Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-17
FIRING ON HOSPITALS
STOESSEL'S LETTERS TO NOG1
PROVOKE COMMENT.

TOKYO. December 1.-THE following dis
patch was received today from the japanese
army before Port Arthur:
Two letters from Gen. Stoessei Com
mander of the Russian military forces at
Port Arthur to Gen. Nogi Gn command of
the besiegers at Port Arthur, reached head
quarters at in the evening of December
Is. The first read as follows:
81 have the honor to inform you that
your artillery has bombars7ed our hospitals,
which plainly distinguished by Red
Cross flags. These insignia are visible
from your artillery positions. 1 request you
to prohibit the bombardment. I make the
request from my high esteem for our brave
heroes who after gloriously fighting with
your forces, lie wounded in the hospitals
under the Red Cross. Among those heroes
are some japanese wounded.
1 avail myself of the opportunity to
convey to you assurances of my high re-
spect.'
Accompanying this letter was another
from Gen Stoessel to Gen. Nogi, saying:
Are in Dangerous Zone.
I hereby entrust the bearer, Baraschoff
Langa, hunt master to the emperor and
superintendent of the Red Cross, to nego-
tiate with your excellency In order to re-
move the hospitals outside the dangerous
zone during bombardment. 1t is needless to
say that we have respect for your right
to promote the Success of your operations
'Penciled on the envelope was the fol-
lowing:
'Barashoff will come to the same place
on the afternoon of December Is to receive
your reply.
General Nogi further reports that he sent
MAJOR Salto accompanied by Professor
Ariga and an interpreter. to Salichiao to
deliver a reply, which was accompanied by
the following letter to General Stoessel:
Shells Not Purposely Directed.
Il have the honor to assure you that the
japanese army, respecting humanity and
treaties since the beginning Of the siege,
has never purposely directed shells against
buildings or vessels flying the Red Cross,
but the greater part of{the garrison Is In
visible from our gun positions, and you
know, shells do not always reach the place
TO which they are directed, and especially
owing to your long and brave resistance,
he deviation of our guns Is becoming great
er and greater So with the greatest regret
we are unable to guarantee to reach the
places at which they are directed.
" 1 avail myself of the opportunity to
convey to your excellency assurances of
my highest respect F"
The record of the interview between
Barashoff Langa and Maj SaIto is as fol-
lows:
"Barashoff: The Japanese army directs
its fire against buildings under the Red
Cross
"Saito: Never
'Barashoff: We request you not to bonn
bard the whole new town and the north
eastern part of the old town
"Saito: We cannot agree absolutely to
| limit our area
"Barashoff: We will give you a map
| showing the positions of our hospitals, and
| hope you will not bonsfsard them
"Saito: We will receive the map support
ing your request
1T was arranged that the map shall be
! delivered December 1Sp
Protection for Hospitals.
TOKYO. December 17.-Gen Stoessel has
opened negotiations with the Japanese
forces surrounding Port Arthur providing
for the protection Of the hospitals of the
city. He has furnished Gen. Nogi with a
| map showing the positions of the different
hospitals.
The house OF representatives. today almost
| unanimously passed thes budget as revised.
Transport and Ship Collide.
MOJI. Japan. December 1F.-The jap
anese transport Manshu and the hospital
ship Rohilla were in collision today of
Shimonoseki. Both were damaged. The
| Rohilla was beached and the sick and
wounded soldiers We're safely landed.