Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-01-04
forgive the loss OF the fortress IN al,
miratiOn OF the garrison's heroic de-

miration Of the garrison's heroic de.
tense. sfs5
Possibly some OF the hesitation 81
the authorities here to make the an.
nouncement OF the fall OF Port Arthur
is due to threats and rumors Of ratl|-
cal demonstrations coupled with the
absence of the emperor; hut 1t is GER
tain that no demonstration Is likely
which could assume serious prapo..
tons, and the radical SadsTs Would
be sure to alienNte theS 3y1ARatEf ht
many even Of TIE SHloras aih6$al, RvS
sians il they choSe Sch y mdihenS f6r
revolutionary demonstration.
1t has been learned that the last
telegram sent by Emperor Nicholas
to General Stoessel vested the com.
mander Of the Port Arthur forces with
discretionary powers, and urged him
to exercise them rather than allow
the defense to go to the last ditch.
This may account for the apparently
brief time required to conclude the
negotiations between the Russian and
Japanese commanders, no time having
been occupied In communicating with
Emperor Nicholas. It Is equally GER
tain that General Stoessel did not sur.
render without previous authorization.
Offer OF Peace From Japan.
In diplomatic circles, where there Is
every reason to believe there Is the
best information regarding the plans
OF the Japanese. 1t Is stated that the
fall Of Port Arthur will be promptly
followed by an offer of peace from
Japan. It is understood that strong
effort will be made to have the offer
come through President Roosevelt.
1t is even suggested that the terms
might include an arrangement which
would give Russia an outlet through
the Persian gulf. There is, however,
no Indication as to whether an effort
to induce President Roosevelt to move
Ia the matter would be likely to sue
ceed It certainly Is regarded as un-
likely chat such q suggestion should
come through the United States, un-
less the president has the strongest
previous intimation that It would be
favorab1y considered by the Russian
government It may be added that
while 1t 10 known that Emperor Nicho-
las from the beginning regarded the
war with great abhorrenee there is
nothing yet to Indicate that his gov
eminent intends to recede from the
programme Of fighting to a finish,
which has repeatedly been announced.
There is much discussion relative
to Vice Admiral Rojestvensky's voy-
age to the far East. It is rumored
that his squadron may be recalled to
the Baltic to await reinforcements
and proceed eastward next summer,
when it will be decidedly superior in
strength to Admiral Togo's feet, but
there is nothing authoritative to sup
port such report The situation, SO
far as Vice Admiral Rojestyensky is
concerned, is not materially different
from the time when the Port Arthur
squadron was first defeated. It is
known that Admiral Rojestvensky had
alternative instructions when he
sailed covering such a contingency as
has now arisen. So far as known, he
has no intention of altering his plans
owing to General Stoessel's surrender.
The situation in the immediate fu-
ture may be such as to necessitate the
curtailing of the emperor's trip to the
south and cause his return to st. Pc
tersburg; but the report that his pilot
train had been blown up is untrue.