The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-01-06

Port Arthur, whose hills have for
months run red with the blood Of the
bravest Of two Warlike nations, has
at last succumbed to the fierce tenaci-
ty of the Japanese attack. General
Stoessel, most stubborn in carrying out
the will of his sovereign, has seen the
advance of the besieging army gain in
momentum n energy until to hold out
longer would have been a crime against
humanity. The conditions of the sur
render are not yet known, but in all
quarters it is anticipated hat they are
such as an honorable soldier may &C.
cept from a brave and victorious enemy.
At 9:45 o'clock last night the commits
sioners completed the signing Of the
capitulation agreement. Both armies
had suspended hostilities five hours
earlier. The city of Port Arthur will
be occupied by the japanese today.
The authorities at st. Petersburg, in
the absence of direct official news from
General Stoessel that Port Arthur has
surrendered, have not permitted the
news to become public. Emperor Mich
Olas is in the South of Russia, and his
ministers are for the time being in the
dark as to VIVA dispatches have been
sent to him from the front.
Toxic was the scene of rejoicing. peo-
pie of all ranks finding in the outcome
compensation for all the sacrifice Of life
II money that was entailed in the ten
months siege.
To what extent the fall of Port Ar
thur will make for a restoration of
peace is an open question.
There is an encouraging note in the
expression by Baron Hayashi, Japanese,
minister at London, of hope that in some
way it will facilitate final peace"
Though the pacific note is perhaps lost
in the later words of the minister which
call attention to the fact that the be-
sieging army will now be free to go
North, where it will be an offset to the
achievements General Kuropatkin has
been receiving from Russia since the
battle of Shakhe. The spirit of the
Russians may be judged by the state
ment of the secretary of the embassy
at London that the campaign will be
renewed with fresh vigor in the spring,
and that the nation will not be con-
tent to permit Port Arthur to remain
in the hands of the Japanese.
Both in Paris and in London the
opinion is that the squadron under
Vice Admiral Rojestvensky, which
started from Libau for the Far East
three months ago will have TO retrace
it's way home, as adherence to the orig
inal plans would invite disaster without
probability of effecting a junction with
the warships at present in the harbor
of V~Iadivostok-
That Japan may not be permitted to
retain possession of Port Arthur with
out dispute is shown in the fact that
Paris newspapers are already reviving
the claim made in 1901 hat the holding
of that position commanding the east
ern seas by the japanese would be a
menace to European powers
Toxic, January 3 General Nogi re-
ports as follows:
AT 5 o'clock in the afternoon Janu-
airy list the enemy's bearer of a flag of
truce came into the first line of our po-
sition south Of S~huishiying n handed
a letter to our officers. The same reach
ed me at 2 o'clock at night. The letter
is as follows:
Judging by the general condition
of the whole line of hostile positions
held by you I find further resistance at
Port Arthur useless n for the purpose
of preventing needless sacrifice of lives
I propose to hold negotiations with ref
erence to capitulation. Should you con-
sent to the same you will please appoint
commissioners for discussing the order
and conditions regarding capitulation
and also appoint a place for such COM
missioners to meet the same appointed
by me.
"I take this opportunity to convey to
your excellency assurances of respect.
(Signed.) sSTOESSE1L
Shortly after dawn today / viii dis
patch our bearer of a flag of truce with