The San Francisco call., 1905-01-08
LATE FOES IN HISTORIC.
INTERVIEW TALK OF
THEIR BATTLES.
NoQi and otoeS5ei Meet as Friends

PORT ARTHUR, Thursday, Jan. o.
The meeting OF General Nogi and Gem
eral Stoessel to-day was as undramatic
as the conclusion of the siege. 1t had
previously been arranged to take place
at noon in the single undamaged house
of the village Of Shuishi. This house
was a miserable hovel called Plum
Tree Cottage. Through a misunder-
standing General Stoessel rode out
from Port Arthur at 10 o'clock. accom-
panied by Colonel Reiss and two staff
officers, to the Japanese lines and
missed the Japanese officer delegated
to escort him to the meeting place. The
general rode thither without an escort
and was received. by junior officer,
who happened to be on the spot. The
latter telephoned to General Nogi, who
hurried his departure from head
quarters and arrived at, II o'clock, ac-
companied by Major General Ijichi, his
chief of staff; Colonels Yasuhara, Mat
sudaira and Watanabe, staff officers,
and Kawskarin. secretary Of the For
eign Office at Toxic.
General Stoessel Is d large man OF
heavy appearance and looks like a
good fighter.
GENERALS sCLASP HANDS
When Nogi. looking careworn. en-
tered the compound of the cottage, the
two generals cordially shook hands,
and Nogi. through an interpreter. ex-
pressed his pleasure at meeting gen.
eral who had fought so bravely and
gallantly for his Emperor and country.
General Stoessel thanked General
Nogi for the pleasure or meeting there
the hero of the victorious army.
General Nogi explained that he had
received a message from his Emperor,
asking that the greatest consideration
be shown to General Stoessel and his
officers, in appreciation Of their splen-
did loyalty to their Emperor and coun-
try. Because of that wish, he added,
the Russian officers would be allowed
to wear their swords.
General Stoessel expressed his graft
tude to the japanese Emperor for thus
saving the honor of his (Stoessel's)
family, and said his descendants would
appreciate the thoughtful kindness Of
the Emperor of Japan. The general
also expressed the gratitude of his Of
f1cers and thanked Nogi for sending the
message from StoesseI to Emperor
Nicholas and transmitting his Majes-
tvs reply, which read:
II allow each officer to profit by the
reserved privilege to return to Russia
under the obligation not to take fur
ther part in the present war or to share
the destinies of their men,"
Both generals then mutually praised
each other and their officers for brav-
cry.
TALK OF THE BATTLES.
The conversation afterward turned
on the explosion of the mine at Sung
shu Mountain fort. General Stoessel
said the entire garrison Of the fort was
killed or made prisoners.
The Russian commander greatly
praised the Japanese artillery practice,
especially the concentrated fire instan-
taneous with the explosion of the Sung
shu mine. The gallant deeds of the
Japanese infantry, General Stoessel
added, spoke for themselves. 1t was
impossible to exaggerate their good
qualities. The skillful work Of the en-
gineers also has won his admiration.
Continuing, General Stoessel said he
had heard that General Nogi had lost
both of his sons. He praised Nogi's loy-
atty in thus sacrificing his sons, who
had died fighting for their Emperor and
country. General Nogi smiled and re-
piled:
"One Of my sons gave his life at Man.
shan and the other at 203-M Meter Hill.
Both of these positions were of the
greatest importancs to the japanese
army. am glad that the sacrifice of
my sons lives had been in the capture
of such important positions, as I feel
the sacrifices were not made in vain.
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