The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-03
.STOESSEL'S IS FAME
IS |MPER|SHABLE
Fall of Port Arthur Kept Back
in Russia
THE PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW
Much Speculation Is Indueed In as to
What viii Be the Future Plans
of Admiral Rojest-
vensky.
THE PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW

st. Petersburg. January 2.-5:40 p m.)-
The news that General Stoessel, after
sustaining eleven months siege has at
last yielded to the inevitable, is not yet
known to the Russian public. the an
nouncement being forbidden until 1t is
officially confirmed from Russian sources.
But the best informed circles at the war
office which are in possession of unpub-
lished portions of dispatches taken by
the torpedo boat destroyers to Che Foo.
describing the state of affairs in the
belleagured garrison, accept the news as
true and 1t Is not too much TO say that
it was received almost with a sense of
elief and the fact tnat the remnant of
the heroic defenders is not reserved for
sacrifice at final storming and perhaps
to be subjected to horrors ard excess
incident on the entry OF the victors In the
passion of battle. General Stoessels sur
render does not meet with word of
criticism in Russia
Was Wonderful Defense.
Even in defeat General Stoessels won
derful defense of Port Arthur has earned
for him an imperlshable name in Russian
military annals. Every since confirmation
was received of the destruction of the
Port Arthur squadron, t has been felt
both at the Admiralty and at the War
Office that the main reason for the sacri-
fee for the last man In the defense of
the fortress had gone and the progress
made by the besiegers during the past
fortnight eliminating in the capture of
Wantai (SignaD hill. which broke the
chain of inner eastern forts made 1t cei-
tain that the end was at hand.
nj nj hou
ever, that Stoessel would not surrender
without the Emperors authorization, and
that he probably asked to be allowed to
communicate with his majesty through
Toxic. AS the Emperor Is In the south
of Russia, the nature of any dispatches
sent to him Is not known at che War
Office. All portions OF the dispatch for
warded from Che Foo describing the ter
rible straits to which the garrison was
reduced are not published here. The re-
port that General Stoessel, in addition to
confirming the death of General Kon-
drateko had announced the deaths of
Generals Fock and Smirnoff, had a bad
effect. The news was reflected on the
Bourse by fall in imperial per cents to
SO, the lowest point since the war began
Great Confusion Exists.
At the Admiralty good deal of confu-
sion exists, but 1t is not admitted that
the fal' of Port Arthur will alter the
plans of Admiral Rojestvensky, such an
event being fully anticipated when the
Russian second Pacific squadron left
Russian waters. The squadron Is not
bound for Port Arthur but for Vladivo-
stok. Nevertheless the feeling is one of
great gloom.
The political effect In Russia of the
fall of Port Arthur is awaited with the
greatest interest. The hour of grief of
loyal Russians is almost sure to be taken
advantage of by the diseontented ele-
ments to make demonstrations against
the government. The revolutionary party
has already decided to use the occasion
for a general demonstration.