The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-01-30
CRITICISM OF
STOESSEL
Port Arthur Commander Was
Incapable
SAYS CARS ADMIRAL.
Prisoner Of Japanese Declares General
Kondratenko Was the Real
Hero Of the
Siege.

''Tbe first Japanese naval attack eh
Port Arthur was an absolute surprise
TO both the Russian army aud navy,
saws Russian admiral. one % ne Port
Arthur prisoners At Tokyo. = admired
the manner In which the Japanese ban
died their ships aud the remarkable
way In which they concealed ther
movements. but they erred on the SIDE
Of caution. If Ia this fiFst attack they
had launched an their torpedo boat 60
1nla against the Russian ships. whie1
were III condition Of unpreparedness
instead OF sending ID only few Fes
sells they could have executed dlsas-
irons cup de main by destroying prae.
ideally every ship in the harbor
HAD similarly bold policy been
carried out tie Japanese could have
landed 4 force to the west u the forti.
fed lines and captured tie fortress a
most without oppos ton. Iae forts had
not then been completed. ani tie me.
jority Of the guns had not been mouaf
ed. The garrison manning tie entire
fine over ten miles numbered barely
5000 men.
"There was friction between the mr.
my ana the navy rs the result 81 cr
aers received from ST Petersburg
These orders came to General Stoessei
ana inamated that the navy should
emerge ana fight the japanese. But L
would have been hopeless to give Togo
battle.
General Stoessel, who was Ia abs0-
lutte command OF the fortress, vigorous
y opposed the naval policy. He main-
tained thai despite the uapFepare dness
of the fortress Fort Arthur could easily
tie defended hy troops armed only with
rifles ne opposed the idea that aTtil-
lery WIS necessary. but this resulted
ID causing friction between him ana
the commanders OF the fortress srtl
lery
Il ana sorry to say that from the FIRST
General sfoessel proved to BE lncapa.
BE. Though ii fgll command. ne never
visited the lighting positions during tha
lifetime Of General K0ndFateak0 who
was not only tie life of tile defense
but possessed ii a large measure the
quality Of peacemaker. He integYeHed
ID al cases of trouble ana always el9e
queutlE pleaded the cause of me egn
per9r and The necessity fof defense,
by day aua IS night General Kon-
dratenko vlsited every portion II The
position and constantly riskea his LIE
He was our Inspiration Na Rassiau
need be ashamed az the defense laae
~ the gzrgisen while Kouaratenko Hy
cd.
1t is dificnlt Col Russian officer q
talk about tie cad It was worse than
D mistake, It was q disgrace The fer
tress could easily hare held aHi Tor an-
other month, "a L had food ana ammu-
milton srt1clent for that flerisd, ana il
Kunaraienko had remained alive ii
would have held ont Tor months longer
'sI'or nearly two weeks Ii was know.
among the Officers that Stoessei ana als
chief Of sta8, Iselss. who was incon
pefent were preparing Ger surrender
ThroueA Staessels servants the s
diers became aware of what was com.
Ing, and, brave as thes sro the
knowledge destroyed their enthusiasm
at council of war held three aavs
before cnpltnlation. al whicA twenty
two q tie higher officers 81 the army
md navy we're present General gtoes
SCI represented fAaf If Past Arthur
should be taken BY assault there vocal
be fighting "a The streets ana possibly
o massacre He mentioned TIE wetae
ana CHILDREN IF the garrison ana said
he thought i was the duty 81 the COM
cll IL avoid such ) possibliisy. Not
wlihstandiug these Representations aa.
Il three officers Chief u STAT Relss
and two Others. favored car.tulatiaa.
St5ess s aute to General Noai cane
Wlt-oat warming ana the word sur
Prise inaae4aatelg expresses our canal.
ten after tie sentiment y Tie ms5or.
lgg Of the council haa been expressed