The San Francisco call., 1905-01-10
SURVIVORS
MARCH OUT
OF CITADEL
Pitiful Procession of
Slav Prisoners
of War.

PORT ARTHUR, Saturday, Jan. t.
Five thousand men of the Russian
garrison at Port Arthur were marched
from the village of Yahutsui, on the
shores of Pigeon Bay, for fifteen miles
to the railway station at Changing
tzu yesterday. The long procession OF
garrison was a pathetic spectacle. The
first arrivals at Changlingtzu were
four droskieS, drawn by sorry-looklng
horses They contained the staff Of
ficers who had refused to give their
parole. All wore their swords, as they
were allowed to do under the terms of
the capitulation compact.
A few minutes later the first detach-
ment arrived. The regimental officers
marched with their men, their heads
bowed and their faces scanned with
lines showing the result of the mental
and physical strain they had under
gone during the long defense.
AS the Japanese soldiers crowded
about them with evident curiosity the
faces Of the Russian officers were an
interesting study. All of them ap-
peared TO feel their humiliating posi-
ton keenly, and though some seemed
TO be resigned to the situation. others
were resentful as being regarded with
curiosity.
The horses drawing the transport
carts were staggering with fatigue,
though the loads were small. They
were tied to the carts and led by
orderlies. In the procession were
many lean looking pet dogs belonging
to the officers.
In many cases officers refused to
wear their swords, but had them car
ried behind them by orderlies. The
officers saluted the European and
American correspondents with the
Japanese army, and appeared to be
both pleased and astonished at seeing
Europeans and Americans there.
The prisoners were treated with the
greatest respect and kindness. The
soldiers were given food, cigarettes and
beer, and the Japanese soldiers were
seen even voluntarily carrying the
effects of the prisoners when they
were overcome by fatigue.
On the evening of January 3, Cap
tain Tsunoda, a Japanese staff Of
ficer, was sent to Port Arthur to in
form General Stoessel of the contents
of the message from the Emperor of
Japan to General Nogi, giving instruc-
tionS that the garrison should be treat
ed with the greatest consideration.
Captain Tsunoda took with him pres
ent for the Russian commander, con-
sisting of chickens and wine.
Stoessel's first inquiry was as to the
whereabout of General Kuropatkin
StoeSsel said he had last heard from
kuropatkin on October 6, when the
said he would soon come to the reliet
of Port Arthur. He had, he stated
sent out Chinese spies. who on theil
return reported that KurOpatkin, with
a relieving army, was at KinchoW
twenty miles to the north of Port Ar
thur.
Stoessel listened with evident in
credulity to the statement that Kuro'
patkin had been defeated and driver
back toward Mukden, SO the captain
produced a map which showed the re-
spective positions of the Russian anC
japanese armies near the Shakht
River. He gecited the story of Kuro
patkins defeat and said that the Rus
sian losses had been between $4,000
and $4,000. Stoessel expressed hi.
amazemept and then quietly remark
ed that he had been misled.
The general asked where the Rus
sian second Pacific squadron was ano
was told that some of the ships haC
not yet passed the Cape of Good Hope
With a hopeless expression Genera
Stoessel said:
Now that Port Arthur has faller
there is no use of the squadron com
ing farther"
Captain Tsunoda asked what caused
the most damage to the garrison dur
ing the siege, to which General Sto
essel replied:
Your eleven-inch howitzers. Since
they arrived our defensive works have
been useless"
The general said that he and for
mer Viceroy Alexieff had beer
through the Boxer trouble and hat
then seen the work of the japanese
army. He had been associated will
sthe Japanese generals, Yamagouch
and Fukushima, at that time, he said
and he expressed the opinion that ths
Russian and Japanese forces had ther
borne the lions share of the work
Since that time, he declared, he hae
always entertained a high idea of the
organization and fighting qualities o.
the Japanese army. The real cause
of the war, in General Stoesseps opin
ion, was the ignorance of the Russian
people regarding the fighting qualitie.
of the Japanese.
The first attack on Port Arthur BY
the Japanese fleet In February was {
tremendous surprise to the Russians
General Stoessel told Captain Tsun
oda, as the forts were then only partly
completed and were garrisoned BY
only from 1000 to 5000 troops.