The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1905-01-09
PRISONERS
OF WAR
Many Russian Officers Refuse
to Give Parole.
WILL GO TO JAPAN
More than Half Of the Port Ar.
thurs Commission Force to
Go into Captivity.
WILL GO TO JAPAN

LONDON, Jan. 9.-Advices from the
headquarters of the japanese army at
Port Arthur says that Lieutenant Gen
erals Fock and Smirnof have decided
to go to Japan as prisoners Of war.
General SmirnOff was in command Of
the forts at Port Arthur, and General
Fsck commanded the fourth division Of
the army there. General FOck says he
will drill his men in Japan.
Fifty per cent of the Russian officers
will 20 to Japan and share with their
men the fate of prisoners Of war.
There are FIVE Russian admirals at
Port Arthur, one of whom will 20 to
Japan. Among the admirals was Prince
OuktomslSy, reported to have escaped.
Twelve foreign naval attaches have
visited Port Arthur and inspected the
remains of the Russian feet
Vice Admiral Shibeyama. command
ant at Kure has been appointed to the
command of Port Arthur.
Lieutenant General StoeSSel will
leave Dalny on Wednesday Oh Jap
anese transport for Nagasaki. lie will
be accompanied by the other paroled
officers. The Russians probably will
remain in japan for few days and
then proceed on Il French steamer to
Europe going by way of the Snez ca
nal.
General Nogi reports that the officers
paroled TO date number Al and order
lies 229.
The transfer of prisoners at Port Ar
thur was completed yesterday. The
total number of officers transferred
was S7S; men, 3,491.
The Japanese intend to establish a
naval station at Port Arthur
The military administration al Port
Arthur will retain only small garri-
son as soon as the prisoners are with
drawn and order is restored.
General Kuropatkin from Mukden
reports the Illustration of Japanese
attempt to surprise his center front
during the night and the bayoneting of
twenty-one Japanese during a cavalry
reconnaissance in the valley Of the
Taitse river. in the direction of Sian
chan
Advices from St Petersburg this
morning say that the conferences
which Emperor Nicholas has been
holding with members of the council
of the empire, NJ. White and other min
listers and advisors on the internal and
external situation have not yet been
concluded, but nothing has occurred
which would indicate that the govern
ment is prepared to depart from its
present programme Of continuing the
war to the bitter end. Nevertheless,
talk of peace is heard In many quar-
tiers, the foundation for 1t being
ascribed to Foreign Minister Lams-
dorff's alleged position in favor OF a
treaty of peace on the ground that.
aside from the humiliation to military
prestige involved, it would only mean
the REIMBURSEMENT Of Manchuria, to
which Russia already Is formally
pledged.
The belief which existed In excep.
tisnsl]y well informed diplomatic cir
cles that japan would follow the fall
of Port Arthur with moderate peace
propositions has not been realized UP
to the present time.
A dispatch from Tokyo says that Ad
miral Togo has issued an order abol
ishing the blockade Of the Liautong
peninsula. For the present, however
no ships except those in the Japanese
government service will be allowed Il
enter Port Arthur.
A celebration at Hibiya park, To
kyo, under the auspices Of the Tokyo
municipality, ended the weeks jubila
zion begun upon the return Of Vice AID
miral Togo from the front. There
were speechmaking and fireworks ant
the students and merchant guilds para
ded the streets, which were gay witt
tags and lanterns.
1t is reported that Rear Admira
Prince Ouktomsky and Rear Admira
Dochlhsky have escaped from Port Ar
thur on small steam launch disguised
as sailors.
49, -
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