Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-01-06
PORT ARTHUR.

Gen. Stoessel surrendered Port
Arthur at o'clock Sunday night
The Mikado instructed Gen. Nogi
to accord to Gen. Stoessel all military
honors and extols the heroism of
Russian and Japanese soldiers. The
Russian officers were paroled and
will be sent home. The rank and
file will be carried as prisoners to
Japan.
Port Arthur, whose hills have for
months run red with the blood of
the bravest of two warlike nations in
a death -grapple over one of the most
remarkable sieges in all history, has
at last succumbed to the fierce tena-
city of the Japanese attack. Gen.
eral Stoessel, most stubborn in carry
ing out the will of his sovereign, has
seen the advance of the besiegipg
army gain in momentum and energy
until to hold out longer would have
been crime against humanity.
Toxic and all Japan is scene of
rejoicing. To what extent the fall
OF Port Arthur will presage peace is
not now apparent. Japan, having
captured the Port and practically
freed Manchuria of the Russians, is
open to peace negotiations; bat Rus
sian pride will hardly be content 10
let Port Arthur remain in the hands
of the Japs if it can possibly be
helped. Already a note has been
sounded in France, which nation is
favorable to Russia, that Japanese
control of Port Arthur is a menace
TO European interests in Asia. 1t
will be recalled that in her war with
China that kingdom ceded Port
Arthur to Japan, but Russia. Ger
many and France would not let the
island kingdom have it. Later Rus
STA acquired it.
STORY OF LAST DAYS.
The commander of one of the Rus
sian torpedo boat destroyers which
escaped to Che Foo, China, gave out
the following:
sport Arthur falls of exhaustion,
not only of ammunition, but of men.
The remnant of the garrison left had
been doing the work of heroes for
live days and five nights, but yester-
day they reached the limit of human
endurance. In the easements of the
forts one saw everywhere faces black
with starvation, exhaustion and
nerve strain. You spoke to them,
but they did not give answer, only
staring dumbly. During the past
month many of the forts had moth
ing with which to return the fire of
the enemy. The Russians sat in the
easements firing not more than once
to the two hundred shots sent by
the japanese. When the assault
came they repulsed the enemy with
oayonets. But the men themselves.
having existed for three months on
reduced rations, were so worn that it
is marvellous they stood the final
strain so long.
Yesterday General Stoessel would
still fight. His wound, which was
received early in the siege, had been
bothering him, but his deter NINA
ton to fight while one man stood
had not been diminished.
"'But We cannot fight said his
generals. Our men cannot move.
They sleep standing. They cannot
see the bayonets at their breasts. We
can order, but they cannot obey.'
"Then you generals fight said
Stoessel, clenching his fsts. He
seemed fanatical on the subject. but
finally he was brought to see reason
ey the insistence of his subordinates.
Admirals Lochinsky and Wren.
Generals Smirnoff and Fock, and
many others, sometimes with broken
voices, urged the step which all
dreaded so long.
81 am sure Port Arthur would
have sought terms a month ago had
1t not been for General Stoessel. who
with bull dog tenacity, steadily re.
fused to permit such action to be
taken. He had told his Emperor
that he would never surrender and
meant to keep his word.
General Nogi has taken Port
Arthur with his artillery and his
tunnels. His rife bullets were seldom
found to be of any use. We con-
stantly endured bombardment
flercer than any in history. The
Japanese periodically assaulted, and
then If repulsed, they calmly resumed
their Commandments. 1t is a simple
story. Had the ammunition held
out, the fortress would have held ont
indefinitely. For months we held
Fort Arthur by bayoneis alone. until
lesh and blood could do no more.
w her a man fell there was none
other to replace him. Thus the
garrison was gradually worn down.
Meter Hill alone cost us 5000 men.
The capture of that hill was the
of the end.
The general impression is that
zen. Stoessel proposed that the army
go free and that he alone be made a
prisoner. Even that concession
to wrench out the sturdy old |
mans heart"
BEGINNING OF THE END.
From Meter Hill the onward rush
or the Japs carried Rihlung fort on |
December 20, and two minor forts |
nearer the city two days later. From |
Hill the Japanese fire totally |
put out Of use the battleship Sevas-
topol and drove the smaller vessels
out of the harbor by night, four of |
The destroyers and a number of
smaller vessels escaping to Che Foo.
China, to which port they were
chased by Japanese cruisers which
in the harbor until the
nemy were dismantled. Half of
he garrison was blown mp with
japanese mines, cut through solid
ock, that destroyed Rihlung. With
hese forts in their possession tha