Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-01-07
PORT ARTHUR
SURRENDERS
CONTINUED FROM 1sr PAGE:

vincingly. declaring that the horrors
witnessed Were beyond description.
There was not a single spot in the
town which was safe from shrapneI.
Many Of the hospitals were hit, and
the wounded refused to stay in them
Some lay in the streets on heaps of
vreckage, exposed to the bitterly cold
weather, and some staggered back to
the front, defying the Japanese till
taken prisoners or dealt: came merci-
fully to end their sufferings. There
were five days aud nights of this stats
Of Affairs.
Our plIEht-su--'sy night" said Cap
tain KartZow, &C imander OF the Uor-
pedo boat destroyer Vlastni, looked
like the last. There was no stopping
the Iananese who dad In droyaa and
fought with the last instructive twitch
OF the nerves. with eyes fixed on the
Liaoti Mountain. Stoessel had killed
japanese army aud exhausted His
ammunition. They became more furi-
Gus and Hateful than ever. So the white
nag went up"
Continuing. Captain Kartxow said:
Port Arthur falls Of exhaustion
exhaustion not only OF ammunition,
but OF men. The remnant OF the gar
rison left had been doing the work
OF heroes for i've days and Eve nights,
but Sunday they reached the limit Of
human endurance.
In the classmates OF the forts one
saw everywhere faces black with star
walton, exhaustion and nerve strain.
You spoke to them. but they did not
give answer. only staring dumbly.
1.-THE lack Of ammunition alone
would not have suggested the asking
Of terms. Scant ammunition had long
been common in the fortress during the
EAST month, and many OF the forts
had nothing with which to return the
IRE of the enemy.
The Russians sat In the classmates
firing not more than once to the 200
shots sent by the Japanese whsa the
assault came they repulsed the enemy
witt bayonets. But the men them
selves. having existed for three months
on reduced rations. were SO worn that
1t Is marvellous they stood the dnal
strain so long.
Sunday night General Stoessel
would still light His wound, which
was received early in the siege, had
been bothering him. but his determi-
nation to fight while one man stood
had not been diminished.
But we cannot fight said his gem
erals. Our men canont move. Tney
sleep standing. They cannot see tina
bayonets at their breasts. We can
order, but they cannot obey
Then you generals fight said
Stoessel clenchins his fists.
He seemed fanatical on the sub
3ect, but frally he was brought to see
reason by the insistence Of his subor-
climates. Admirals Lochinsky and
Wren, Generals Smyrnofr and Tock
and many others, sometimes with
broken voises, urged the step which
all dreaded so long.
i am sure Port Arthur wauld have
sought terms a month age had It not
been for General Stsessel. who with
bulldog tenacity steadily refused 10
permit such action To be taken. He
had told his emperor that he would
Fever surrender, and he meant to keep
his word
The greatest loss suffered by rert
Arthur occurred fortnight ago. Whez
Ma5sr Geaeral KondratenkO was
killed. omcers and men alike regarded
min as the brightest star In Port Ar
thurs frraament- When his death BE-
came known the fall in the spirits Of
the soldiers was plainly visible.
General Kondratenko was seated In
the Saserlste Of a certain fort discus
sing witn seven other officers the best
way OF countermining against the
Japanese, when an 11-inch shell burst,
killing everybody In the casemate.
General Nogi has taken Port Ar
thur with his artillery and his tunnels.
His rifle bullets were seldom found TO
be of any use.