The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-01-20
SURRENDER NOT NECESSARY.
CONCLUSION OF
SPLENDID DEFENSE
Holding Out NJ Port Arthur-Jepa-
nese Make Formal Entry Into the
Cty-Actixity OF japanese I.crcas-
ing.

Headquarters Of the Third japanese
Army at Port Arthur. Jan. II. via Tfen
Tsin. Jan. 1.-THE victorious Japa-
nese army yesterday formally entered
Port Arthur. General Nog with his
staff entered first through the old
town and took his stand In the public
square OF the new town. The army
represented by one regiment
from each brigade. Tho procession
which was five miles long. was three
hours passing the saiuting base. after
which the troops passed out OF the city
through the lev town. The corre-
then visited the captured
city for the first time. The old town
buildings were badly smashed by
shells. but in the new town the dam
age vas slight. All the shipping in
the harbor was badly damaged by
Shell fire. the warships being prac-
|tically useless owing 20 tho injuries
they had sustained by shells
Proposals for the surrender of Port
Arthur was first made December 2sth
at a council OF war. Geneal stoessei
was in favor of surrender. but some OF
his general officers were bitterly op-
posed to it. The regimentai officers
land the troops were not consulted.
The scenes following the surrender
were d~isgraceful. Drunken soldiers
filled the streets and refused to obey
their officers. Many OF them destroyed
the guns upon the positions they had
defended and came into the city with
lout permission. The infantry loudly
protested that the fortress had been
igiven away They threw their rifles
and ammunition into the Narbor and
proceeded to break into warehouses
and loot n drink until In a helpless
lcondition. 1t was evident that the sur
lrender was not necessary as there
lwere $1,000 effective men in the fort
Iress. The supply OF ammunition was
short. but it was not exhausted. Food
was scarce but private stores were not
lrcquisitioned by the military. There Is
no difficulty in getting good meals In
the city even now from the stores i'm
lprivate possession. A portion of the
fortress was capable Of defense for
months longer. 1t was opinion OF the
non-combatants at Port Arthur that
the surrender was unnecessary as the
troops were willing and able to fight
to the bitter end. General Stoersel was
much blamed for what was character
lied as a d~isgraceful conclusion of a
splendid defense.
Activity Of Japanese is Increasing.
Russian Headquarters, H~asanshan.
Manchuria. Jan. 1.-THE activity OF
the japanese is increasing along the
whole front. They are attacking vii.
lagos between the lines and are open-
ing artillery fire at night.
The Japanese are putting Chinese
troops in training. From an observa-
ton tower at Gaodyanzi. Russian off,
lcers watched the Japanese i%nstructing
|Chinese bandits who have peen formed
into regular companies to storm the
heights.
The first Japanese re-enforcements
from the army which was besfeging
Port Arthur began arriving at LA
Yang January 18th.
HOnors Recommended for Stoessel.
Toxic. Jar. Is. II a. m.-GeneraI
iNogi has written to the governor Of
tNagasaki the following:
"As to the treatment OF General
tStoessel you will be advised by the
proper authorities, but IL may not be
out of place to point out that General
Stoessel now is neither a prisoner of
war or an enemy but a foreign gentle-s
imam who ~meritoriousry served his
lcountry and moreover so honorably
performed without unnecessary delay
the complicated task OF transferring
the forts and munitions Of Port Ar
THUR that he deserved TO be accorded
full military honors. and I commend
Ihim to your consideration"
Russian Cavalry Ytaids.
ST. Petersburg. Jan. 1s.-Ueneral
Ikuropatkin, In a dispatch to Emperor
nicholas reporting the Russian ay-
lalry raids Of January 10th and nth
Isays the Japanese suffered heavily and
THAT the Japanese stores at Yinkow
were ablaze for nearly the whole night
January 18th.