The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-01-07
STOESSEl SURRENOERS
PORT ARTHUR NOW IN Pc BsEs-
SION OF THE JAPANESE.
The V%anquisned Army Permitted to
Retire With All the Honors III War
Admiral 7ojestye risky Mult Re-
turn TO the Baltic Sea.

-- ff
Toxic, Jan. 2.-rAy text Of Ger.
Nogi's telegram announcing the capt.
ulation OF the Russian forces at Port
Arthur is as follows:
The pIenipotentiaries of both par
ties concluded their negotiations to-
day at 4:30 o'clock. The Russian
commissioners accepted on the whole
the conditions stipulated by us and
consented to capitulate. The docu-
ment has been prepared and sigma
lures are now being affixed. Simulta-
~neously with the conclusion Of nego-
tiatlons both armies suspended hos
Titles. 1t is expected that the Japa.
nese army win enter the city Of Port
Arthur tomorrow"
Port Arthur, whose hills have for
months run red with the blood OF the
bravest Of two warlike nations, has at
last suecumbed to the fierce tenacity
of the Japanese attack. Gen. Stoessel.
most stubborn in carrying out the Will
of his sovereign, has seen thea advance
Of the besieging army gain momentum
and energy unit. TO hold out longer
would have been a crime against hui
manity. The conditions Of the sur
render are not yet known, but in all
quarters it is anticipated that they
are such as an honorable soldier may
accept from a brave and victorious
enemy.
The authorities at ST. Petersburg, IN
the absence of direct official news
from Gen, Sroessel that Port Arthur
has surrendered have not permitted
the news to become public, Emperor
Nicholas is in the south OF Russia and
his ministers are for the time being in
the dark as to what dispatches have
been sent to him from the front.
Toxic wa the scene Of rejoicing,
people of all ranks finding in the out
come compensation for all the sacri'
fees of life and money that was en-
tailed in the ten months siege.
To what extent the fall of Port Ar
thur will make for a restoration OF
peace is an open question. There is
an encouraging note in the expression
by Baron Hayashi, japanese minister
at London. of the hope that in some
way it will facilitate final peace
though the pacific note is perhaps lost
in the later words of the minister,
which call attention TO the fact that
the besieging army will now be free
to go north, where it will be an offset
to the reinf0rcements Gen. huropat-
kin has been receiving from RUSSIA
since the battle of Shake. The spir-
1t of the Russian army may he judged
by the statement of the secretary OF
the embassy at London that The cam
paign will be renewed with fresh
vigor in the spring, and. that the ma
ton will not be content to permit
Port Arthur to remain in the hands
of the Japanese,
Both in Paris and London tle opin-
ion is that the squadron und n Vice
Admiral Rojestyensky, which started
for the Far East three months ago,
will have to retrace its way home, as
adherence to the original plans would
invite disaster without probability of
effecting a junction with the Earships
at present in the harbor Of Nladiyos-
tok.
That Japan may rot be permitted
to retain possession Of Port Arthur
without dispute is shown in The fact
that Paris newspapers are already re-
viving the claim made in 1901 shat the
holding Of that position, commanding
the Eastern seas, by the Japanese
would be a to European pow
ers.
There is an expectation in diplomat
ic circles in st. Petersburg that some
one of the powers may make a ten
der of friendly office and the intima'
ton is conveyed that the United
States may take the initiative.
Should this be the case, 1t could only
be upon assurances from both the
warning powers that the tender would
be received by them in good part.
Russian officers who have reached
Chefoo relate that the Port Arthur
garrison was completely worn out by
five days of continuous fighting. that
the supply of food was about exhaust
ed and that the limit of resistance
had been reached when Geo. Stoessel
made his offer Of capitulation.