Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-01-19
A EIEn bUnH .NUEh.
LITTLE YET KNOWN OF CON
DlTlONS IN PCRT ARTHUR.
Japs TranspC~ ing StnessePs Soldiers
to Japan 80 Military Prisoners
port tina, the Baltic Fleet Will lie
turn No Indications of Peace.

IalI OF IOrt Arthur. Inc japanese
have been marching the Russian SOL
diers out preparatory to embarking
them as military prisoners for Japan,
and they have been policing the city.
AS yet, however, we have been permit
existed in the fortress during its last
days of Russian power.
Nevertheless, among the facts that
have come to US through General
Nogi's official dispatches to his govern
ment there is at least one which has
been surprise to observers of the war
In every part Of the world, and which
necessitates decided change in our
ideas of the conditions of the siege.
1t is contained in the brief phrase: 'Of
the rank and file of the army, % ,434"
The 22,434 were the Russian private
soldiers still able to bear arms at the
time of the surrender The naval
forces are not included, nor are the
sick and wounded in hospitals This
is double or even triple the number Of
soldiers that it was supposed remained
to Stoessel for the defense Moreover,
it indicates that he had much larger
garrison at the start than was suspect
ed. The usual estimate of the forces
under arms in Port Arthur at the be-
ginning of the siege was 10000 sol
dierS and 10000 sailors. But now, in
Guiding wounded, there must be at
least 10000 soldiers left, to say moth
ing of sailors. StoeSSel himself, in
the last dispatch he sent to the Car
before the surrender, sail piteOuSly:
only One-quarter of the garrison is
alive If he was speaking accura tely,
that means that he originally had $780,
COO men under him. or more than
General Nogi has ever used in the in
vestment, but the figure is too great
to be credible
However, the bare fact as to the
number of surrendered soldiers makes
it necessary to estimate at higher
value than ever General Nogi's great
achievement. Whether it lessons the
honor that has been attributed to Cen
eral Stoessel for his splendid defense
cannot, however. be told till we know
what supplies of ammunition and food
remains available at the end.
Return of the Baltic Fleet.
The fall Of Port Arthur is followed
by statement which is unofficial, but
Is said to be trustworthy, that the
Baltic fleet now at Madagascar is to
return to European waters. If that
be SO the question arises as to the rea-
son for sending it to the east If it
was sent in the hope that it might
reach Port Arthur before its surren-
der, the Russians must have been i'll
Informed as to the resisting capacity
of the fortress.
1t may be that the original intention
was that the Baltic fleet should 60 to
the Pacific regardless of what happen
I'd to Port Arthur. but that it has now
been decided that the fleet is not
strong enough to be depended on with
to get the better Of the jap
lnese. and that it is expected to send
10 the Pacific the entire available Rus
sian navy. A feet can be sent a few
months hence which will be much
stronger than the one commanded by
Admiral ROjestvensky.
In the meantime the Japanese can
eft their vessels at leisure and pre-
oare in every way possible for the
struggle which awaits them at a later
lay. 1t hardly can be assumed that
he Russians will make no effort to
vrest from the japanese the control
If the seas. SO long as they retain it
t Will be impossible for the Russians,
70 matter how large the army they
ut in the field, to force their adj
erSarieS out of Manchuria.
The situation on the Shakhe River
emains practically unchanged. The
eports Of thanking movement by the
japanese on their right flank have not
'een confirmed. Now that Port Arthur
as been disposed of most of General
>ogfs veterans will be available for
ervice in northern Marchuria. It will
Ot take much time to transport them
here. But even with these reinforce
lents it is doubtful if General Oyama
viii attempt an active winter cam
align against a strongly intrenched
nemy, who must have about 225,OO
zen, and who should be receiving
teadily re-enforcements sufficient to
lake good his daily losses.
There are no indications of peace.
he Russian government has an
eunced that it will prosecute the war
18th increased vigOr, and that 100000
resh troops will be sent to General
before the end Of Feb
nary. This is promise Of desperate
Citing when spring begins and the
Dads become passable. The Russian
overnment will expect Kouropa tkin S
, take the offensive and force back
le Japanese ny outtighting or out f
them. q
F. \. Bridgman, the American artist
Paris. has refused TO accept the sill '
n medal awarded him by the Louis S
INxpnS;+;n,, ~ n