The Washington times., 1905-08-13
Gen. Sn1irnoHs S Story of
StOessePS Surrender
Al Time OF CapituIation Port Arthur Had
Enough Ammunition TO Resist Three
More Assaults

General StoessePs recent arrest and
disgrace, by order of the Gar. is but
IN keeping with the trend of most
other public affairs at St. Petersburg
under the present weak ruler of Russia
Six months ago Anatole Michaelovitch
StCesSel was the one military hero that
had come out unscathed from the try
ing ordeal Of Russia's far eastern
hasco The Gear then sent him q tele-
gram of thanks and appreciation, and
allowed him 20 accept decorations fol
valor from Emperor William and the
King OF Italy.
On the generals return to st. Peters
burg he received him in special au-
dierce and entertained him at the i'm
perial table.
Yet StoesseTs fall at this time was
already foredoomed. It was looked for
ward to as a practical certainty by ev'
erybody "in the know at st. Peters
burg so soon as it became known that
the Gear, while entertaining the re-
turning hero, had failed to address &c
him one single question or remark con
cerning Port Arthur.
Obstinate Surrender.
It was also known, Of course, that
stoessel had surrendered Port Arthur
needless of the public protest of his sec
cnd-in-command. General Smirno1. ana
after the famous last council of war IN
Port Arthur. at which an overwhelming
majority of his general officers voted
against capitulation. Seventeen general
officers, all told. sat in this council
ONLY three voted for surrender
Prince Uchtomsky. the admoral who ran
away in the naval battle of August 10;
Fock. the martinez whose life had twice
been attempted by his own men, and
Gregorovitch, StoesseIs crony. Stoessel
himself did not vote, but simply dis
missed the council after brief speech
in which he praised the patriotism OF
those. officers who had voted TO hold the
fortress at all costs.
Worse reports than these even pre-
ceded StoesseIs return to Russia ASH
mead Bartlett, the correspondent OF the
London Times who witnessed StOesSel 5
exit from Port Arthur, had reported the
significant incident OF General Snlr-
n0ff's refusal 20 ride in the same rail-
way carriage. or even 70 shake hands
with his chief, when the Russian OIilceIS
were taken down to Dalny by the Jap
ansse.
Nogi's Evidence.
General Nogi. III his official report TO
the Mikado had mentioned the fact that
stoesseIs report TO him Of the surviving
combatants of Port Arthur only spoke
OF 5000 men under arms. whereas over
Is. coo marched out and stacked arms un-
der the terms OF the capitulation.
This discrepancy of figures, which
caused no little embarrassment TO the
Japanese commanders at the time, ere
ssted unbounded establishment in Japan.
Nobody there could understand how q
commanding general Of so high and re-
sponsible a rank as that Of General
StoesseI could possibly be mistaken
about the number of men under his
command.
The matter was made a subject OF
endless discussion in the newspapers ot
Japan, particularly when il became
known that General SIoesSel n his ON
cial report to the Gear had made the
same mistake. stating Now 10000 men
are under arms they are all Ill Inc
from Bombay. Alden. and Odessa, where
StoesseI gave out interviews relteratlng
this long exploded fallacy.
One OF the most influential newspaper5
OF Japan, the Nippon. after referring to
some noted instances OF the past When
high japanese and Chinese generals had
preferred death % surrender, then sad
''Lie on His Lips"
What can We say in Japan about a
such shameful circumstances does not
blush to return To his sovereign with a
lie on his lips? We do not know what
the Russian military code Of honor IS
but we do know that no japanese general
or private soldier eVen-shOuld anyone
ever fall under such deep disgrace
would h~ve :, c face to return 10 Japan.
Such was the japanese popular YER
diet on StOeS q s surrender. The oph-
Ion of StOescel's own officers and soldiers
may be inferred from the fact that one
OF his officers in his presence, when
saw General StCessel passing through
NaEasaki under parole, did not hesitate
10 declare loudly before me:
There were fifty thousand ngnune
men at Port Arthur. or these. thirty
two thousand survive That means
thirty-two thousand new reVoluuonistS
for Russia
differences. no less damaging 10 StOes-
sePs personal reputation, had 10 be
drawn from the significant fact thai
StOeSsel'S 5 own aides -de-camp, while sui
nOminally attached 70 his stan, openly
denounced their chief 10 me as a cowaTC
and q liar. stating that ne had lied tC
them well as to me. that his pretend
ed wound. which he covered with 2
bandage over his head, was "a fake, ant
announcing their intention 10 4Git hin
forever as soon as they should Feacf
neutral soil.
Contradicted Him.
Later. when General Stoessel took il
upon himself to repudiate the interview
which ne had given ne in the presence
Of these officers. I had no difficulty in
persUading them 10 give confederation
OF the interview denied by him. This
Interview be IT understood had con
tanned nothing damaging etLhertO him
self or TO lhe men under his command
Lest IL appear that my personal i'm