The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-03
BY EXHAUSTION.
Russian Officer, Who Escaped
From Port Arthur,
Describes the Last Days in the
BeIsaguered City.
STOESSEL HUNG ON.
After Every body Else Was Ready
to Surrender.
Defenders No Longer Had Am
munition OF Food.

Chefoo. Jan. s.-Commander Kart
zo~Sof the Russian torpedo boat de-
stroyev Vlastni. in an interview with
the Associated Press correspondent
says:
Port Arthur falls of exhaustion
exhaustion not only of ammunition
but OF men,
The remnant of the garrison left
had been doing the work of heroes
Tor I'VE days and five nights, but they
reached the limit of human endur-
ance.
in the easements Of the forts one
saw everywhere faces black with
starvation, exhaustion and nerve
strain You spoke to them. but they
did not give answer, only staring
dumbly-
"The lack of ammunition alone
would not have suggested the seeking
Of terms. Scant ammunition had long
been common in the fortress. and
during the past month many of the
forts had nothing with which to re-
turn the fire of the enemy.
The Russians sat in the easements
firing not more than once to the two
hundred shots sent by the japanese.
Then, when the assault came, they re-
pulsed the enemy with bayOnetS. But
the men themselves, having existed
for the three months on reduced ra-
tons were so worn that it is mar
velous they stood the final strain so
long.
General StoesseI would still fight.
His wound which was received early
in the siege, had been bothering him,
but his determination to fight while
one man stood had not been dimin-
tshed.
But we cannot tight said his gen
erals. Our men cannot move. They
sleep standing. They cannot see the
bayonets at their breasts. We cam
order bTIf they cannot OhnU'
Then you generals fight said
StOessel, clenching his fists.
He semed fanatical on the subject,
but finally he was brought to see rea-
ates. Admirals Lochinsky and Wren,
Generals Smyrnom and Fock and
many others. sometimes with broken
voices, urged the step which all had
dreaded so long.
"I am sure Port Arthur would have
sought terms a month ago had 1t not
been for General StoesseI. who with
bulldog tenac1ty repeatedly refused to
permit such action to be taken. He
had told his emperor that he would
never surrender and he meant to keep |
his word
THE greatest loss suffered by Port
Arthur occurred a fortnight ago when |
Major General Kondratenko was kill
ed Officers and men alike regarded
him as the brightest star in Port Ar
thurs armament When his death |
became known the fall in the spirits |
of the soldiers was plainly visible.
General kOndratenkO was seated |
in the casemate of a certain fort dis
cussing with seven other officers the |
best way of cOuntermining against the |
japanese when an eleven inch shell /
burst, killing everybody in the case |
mate.
General Nogi has taken Port Ar
thur with his artillery and his tun-
nels. His rife bullets were seldom |
found to be of any use.
I'VE constantly endured a lombard |
ment hercer than any in history.
1.-The japanese assaulted and then, If !
repulsed they calmly resumed their
bcmbardment.
I'VE who came here do not know
the terms of surrender suggested by |
General StosseI to General Nogi nor
the answer to them, having left Port |
Arthur even before the messenger had /
been dispatched. The general impress
sion. however, is that Stoessel has pro- /
posed that the army shall go free and |
that he alone be made a prisoner. Even 4
that concession seemed to wrench out /
the sturdy old mans heart. Whether |
or not the negotiations terminate in an 1
agreement on terms of surrender it is 1
certain that Port Arthur is doomed as
you say the Associated Press predicted /
two months ago.
1--WE still have some ammunition and /
some guns, on Liaotie mountain but |
that mountain is not adapted for the I
best defense from the land side, and 4
the japanese would find it's capture |
easier than the other tasks they have /
attempted Tigers Tail peninsula mas 10 |
be similarly viewed and Golden Hill /
has been without ammunition for three |
months.
'Since reaching Chefoo have seen
that attempts have been made to make /
it appear that Stoessel alone wished to
surrender, the other generals desiring
to continue the fight. This is a lie. and /
it is based solely on personal dislike of /
StoesseL
1T is a simple story. Had the am
munition held out the fortress would
have held out Indefinitely. For months
We held Port Arthur by bayonets alone.
until flesh and blood could do no more
When a man fell there was none other
to replace him, thus the garrison was
gradually worn down. Two hundred
and three Metre hill alone cost US 5000