The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-09-21
AWFUL STORY OF PORT ARTHUR.
Lieut.. Prince Radziyil Describes
HorTefs That He Witnessed in
a Two Weeks Stay in
The Fortress.

SSuS1U0, SSps. t0.OV De III. t--1S-
cording TO Lieat. Prince Radzivil Of
the Russian army, who reached here
last night from Port Arthur bearing
dispatches from LieaS. Gen. Stoessel,
the Communicating chief Of the forces
of the Russian stronghold, to Gen.
Kuropatkin. the temper of the belli-
.gerents at Port Arthur has reached an
absolutely merciless stage.
Prince Radzivil served with the
British in the Boer war, and he says
shat until he became aware Of the
state Of affairs at Port Arthur he had
no idea that war could be so horrible.
Is vas set forth Ia these dispatches
some weeks ago that serious susplcl-
.ons were entertained by both belliger-
enas that the other was misusing the
red cross flag. These suspicious have
been increased By the commission of
various acts by the soldiers OF both
armies, until now even flags of truce
or surrender are not respected by
either side.
Prince Radziyil declares that the
men Of both armies are absolutely VEN
somons in their antagonism. Lieut..
Gen. Stoessel has addressed his gar.
risen, saying that the present mood OF
the japanese indicates clearly the me-
scessity of resisting them TO the last
drop OF Russian blood, because If tte
Japanese soldiers entered the fortress
sis undoubtedly would be impossible for
the officers to control them and prevent
Isl massacre. For this season, Lieut..
Gen. Stoessel is making no objection
TO civilians leaving Port Arthur.
When the three hundred women who
are In Port Arthur engaged In hospital
work were advised to leave, they re-
piled that they would rather face the
possibility of massacre thar desert
their posts.
In consequence OF the fact that flags
of truce are ignored, numbers of Japa-
nese dead, who have been lying on
the slopes Of the hills of the northeast
defences are still unburied, and the
stencil In Port Arthur from decompos-
ing bodies, when the wind is in the
right direction is almost unendufable.
S In the course of the assaults which
took place in the four last days Of Au-
gust, two companies OF Japanese sol
diers. according to. Prince Radziyil,
found themselves at the mercy OF the
Russians and hoisted a white flag. To
This, however, the Russians. paid no
atsention and continued to yoliey
rapidly into the helpless ranks of the
enemy. In the meantime japanese
troops in the rea. OF the companies
that had raisedE the white flag. saw
what their comrades had done and ex-
pressed their disapproval OF the sur
render by firing into their rear. As q
result Of this FIRE from friend and foe,
six hundred men were annihilated.
For days afterwards the wounded men
IN this area held huttering hand dker-
chiefs in their hands in pleas for
help.
Prince Radziv;l got into Port Ar
thur a fortnight age carrying dis
patches from Gen. Kuropatkin to-
Lieut.. Gen Stoessel. The Prince
said
The stories in circulation concern
ING the shortage of ammunitien and
provisions at Port Arthur are not
trne There is an abundance of am
lnunition for, both large and small
arms and plenty of preserved food.
The use Of Chinese shells was merely
saving measure.
sist If left Lienf. Gen. Stcessea IN the
best of spirits. He is encouraged by
the heroic example set by tae wound
ed men, Of whom i've thousand, cut
ef the original eight thousand in hos
pital, have returned TO the front
There has been no fighting since
September /, with the exception Of
artillery and outpost exchanges.
b g The Japanes shells have done great
damage to the hospital and other
buildings in. Port Arthur, but che loss
of life from these bomhardmeUss has
been very slight.
Madame Stcessel wife OF the gen.
era. is at the head of the Red Cross
work in Port Arthur. The soldiers
consider her. their guardian angel
4 The garrison is maintsinlag a
strong and devoted martial spirit, sad
has great confidence in Lieut.. Gen.
Stoessel, who is cheered by tie naen
when he rides along the line.
Individual acts of heroism during
the fighting have been numerous.
One company of Russian troops
were eccupying a perilous Outpost.
and when they found their pesitioo
TO be untenabfe, they sent the follow
ine rressage to Lieut.. Gen. Seo-ssel
We are unable to hold this posi-
sion.
q But yon can die he said in se-
ply, and SO they did.
.On September IA the bodies OF
2.6oo japanese soldiers were discover
sed between Fort No. 2 and Fort No 3.
The stencil from the decomposed bod
Is attracted investigation. The Rus
sian authorities admit that they are
not able to explain what engagement
,vesulfed in this slaughter.
RaiIroad Disaster in Italy.