The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-01-02
POR I ARTHUR
FAR AND WIDE HAS THE NEWS
OF PORT ARTHuR,S
FALL SPREAD.
FLAG OF TRUCE WAS SENT BY.
GENERAL 5sToEssEt
LAST NIGHT.
.lsy Publishers, Press.l

(By Publishers Press.)
TOXIC, Jan. Port Arthur has
fallen. After. eleven months of san
culinary fighting. marked by stubborn
and desperate resistance on the part
of the Russian garrison under Gene
raj Stoessel, and heroic and persis-
tent attacks by the Japanese under
General Nosi, the Gibraltar of the Far
East has capitulated and is about to
pass into the hands of the Japanese.
The cost has been terrible to the Jap
anese, and the suffering appalling to
the Russians. Japan sent the cream
Of her army to Wrest the place from
tine grasp of the Russians. The task
has been accomplished, but at what a
cost. Thousands of the little brown
fighters have met death In the persis-
tent hammering at the fortress, but
they met their fate unfiinehinsIy and
even cheerfuiIy, according to their
religion and traditions. Chain after
chain of hills, surmounted by forts,
that 90 TO. make up the defenses of
Port Arthur, fell into the hands of the
japanese. Their thinned ranks,
er. each exploit, were filled again
Nth eager recruits, and so the work
went on Slowly but surely they
narrowed their embracing circle un-
til to-day its clutch is so tenacious
that the Russians, seeing that further
resistance would be murder, pure and
simple, yielded to the inevitable, and
offered to lay down their arms.
General StoessePs offer to capitu-
late came late yesterday afternoon.
he historical event, in General Mo-
gi's own words, was as follows:
At five in the afternoon, January
1, the enemy's bearer of flag of
truce came Into the first line of. our
position south of shuishiyins and
handed letter to our officers. The
same reached me at 9 o'clock at night.
The letter is as follows:
Judging by the general condition
of the whole line of hostile positions
held by you, l find further resistance
at Port Arthur useless, and for the
purpose of preventing needless sac
rifice of lives, | propose to hold neso-
fiations with reference to capituIa-
tion. Should you consent to the
same, you will please appoint COM
nlissioners for discussing the order
and conditions regarding capituIa-
tion, and also appoint place for
such commissioners to meet the same
appointed by me. take this oppor-
nifty to convey to your exceIIency as
surances of my respect.
"'stoessel.'
81 General Nosi agreed to General
StoessePs proposal and both sides ap-
pointed commissioners to negotiate
the terms of capituiation. These Of
ficers were to meet at noon to-day,
and 1t seems that few hours will see
the passing of the city into Japanese
hands.
In their moment of victory the
Japanese viii be masnanimous to the
svanquished. This is indicated by
telegram sent to General Noei by
Marshal Yamasata at the request of
the Mikado. The telegram:
'.When,I respectfully informed His
Majesty of General StoessePs propo-
sa; for capituIation, His Majesty was
pleased to state that General Stoes-
sal had rendered eommendable SER
vice 70 his country in the midst of
difficulties, and it is His Majesty's
wish that military honors be shown
to him.
a SHATTERED CITY.
1t will be shattered city that will
pass TO the japanese. The pounding
1t has received these many months,
both by land and sea, has laid the
city in ruins. The Russians blew up
their remaining ships yesterday, and
il is to be expected that other mill
tary property has been destroyed.
Tesy blew up several of the forts,
previous to the dispatch of General
Stoessefs letter to the japanese.
It is stated that of the garrison of
10000 men General Stoessel had to
defend Port Arthur. but 5000 remain
III for duty. The others are dead,
wounded OF sick.
Toxic to-day is city of jubilation
over the news. The first official re-
port was received early this morning
and spread through the city Ike wild