The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-25

capable. Though in full command, he
never visited the fighting positions
during the lifetime of K-ondratenko.
kOndratenkO was not only the life of
the defense, but he possessed in a
large measure the quality of peace
maker He interviewed in all cases of
trouble and always ~eloquently plead
ed the cause OF the and the
necessity for defense. and these he
placed above private differences.
His ceaseless energy, patience and
courage won the confidence of the high
er of1cerS or both the army and navy
and likewise won the confidence of the
common soldiers. Fortunately for the
defense he was able in a large measure
to direct its policy. Stoessel left much
to him and the officers Of the naVy-rec-
! ognized in him the one man capable Of
fusing the discord and clements. BY
day and by night General KOndratenkO
visited every portion of the position and
constantly risked his life. He was our
inspiration. No Russian need be
ashamed of the defense made by the
garrison while Kondratenko lived.
THE harbOr of Port Arthur which has
been described as wonderful is a death
trap for any feet. If the japanese had
succeeding in blocking the entrance it
would have taken at least 60 days to
! remove the obstacles and that with the
most powerful explosives.
1T is difficult for a Russian officer to
talk about the end 1t was worse than
a mistake-it was a disgrace. The fort
/ IESS COulI EASILY AAaNG uCA0 Jul u dI-
other month as it nae food and ammu-
milton sufficient for that period. and if
KondrateEkO had remained alive II
would have held out for months longer.
Through StOessels servants the SOL
diers became aware of what was COM
ing. and, brave as they were, the know
ledge destroyed their enthusiasm.
At a council of war held three days
before c~apitulation at which % of the
higher officers of the army and navy
were present. General Stoessel repre-
scented that il Port Arthur should be
taken by assault there o. be fight
ing in the streets and possibly a mas
sacrc. He mentioned the women and
children CT the garrison and said he
thought it was the duty of the council
to avoid such possibility.
Notwithstanding these representa-
lions only three officers, Chief Of Staff
Reiss and two others, favored capitula-
ton.
'.StoesseTs note to Nogi came without
warning, and the word surprise mad
eouately expressed our condition afterthe
sentiment OF the majority OF the coun-
ell had been expressed.
What the officers said and felt. and
how the men thought and behaved all
viii be known later: but [ say now
and I believe that the majority of the
officers of the garrison will support me,
that the ca%pitulation Of the fortress was
a disgrace to Russia
The capture of 203 Meter hill sealed
the fate of the Russian squadron, which
naQ previously Deen dDle, Dy cOuSldInlJ
shifting the a~nchorages, to protect the
ships. The fight for the possession of
that hill was the most desperate of the
siege. For ten days and nights the
assaulted continuously and
b~ombarGed increasingly.
The entire crest of the hill was torn
away. while our defenses were literally
blown away. Hand to and the garri-
son fought fos days and nights in I'M
protected trenches which We're half fill
ed with the dead under a shell fire. The