The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-03

1 ress in admiration of the garrison's l heroic defense.
 Possibly some of the hesitation of
 the authorities. here to make the an- nouncement of the fall of Port Arthur
 Is due to threats and rumors of radical demonstrations, coupled with the ab- sence of the Emperor, but 1t Is certain that no demonstration is likely which could assume serious proportions and | the radical leaders would be sure to ' alienate the sympathy of many, even of the more liberal Russians, if they | chose such a moment for revolution ary demonstration
 It has been learned that the last tele- gram sent by Emperor Nicholas to General Stoessel vested the command CT of the Port Arthur forces with dis cretionary powers and urged him to exercise them rather than allow the defence to go to the last ditch. This may account for the apparently brief time required to conclude the negotia- ttoins between the Russian and Japan csc commanders. no time having been occupied in communicating with Elm peror Nicholas. It is equally certain | that General Stoessel did not surren-
 der without previous authorization. May Call on Roosevelt. In diplomatic circles tonight, where there Is every reason to believe there is the best information regarding the
 plans of the Japanese, it is stated that
 the fall of Port Arthur will be prompt ly followed by an offer of peace from Japan. It is understood that 8 strong effort will be made to have the offer
 come through President Roosevelt. It is even suggested that the terms might include an arrangement which
 would give Russia an outlet through
 the Persian Gulf.
 There is. however, nc inSicptions as to whether an effort to induce Presi- dent Roosevelt to move in the matter
 would be likely to succeed. It certain ly is regarded as unlikely that such a suggestion should come through the United States unless the President has the strongest previous intimation that it would be favorably considered by the Russian Government. It may be add ed that while it is known that Elm peror Nlcholes from the beginning regarded the war with great abhor-
 renee, there is nothing yet to indicate
 that his Government intends to re- cede from the program of fighting to a
 finish. which has repeatedly been an- nounced.
 There is much discussion relative
 to Vice-Admiral Rojestvensky's voyage
 to the Far East. It is rumored that his squadron may be recalled to the
 Baltic to await endorsements and
 proceed eastward next summer when
 1t will be decidedly superior in
 strength to Admiral Togos fleet; and there is nothing authoritative to sup
 port such report.
 The situation, so far as Vice Ad-
 niral RoJestvensky is concerned, Is not
 materially different from the time when
 the Port Arthur squadron was first de-
 feated It is known that Admiral Roj-
 estvensky had alternative instructions
 when he sailed, covering such a con- urgency as has now arisen. So far as
 known.( he has no intention of altering
 his plans owing to General StoesseTs
 surrender.
 The situation in the immediate future | may be such as to necessitate the cur tailing of the Emperor's trip to the South and cause his return to St. Pe- tersburg, but the report that his pilot train had been blown up is untrue There have been a number of mishaps to freight and passenger trains owing
 to blizzard prevailing in south and central Russia during the past few days One train was derailed near Minsk and this doubtless occasioned
 the rumor cabled to the United States
 that revolutionists had wrecked the | train preceding the royal train.