Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-02


capitulation OF the worid-iaiiio''S
fortress.
Port Arthur has surrendered ENhaus'eo
nv months of almost constant hs o.
decimated by disease and casuaities anu
bopelessly sealed in its rocky fortress the
gallant garrison has yielded to its gallant
besiesers and the end is now written of the
most dramatic war incident OF mooelh
times.
At 0 o'clock last night Gen. Nogi, COM
manding the japanese army of investment
received from the Russian General Stoes-
eeI q note saving that he found further re-
sistance useless and asking for meeting
to arrange terms of capitulation. The note
was simple and direct and the japanese
general Immediately named commissioners
to confer with representatives of the Rus
sian commander.
They met at noon today to arrange the
conditions of surrender. The nature of the
terms agreed upon is not yet known, but
will be of the most magnanimous character.
The Emperor of Japan himself. through the
chief of the imperial staff, has given pub
lie his expression that Gen. Stoessel has
rendered commendable service TO his coun-
try in the midst of difficulties" and that it
is his wish that military honors be shown
him"
dispatch from Tokyo quotes military
opinion believing that the entire gar
rison will be allowed to march out under
arms and may be sent to Russia on parole.
Late dispatches from Japan have shown
that the gallant defense of StoesseI and his
men has nowhere been given a finer appre-
citation than in the land of his foes. and II
Is more than likely that Japan will embrace
the opportunity to show her magnanimitv
and admiration of the gallantry of Port
Arthur's defenders by allowing them all the
honors which war permits victorious
army to bestow upon the vanquished
The siege and the defense of Russia's
stronghold in the far east have been
marked by bravery, gallantry and des-
NAtNfu'iNd III iltue1n warfare. and
hardly eXcelled in military history. The
story OF the operations arourr Port Arthur
is one of repeated fighting. both bv land
and sea, of the most desperate and thrill
ing character. Isolated instances of hero
ism that would have set the world ringing
under less overwhelming circumstances
nave dwarfed by the generally magnificent
conduct of both forces.
by sea there have been torpedo boat
dashes of superb recklessness and bie
shlps have ploughed through mine fields
with heroic disregard to give battle or in
wlId EFFORTS TO escape. BY land the lana.
nese have hurled themselves against nosi.
tions declared to be impregnable. The,
have faced and scaled rocky heights
crowned with batteries and crowded with
defenders, suffering losses that militar,
experts say would have appalled, any Euro
pean army.
In the doomed fortress its people hav.
lived under a devastating rain of shell ant
shrapnell. On scanty rations besieged or
every side. knowing that hope of succor oi
escape was vain, the garrison has fought
with a stubbornness that has evoked tn,
admiration of the world
They met the untiring assaults of tn,
japanese with grim valor that won ever
the praise of their foe. and the fighting ha.
been waged with q relentlessness tha
often refused truces to bury the dead ans
collect the wounded Over corpse-fllee
trenches men have fought hand to hant
with cold steel and clubbed guns, and a
short range have hurled at each othe
hand-grenades filed with high explosives