER TERMS.
TO SOLDIERS
Japanese Before Port Arthur Ig-
more Stocssel and Invite the
Men to Surrender.
RANK AND FILE ARE WEARY
tBy Associated press,

CHE FOO, Nov. s, 0:O p. M.-1'he
japanese beseglng Port Arthur ignoring
Lieutenant General Stoesscl, the COM
mander OF the Russian military forces
there, have offered terms Of surrender TO
tho Russian soldiers. according to advices
leaving Port Dalny yesterday.
In the meanwhile the ceaseless activity
OF picks and spades continues, the Jap
anese are gradually advancing their
trenches. which spell inexorable fate to
the watching Russians. a Russian pris-
oner captured October 2Gth said the troops
com posing the garrison OF Port Arthur
were In want and sdispirited. They Baw
the fruitlessness Of the struggle. Hope
less OF relief, with food scarce and med
iclne and hospital supplies insufficient,
1T was admitted by the Russians that
a Japanese victory was ultima tely newt
able.
The soldiers according to the prisoner.
see no reason to proaong the resistance.
which bring glory to their officers, but
chiefly hardship and death to them: Upon
hearing the prisoners story, General
Nogi assembled his staff, discussed the
matter briefly and then, under, the light
or q bicycle lantern, drafted a letter to
DO circulated among the soldiers
themselves, the prisoner having prom
ised to deliver it In mercy to his. COM
RIDES. It'll Ell N
The aetter related General Kuropat-
kin's retreat and his inability to make an
impression on the army OF Field Marshal.
5Oyama, to say nothing OF breaking
through his forces and relieving Port
Arthur. t9, Y55s ,3l n 81 e @ 55f Il 81
The letter also pointed out that the.
Second Russian Pacific squadron has just
started on its slow voyage. Continuing,
1t called attention to the RESTLESS ad-
vance OF the Japanese tfenches, making
1t a matter OF weeks when the Japanese
would walk into the main Russian strong
holds.
In conclusion the letter offered humane
treatment 10 all who surrender, saying
It was in the interests OF humanity to
prevent further useless slaughter.
In the darkness of the early morning
OF November 4th. several copies ofAthe
letter, written In Russian, were given,
10 the prisoner. who regained the Russian
lines unobserved BY his Officers. That
night the Russian returned. saying his
comrades would answer within a few
days. He said the temper Of the men
seemed to show that while they were
mutinous towards fate, they also I'D not
like the idea of an unofficial surrender.
The letter.; did much, however, to dispcl.
among the Russian troops the impress
sion fostered BY their officers that q,
massacre would follow Japanese vic
tory.
The company to which the prisoner be-
longed originally numbared 500 and now
totals thirty men. As--uhe Japanese are
sufficiently near the SUBMITS Of the hills
to render tunneeing highly practicable.
much Of this work Is now being done.
The Russians arc building counter tun-.
rcls. a Vi
Whichever side finds It's tunnel under
tho enemys blows up the lalter's tun-
rel. To prevent explosives being rolled
down into their trenches the Japanese
have made ranges or hillocks Of earth
above the trenches. Five Russian mine
sweeping steamers have been sunk by
Ianapeso shpl1a ltftl ss vi rff4 b