The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1905-01-18
AFTER ~oUnkINDER.
LITTLE YET KNOWN OF CON.
DiTiONS IN PORT ARTHUR.
Japs Transporting Stnessei's Soldiers
to Japan as Military Prisoners-Re-
port that the Baltic Fleet Will he-
turn No Indications of Peace.

Two weeks nave pasSeu since tue
fall of Port Arthur. The Japanese
have been marching the Russian SOL
diers out preparatory to em~barking
them as military prisoners for Japan,
and they have been policing the city.
AS yet, however, we have been permit
ted to hear little OF the conditions that
existed in the fortress during its last
days of Russian power.
Nevertheless, among the facts that
have come to US through General
Nogi's official dispatches TO his govern
ment there is at least one which has
been a surprise to observe of the war
in every part Of the world, and which
lsecessitates a decided change in our
ideas of the conditions of the siege.
1t is contained in the brief phrase: "Of
the rank and file of the army, 22,434."
The 22,434 were the Russian private
soldiers still able to bear arms ut the
time of the surrender. The naval
forces are not included, nor are the
sick and wounded in hospitals. This
is double or even triple the number Of
soldiers that it was supposed remained
to Stoessel for the defense, Moreover,
it indicates that he had q much larger
garrison at the start than was suspect
ed. The usual estimate of the forces
under arms in Port Arthur at the be-
ginning Of the siege was 10000 sol
diers and 10000 sailors. But now, in
Guiding wounded, there must be at
least 10000 soldiers left, to say moth
ing of sailors. Stoessel hims Elf, in
the last dispatch he sent to the Car
before the surrender, sail p%iteously:
"Only one-quarter of the garrison is
alive" If he was speaking accurately,
that near that he originally had 120,-
600 men under him, or more than
General Nogi has ever used in the in
vestment, but the figure is too great
to be credible.
However, the bare fact as to the
number of surrendered soldiers makes
it necessary to estimate at higher
value than ever General Nogi's great
achievement. Whether it lessons the
honor that has been attributed to Gen.
eral Stoessel for his splendid defense
cannot, however, be told till we know
what supplies of ammunition and food
remains available at the end.
Return Of the Baltic Fleet.
The fall of Port Arthur is followed
by a statement which is unofficial, but
is said to be trustworthy, that the
Baltic fleet now at Madagascar is to
return to European waters. If that
be so the question arises as to the rea-
son for sending it to the east. IL it
was sent in the hope that it might
reach Port Arthur before its surren-
der, the Russians must have been i'll
informed as to the resisting capacity
of the fortress.
1t may be that the original intention
was that the Baltic fleet should go to
the Pacific regardless of what happen
ed to Port Arthur, but that it has now
been decided that the fleet is not
strong enough to be depended on with
certainty to get the better Of the jap
anese, and that it Is expected to send
to the Pacific the entire available Rus
sian navy. A fleet can be sent a few
months hence which will be much
stronger than the n commanded by
Admiral Ro~jestvensky.
In the meantime the Japanese can
reft their vessels at leisure and pre-
pare in every way possible for the
struggle which awaits them at a later
day. 1t hardly can be assumed that
the Russians will make no effort to
wrest from the japanese the control
of the seas. SO long as they retain it
it will be impossible for the Russians,
no matter how large the army they
put in the field, to force their adj
versaries out Of Manchurla.
The situation on the Shakhe River
remains practically unchanged. The
reports of a fianking movement by the
Japanese on their right flank have not
been confirmed. Now that Port Arthur
mas been disposed of most of General
Nogi's veterans will be available for
service in northern Manchuria. 1t will
not take much time to transport them
there. But even with these REINFORCE
ments it Is doubtful if General Oyama
will attempt an active winter cam
paign against a strongly intrenched
enemy, who must have about 225, 900
men, and who should be receiving
steadily re-enforcements sufficient to
make good his daily losses.
There are no indications Of peace.
The Russian government has an
nounced that 1t will prosecute the war
with Increased vigor. and that 100000
fresh troops will be sent to General
Kouropatkin before the end Of Feb