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

mass of oficers-aIl these causes diInin-
ish daily the capabilities OF the defense.
The tale of the losses of high officers
is an indication of the enormous losses
we have sustained. OF ten generals.
two Kondratenko and Tserpitsky, have
been killed; R~aznatovskyt Is dead, rro.
are wounded, myself and Gennadire,
while Gorbatowsky is suffering from
contusions. OF nine reginIentai COM
manders and eolonels Prince Metcha-
bell Naoumenko has beer killed, Douire
and Glagolew have succumbed to
wounds and four others have been
wounded. One lieutenant colonel has
been killed and two are wounded
Among the field artillery Colonel IT.
man was wounded; Colonel Peterof was
killed and six officers were
Among the other high officers there
was an enormous percentage or killed
or several times wounded. Many COM
panies are commanded by ensigns and
the companies average 90 men strong.
The Japanese since December lstn
nave refrained from ~assauiting. Yes
terday they exploded a mine under the
Notifications of Fort No. ., and about .
score of hardy Japanese mounteo the
rampant, but were exterminated oy
bayonets and hand-grenades. In re-
venge the Japanese bombarded all night
long and all day long with eleven men
shells, especially the hospitals ana
ambuiances although " Tuil Wen
| that there was no possibility OF our
| wounded heroes joining the ranks OF the
defenders.
There are 1900 sick n
in the hospitals and the number in
| creases by about 100 daily
On December 10Th General Stoessei
| wrote:
"At 10 o'clock yesterday morning the
Japanese blew up part of the parapet
Of Fort No. 8. They afterwards opened
a severe bombardment along the whole
| front, but especially ON Fort No. 8. VI
from the moat and glacis where they
dashed to the attack of the parapet
from them oat and g1acis where rhes
had been held in readiness. TWO at
tacks were repulsed. but the Japanese
occupied the tunnel shaped opening
formed by the EXPLOSION, and, r~eln1occe'i
by their reserves. began to run across
the moat in groups of about five. They
occupied the pararet and at dusk Two
battaIions had entered n interior Oh
the fort. Our troops fought from the
entertainments which were baby DAM
aged. Part of our troops ma tntli!-
selves in the easements, but the Japan.
ese placed machine guns In front OF
he exit from the easements. thus de-
priving our men hidden there Of all pos
sibility of making an attack. In1ee
counter attacks from the OUTSIDE by out
reserves met with no success. Ihe Iort
consequently remained in possession OF
the Japanese. Our losses were conSic-
cradle, especially in officers. the sur
yiyors of the garrison succeeded IN get
ting out Of thief cat by the 1ndo"
BY the occupation of this fort the Jap
r anese became masters Of the Whoie
north front and the fortress can mol
out only a few days more. we hdF<
almost no ammunition. 1 Will take mea-
slres to prevent carnage in the stress
} "scurvy is sensibly weakening tn
garrison. I have now n arms ohlS
[ 10, 600 men, all SICK.
Generals Fock and Nikitina haV'
4 been veritable heroes and adm,rah'
! collaboratOrs."
: General stoessel 5 report on Decemhel
= 2sth and 18th, painting the harroWins
: picture of the depleted and
. garrison fighting on hopelessly, "7f'
e nnosted on the bulletin boards this af
~ternoon and attracted enormous crowds
| whose grief at the fall Of the fortres'
was swallowed up by admiration 70
: the heroic defenders. The war of'c
and admiralty were beseiged by srle
stricken relatives and friends or tnos
. at Port Arthur, eagerly asking 20
news, but the STATS were competed
S without details and could give none.
ST PETERSBURG QUIET.
y The city is perfectly quiet, the agita
e tors finding that the people were in n
y mood for demonstrations against IN
government. 1t is presumed that TN
emperor is already acquainted with tn
details of the terms Of the surrender,
o being assumed hat Stoessel was allow
- ed to communicate directly. with n
u majesty, but the war office is still with
Y out information except such as is con
e tanned in Toxic dispatches. .
k At the foreign office. while it was sas
h that any proposals Japan might max
O would receive due consideration the OF
icials were unable to imagine how
could be possible for Japan to offer col
ditions which Russia could accept.