The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-03

Port Arthur. whose hills have for months run red with the blood of the bravest of two war-1ike nations, has at last succumbed to the fierce tena- city 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 and energy until to hold out longer would have been a crime against humanity. The conditions of the surrender are not yet known. but in all quarters it is anti cipated that they are such as an honorable soldier may accept from brave and victorious enemy.
 The authorities at St. Petersburg, in the absence of direct official news from General Stoessel that Port Arthur has surrender, have not permitted the news to become public. Emperor Nicholas is in the south of Russia and his min isters are for the time being in the dark as to what despatches have been sent to him from the front.
 Tokio was the scene of rejoicing, peo- pie of all ranks finding in the outcome compensation for all the sacrifices of life and money that was entailed in the ten months siege,
 Peace an Open Question.
 To what extent the fall of Port Ar thur will make for restoration of peace is an open question. There is an encouraging note in the expression by Baron Hayashi. Japanese Minister at London Of the hope that in some way it will facilitatel peace" though the pacific note is perhaps lost in the later words of the minister which call attention to the fact that the beseig- ing army will now be free to go north, where it will be an offset to the rein rorcements General Kuropatkin has been receiving from Russia since the battle of Shakhe.
 The spirit of the Russians may be judged by the statement of the sec- retary of the Embassy at London that the campaign will be renewed with fresh vigor in the spring and that the nation will not be content to per init 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 original plans would invite disaster without probability of effecting a Junction with the war ships at pres ent in the harbor of Vladivostok
 That Japan may not be permitted to retain D0SSpSSiOn Arfh without dispute is shown in the fact that Paris newspapers are already re- viving the claim in 1901, that the holding of that position commanding the eastern seas by the Japanese would be a meenace to European DOW CTS.
 Friendly Offices of Powers.
 There is expectation in diplomatic circles in St. Petersburg that some one of the powers may make a tender of friendly offices and the intimation Is conveyed that the United States may take the initiative. Should this be tho casa it could only be upon assurances from both the warning powers that the tender would be received by them in good Lart.
 Early today two Russian torpedo launches arrived at Chefoo and there were then seven Japanese torpedo boat desteoyers in the harbor. Later in the morning four of the destroyers de- parted.
 Russian officers who have reached Chefoo relate that the Port Arthur garrison was completely worn ont Inv fivS days of continuous fighting. that the supply of food was almost exhaust. ed and that the limit of resistance had been reached when General Stoessel made his ofer of equalization,