River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-01-19
SURRENDER Was
NOT NECESSARY
REPORTS SAY SToESSEL COULD
HAVE HELD CITY FOR
MONTHS.
GENERAL HAD 81 900
TROOPS IN FORTRESS
Disgraceful Orgies Follow Capitula-
tion-Buildings and Shipping Bad
" Damaged - Formal Entrance
Into City Is Made.

Headquarters of the Third Japanese
Army at Port Arthur, Jan. IA, via Tient-
tsin, Jan. 1.-THE victorious Japanese
army Thursday formally entered Port
Arthur. Gen. Nogi with his staff en-
tered first through the old town, and
took his stand in the public square OF
the new town. The army was represent
ed by one regiment from each brigade.
Procession Five Miles Long.
The procession, which was five miles
long, was three hours passing the salut-
ing base, after which the troops passed
out of the city through the new town.
The correspondents then visited the
captured city for the first time. The
old town buildings were badly smashed
by shells, but in the new town the dam
age was slight All the shipping in
the harbor was badly damaged by shell
fire, the warships being practically use
less, owing to the injuries they had sUs-
tanned by shells.
Proposals for the surrender of Port
Arthur were first made December ~, at
a council of war. Gen. Stoessel was in
favor of surrender but some of his gen
eral officers were bitterly opposed to it.
The regimental officers and the troops
were not consulted. The first news they
had of the surrender was January l,
after Gen. Stoessel had communicated
with the Japanese.
The scenes following the surrender
were disgraceful. Drunken soldiers
filled the streets and refused to obey
their officers. Many of them destroyed
the guns upon the positions they had de-
Tended and came into the city without
permission. The infantry loudly pro-
tested that the fortress had been given
away. They threw their rifles and am
munition into the harbOr and proceed
ed to break into warehouses and loot and
drink vodka until in helpless cOndi-
ton.
Surrender Not Necessary.
It was evident that the surrender was
not necessary, as there were $1,000 eff
fective men in the fortress. The sup
ply of ammunition was short, but it
was not exhausted. Food was scarce,
but private stores were not requisi-
toned by the military. There is no
difficulty in getting good meals in the
city, even now, from the stores in pri-
vate possession A portion of the fort
ress was capable of defense for months
longer. 1t was the opinion of the non
combatants at Port Arthur that the sur
render was unnecessary, as the troops
were willing and able to fight to the bit
ter end. Gen. Stoessel was much blamed
for what was characterized as adisgrace-
full conclusion of a splendid defense,
which ended with the death of Maj. Gen.
Kondratenko, who was loved by the SOL
diers, and was the life of the defense.
Ask Kind Treatment for Stoessel.
Toxic, Jan. 17.-Gen. Nogi has writ
ten to the governor of Nagasaki the fol-
lowing: GAS to the treatment of Gen.
Stoessel you will be advised by the
proper authorities, but it may not be
out of place to point out that Gen. Stoes-
sci is now neither a prisoner of war nor
an enemy, but foreign gentleman, who
meritoriOusly served his country, and,
moreover, so honOrably performed with
out unnecessary delay the complicated
task of transferring the forts and NUM-
tons of Port Arthur that he deserves
to be accorded full military honors. and
l commend him to your consideration. .
Invaded Neutral Territory.
Toxic, Jan. II. - Later reports from
Newchwang indicate that Gen. Mistchen-
kos Cossacks in their recent raiding
southwest of Liaoyang deliberately in
vaded neutral territory and broke the
limits of the war zone The reported
Russian note to the powers calling at
tention to China's nonenforcement of
neutrality is regarded here in some
quarters is absurd. 1t is felt that China S
weakness and constant failure to enforce
neutrality must release Japan from OBJ
legation to observe restrictions which
Russia openly ignores. While the extern
sion of belligerent territory is to be re-
GREETED it is felt that Japan must take
steps to protect herself against the repe
tition of raiding expeditions whose sue
cess depends on the violation of neutral