The San Francisco call., 1905-01-03

J ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. 8, a. m.-
While there is no longer any doubt IN
| official circles in st. Petersburg that
! the fate of Port Arthur has been de-
! cided and General StoessePs long and
i gallant defense ended, news of the sur
, render has not yet been allowed to
| reach the public. Foreign kilograms
have been withheld from the news
papers, pending the issue of the Off
cial announcement here. The Govern
ment is following the dictates OF It's
own judgment in this course, but the
1 public so far is entirely unprepared Tor
news which must prove serious blow
when it comes. The newspapers merely
intimate that the defense of the garrl-
son is proceeding as usual, but every
one has realized for some time that the
end was approaching and there is no
question that the majority, If they were
prepared by preliminary announce
ment by the Government, could forgive
the loss of the fortress in admiration
of the garrisons heroic defense.
Possibly some of the hesitation OF
the authorities here to make the an
nouncement of the fall of Port Arthur
is due to threats and rumors of radical
demonstrations, coupled with the alb
sence of the Emperor, but it is certain
that no demonstration is likely which
could assume serious proportions ana
the radical leaders would be sure TO
ALLEVIATE the sympathy OF many, even
of the more liberal Russians, II they
chose such moment for revolution
ary demonstration.
CZAR ADVISED CAPITULATION.
1t has been learned that the last mes
sage sent by Emperor Nicholas to Gen
eral Stoessel vested the commander or
Port Arthur with discretionary powers
and urged him to exercise them rather
than allow the defense to go to the last
ditch. This may account for the ap-
parently brief time required to con-
clude the negotiations between the
Russian and Japanese commanders, no
time having been occupied in commum-
eating with Emperor Nicholas. 1t is
equally certain that General Stoessel
did not surrender without previous
authorization.
In diplomatic circles tonight, where
there is every reason to believe there
is the best information regarding the
plans of the Japanese, it is said tnat
the fall of Port Arthur Will be prompt
ly followed by an offer of peace from
Japan. 1t is understood that strong
effort will be made Ito have the Of
fer come through President Roosevelt.
1t is even suggested that the terms
would give Russia an outlet through
the Persian Gulf.
There is however, no indication as
to whether an effort to induce Presi-
dent Roosevelt to move in the matter
would be likely to succeed. 1t certain
ly is regarded as unlikely that such
a suggestion should come through the
United States, unless the President has
the strongest previous intimation that
it would be favorably considered by
the Russian Government. 1t may be
added that, while it is known that En-
peror Nicholas from the beginning re-
garded the war with great adherence,
there Is nothing yet to indicate that
his Government intends to recede from
the programme of fighting to a finish
which is repeatedly announced.
BALTIC FLEET MAY RETURN.
There is much discussion relative to
Vice Admiral Rojestvensky's voyage to
the Far East. 1t is rumored that his
squadron will be recalled to the Baltic
to await reinforcements and proceed
eastward next summer, when it will be
decidedly superior in strength to Ad-
miral Togo's fleet; but there is nothing
authoritative to support such a report.
The situation, so far as Vice Admiral
Rojestvensky is concerned, is not ma
terially different from that when the
Port Arthur squadron was first de-
feated 1t is known that Admiral Ro-
iestvensky had alternative instructions
when he sailed, covering such a con-
tingency as has now arisen. So far as
known he has no intention of altering
his plans owing to General StoessePs
surrender.