The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1905-01-05

Port Arthur has surrendered. Ex-
h1asted- by months of almost continu-
Gus fighting, decimated by disease and
casualties, and hopelessly sealed in it's
rocky fortress, the gallant garrison has
yielded to its equally gallant besiegers
and the end is now written of the most
dramatic war incident of modern times.
1t 8 o'clock Sunday night General
NoGi. commanding the japanese in
vcstilg army, received from the Rus
Sian general, Stoessel. u note saying
that he found further resistance use
less. and asking for a meeting TO ar
range terms of capitulation.
The note was simple and direct and
the japanese generalinmediateiy named
commissioners to confer with the repre-
lscntatives OF the Russian commander.
These met at noon today to arrange
the conditions Of the surrender.
Thenature of the terms agreed upon is
not yet known, but Toxic dispatches in
dictate they will be of a most magnani-
NOUS character. The emperor of Japan
himself, through the chief of staff, has
given a public expression that General
Stoessel has rendered commendable SER
Vice to his country in the midst Of diff
ficulties, and indicated the wish that
military honors be shown him.
A dispatch from Toxic quotes the
military opinion that the garrison will
be permitted to march out under arms
ana may be sent to Russia under
parole. The same information indicates
that the gallant defense by General
Stoessel is nowhere more greatly APP
preciated than by the Japanese, and it
is more chan likely that Japan will en-
brace the opportunity to show her
magnanimity and admiration OF the
sallantry OF Port Arthur's defenders by
allowing them all the honors Il vic
torious army may bestoW upon y an
quiShed foe
The text Of the correspondence be
tween Nogi and Stoessel follows. Cen
eral Stcessel sent Nogi this note:
Judging by the general condition of
the whole line of hostile positions held
by YOU, l find further resistance at
Port Arthur useless. and for the pur-
pose of preventing the needless sacrifice
of lives, ! propose to hold negotiations
With reference to Capitulation. Should
YOU consent to the same you will please
appoint commissioner for discussing
the order and conditions regarding cap
itulating, and also appoint II place for
such commissioners to meet the same
appointed by me. l take this opportu-
nifty to convey to YOU eNcellency the
assurance of my respect
Shortly after GAVIN today General
Nogi dispatched a messenger with this
reply.
Il have the homer to reply to your
proposal to hold Notwithstanding
the conditions and order of capitula-
ton. For this purpose l have ap-
pointed as commission Major General
Fl JiS,I,; pl,inf- Of Sto ff of r,,,- F.. n ~, a. . In
will be accompanied by some staff Of
t1cers and civil officials. They will meet
you commissioners January 3, at
noon, at ~Shuishiying. The commits
sioners OF both parties to be empow-
cred to sign a convention for capitula-
ton without waiting for ratification,
and the same to take immediate effect.
The authorization of such plenary. pow
crs shall be signed by the highest Of
ticer of both negotiating parties, and
shall be exchanged by the respective
commissioners. 7 avail myself of this
opportunity to convey to your excel
slcncy the assurances Of my respect"
The siege and defense of Russia's
stronghold have been marked by a
bravery, gallantry and desperation I'M
equalled in modern warfare and hardly
exCel1ed in history. Isolated instances
of heroism, which ordinarily set the
world ringing, We're dwarfed by the
general magnificent conduct of the en-
tire campaign. At sea, to~rpedoboats
made recklesslAlashes at great fleets,
and huge batt1eships plowed through
mine fields With heroic disregard, in
their Wild efforts to escape. =
by LAND the japanese hurled them
selves against apparently im~pregnable
d%efenses, faced rocky cliffs crowned
with batteries and crowded With SOL
dierss, suffering losses that military ex-
perts say would have appalled, Euro
pean armies.
Knowing that succor or escape was
vain, the heroic garrison fought with a
stubbornness that has evoked the adj
iniratiou of the world and met the I'M
firing assaults of the Japanese with a
Salor hat even won the admiration of
their foes. The battle has been waged
with a relentlessness that often refused
truces to bury the dead and collect the
wounded. Over corpse-flled trenches
they have fought hand-to-hand with
cold steel, hand explosives and gren-
AIDES. The whole story is II of sublime
bravery. What the siege of Port Ar
thur cost in life and money canno be
estimated. The losses have been appal-
ling. In the assault of 203-Meter hill
it Is estimated the losses We're 40 FER
cent. of the attackers, While that of the
defenders must have been frightful.
The defense of the position by Rus
STA has cost Ter practically her entire
feet in these waters. Her ships lie
along the coast and near the harbo1
entrances and are only the hulks OF
the once proud vessels. Save two OF
three damaged cruisers and 4 few less
V~iadiVoStok not a Russian warship
flies the flag of Russia in oriental wa
tiers.
Japan, too, has lost some vessels as
n result Of mines. but her loss has beer