The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-03
People Of Russia Have Not Yet
Been Allowed to Hear
The News
R0JESTVENSKYS SQUADRON
MAY Be RECALLED HOME
President Roosevelt May Be Called
Upon BY Japan to Make Pro-
posaI of Pease to
Russia. -

Port Arthur whose hills have for
months run red with the blood of the
bravest of two war-like nations. has at
last succumbed to the fierce tenacity of
the Japanese attack.
General Stoessel, most stubborn in
carrying out the will of his sovereign,
has seen the advance of the besieging
army gain in momentum, and in energy,
until to hold out longer would have been
a crime against humanity. The condi-
tions of the surrender 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.
At s:45 o'clock last night the commits
sioners completed the signing of the
capitulation agreement. Both armies had
suspended hostilities five hours earlier.
The city of Port Arthur will be oc-
. cupled by the Japanese today
The authorities at st. Petersburg in
the absence Of direct official news from
General Stoessel that Port Arthur has
surrendered have not permitted the news
to become public. Emperor Nicholas Is
in the south of Russia, and his min
listers are for the time being in the dark
him from the front.
Toxic Is Scene of Rejoicing.
Toxic was the scene of rejoicing, people
of all ranks finding in the outcome COM
pensation for all the sacrifices of life
and money that was entailed in the ten
months siege.
To what extent the fall of Port Arthur
will make for a restoration of peace Is
an omen question There is an encourag-
ing note in the expression by Baron Hay
ashi Japanese minister at London, o.
the hope that in some way 1t VIII IA
cllitate final peace" though the Pac)hc
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 1t VIII
be an offset to the reinforcements Cen
eral Kuropatkin has been receiving from
Russia since the battle of Shakhe. Inc
spirit of the Russians may be judged
nv the statement of the secretary or the
embassy at London that the campaign
will be renewed with fresh Vigor IN
the spring and that the nation will not
he content to permit Port Arthur to re-
main in the hands of the Japanese.
Squadron May Come Home.
Roth in Paris and in London the opin-
ion is that the squadron under vice Ad-
roiral Rojestvensky, which started from
I,ibau for the Far East three months
ago. will have to retrace its way home,
Ian adherence to the original plans would
invite disaster without probability OF CT
fectins a junction with the warships, at
nresent In the harbor of Vladivostok.
That Japan may not be permitted 10
retain possession of Port Arthur with
out dispute, is shown in the fact that
| paris newspapers are already receiving
the claim made in 1901 that the holdlng
of that position commanding the Eastern
Iseas by the japanese, would be meh-
ace to European. powers.
There is an expectation In diplomatic
circles In st. Petersburg that some one OF
tbe mowers may make a tender OF 1rlehoiy
offiees. and the intimation IS conveyed
that the United States may take the mi
tIative. Should this be the case IL couio
only be upon assurances from poth the
uwarring powers that the veneer wohn
/ he received by them in good part
Early today two Russian TORPEDO
launches arrived at Che Foo, and there
were then seven japanese torpedo boat
/destrovers in the harbor. Later In the
5norning four of the destroyers departed.
Russian officers who have reached Che
roo relate that the Port Arthur garrison
ras completely worn out by five days OF
&oortinuous fighting, that the supply OF
FOOD was about exhausted, and that the
IL,mit of resistance had been reached when
General Stoessel made his offer OF capit-
XhiIatiOn.