The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-01-19
AFTER SURRENDER.
LITTLE YET KNOWN or CON.
DITiONs IN PORT ARTHUR.
laps Transporting stacssci's Soldiers
to Japan az Military Pr~isonrrs-Re-
port that the Hattie Fleet VIII Re-
turn No Indications Of Peace.

them MS military prisoners for japan,
and they have been policing the city.
As yet. however, we have been permit.
ted 10 hear little of the conditions that
existed In the fortress during It's last
days of Russian power. :.
Nevertheless, among the facts that
have comc to Ms through General
Nogi's official dispatches TO his govern
nicnt there Is at least one which has
been n surprise 10 observers OF the war
In every part OF the world, and which
iecessitates a decided change In our
ideas of the conditions OF the siege.
II is contained In the brief phrase: "of
the rank and file of the army, 2a,i3i."
The 22,I3I were the Russian private
soldiers still able 10 bear arms at the
time of the surrender. The naval
forces are not included. nor are the
sick and wounded In hospitals. This
is double or Y g triple the number OF
soldiers that IL was supposed remained
In Stocssel for the defense. Moreover.
~ AiittiNitiN mat it NV ~ HlAA'H iNEEtE
garrison at the start than wns suspect
ed. The usual estimate Of the forces
under arms In Fort Arthur nj the be-
ginning OF the siege was 10000 sol
dlers and 10000 sailors. But now. In
Guiding wounded, there must be at
least 10000 soldiers left, TO say moth
ing of sailors. Stoesscl himself. In
the last dispatch he sent 90 the Gar
before the surrender. said plteously:
only onc-quarter of the garrison is
alive" II he was speaking accurately.
that means that he originally had no.
coo men under him. or more than
General Nogi has ever used In the In.
vcstmcnt. but the GSurc Is too great
20 he credible.
However, the bare fact az 10 the
number OF surrendered soldiers makes
II necessary To estimate at higher
achievement. Whether II lessons the
honor that has been attributed TO Gen.
cral Stoessci for his splendid defense
cannot. however, be told till we know
what supplies Of ammunition and food
remains available nj the end.
Return OF the Baltic Fleet.
The fall Of Port Arthur Is followed
by n statement which IL unofficial. but
IL said to be trustworthy. that the
Baltic fleet now ut Madagascar is TO
return TO European waters. II that
he so the question arises rs 10 the rca.
son for sending II 10 the east. IL IL
was sent In the hope that Il might
reach Port Arthur before It's surren-
der, the Russians must have been i'll
Informed as To the resisting capacity
OF the fortress.
II may be that the original intention
was that the Baltic fleet should 20 10
the Pacific regardless OF what happen
cd to Port Arthur. but that Il has now
been decided hat the fleet Is not
strong enough To be depended on with
certainty to got the better az the Jap
anese. and that II Is expected 60 send
To- the Pacific the entire available Rus
sian navy. A feet can Ice sent n few
months hence which will hc much
stronger than tho one commanded by
Admiral R~ojestvensky.
In the meantime the Japanese can
reiit their vessels nt leisure and pre-
pare In every way possible for the
struggle which awaits them NJ n later
day. IL hardly can I've. assumed that
the Russians Will make no effort Ca
wrcst from the Japanese the control
OF the seas. So long as they retain II
II will be impossible for the Russians,
no matter how large the army they
put In the field. 10 force their nj.
versaries out OF Manchuria.
The situation ON the Shakhc River
remains practically unchanged. The
reports OF q fankinc movement by the
Japanese OF their right flank have not
has been disposed Of most Of General
Nogi's veterans will be available for
service In northern Manchuria. IL win
not take much time 90 transport them
there. But even with these rc-cnforcc-
mcnts II IN doubtful N General Oynma
will attempt nm active winter cam.
paign against a strongly intrrnclcd
enemy. who must have about 22j.0OO
mon. md who should be- rcceivin.
steadily re-enforccmcnts Sufficient 20
make good his daily losses.
There arc no indications OF peace.
The Russian government has an
nounced that II will prosecute the war
with increased vicor. aud that 9OO.OOO
fresh troops VIII bc sent 10 General
K~ouropatkin before tho end Of Feb
ruary. This is n promise OF desperate
lighting when spring begins and the
roads become passabla. The Russian
government will expect Kouropatkin
10 take the offensive ana force hack
tho japanese 10y outfghtins or out
mancuvcring them.