The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-06

his case was hopeless and was prepsred
TO surrender
At 3 o'clock tho next morning an envoy
left the Japanese lines for Port Arthur.
carving an invitation from Gen. Nogi 10
conference at / clock on the terms Of
capitulatlon During the interval OF wait
ing the news spread like wildhre through
ont the japanese camp.yet by those strange
people II was received with no remarkable
demonstration Of joy.
Their feeling seemed TO be one Of relief
rather than exultatiou. Everything went
on in the usual routine. There was nothing
save the suspension OF the bombardment
that was calculated to give an idea that
anything unusual was afoot
The appearance of Gen. Nogi put an
end 10 all doubt. Under tho stress OF the
terrible months the commander who IL not
young man, had aged considerably. hut
he looked ten years younger as he smilingly
acknowledged the congratulations showered
upon him.
Tho conference took place at tho village
OF Suisshi. about two miles from Port Arthur
a typical Chinese hamlet Of scattered one
stored houses
The conference took place In a mean
looking matched house with a compound
at the rear. Its two small windows had
been filed with mud and an opening made
for door
News Of the arrival OF the Russian com
missoners had spread rapidly and crowd
had already collected In the neighborhood.
Two white flags. one carried by Cossaok
and the other by apanese trooper. marked
the spot where the fateful meeting was
being held. The Cossack escort OF tho
Russian commissioners had dismounted,
The men seemed to be In eIcellen. health
and spirits. Their horses showed no traces
whatever OF starvation.
On both sides of broad avenue leading
to the house in which the commissioners
were comforting stretched lines Of Japanese
soldlers keenly interested. but silent spec
tators Of the eliminating scene of the great
siege. The note was one Of military sim
pIicity. There was no parade OF Formally
beyond the posting OF a single sentry near
the entrance to the compound. The Rus
sian officers, who were all smartly dressed
In fun uniform. numbered seven.
After detailing the duration OF tho con-
ference the despatch OF messengers and
discussing he causes OF he surrender the
COullUutb,
The spectacle Of n modern Siege on a
great scale Ia positively appalling. A
mere sight OF Shushshan and OF ths de-
striotlon wrought by mines WAS enough
to strike terror to the bravest heart and TO
shake the nerve OF any garrison. however
gallant and devoted The fort Is a mere
heap OF debris amid which the defenders had
either been eut ombed or blown to pieces.
In the caponnere lay scores Of fostering
corpses and near the parapet were two
grewsome heaps Of what had once been
men. soldiers slain at their posts many
days ago
In later despatch dated Jan a. the
correspondent SAYS that pending the COM
pletion Of the evacuation the soldiers are
making an inspection Of the forts in
many cases every trace OF the works has
disappeared. The ruins resemble hills that
have been shaken by mighty convulsion.
II was evident that the key to the position
had been taken by the japanese, for the
works actually in their hands dominate
the whole inner line Of defences and render
them useless
The town seems to have suffered com
paratively little damage. Carriages and
'rickshaws are moving about with people
well dressed and apparently anything but
starved The civilians are preparing to
leave the city. They will be quartered
near Pigeon Bay.