The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-12-13

Linevitch, General ~Rennenkampf, Vice
Admiral Wren and scores OF other
prominent leaders in the Russo-Japa-
nese war. There were also present
200 officers and soldiers who had been
ut Port Arthur and WHO were clad in
their full dress uniforms, blazing with
stars and decorations.
StoesseI in Civilian Attire.
General Stoessel alone was in civil
ian attire and this made him conspicu-
Gus. He wore proudly around his neck
the gordon Of the military order of
st. George, which was conferred upon
him by the emperor during the siege,
and on his breast was pinned the cross
of George I'LL, awarded the general
for conspicuous bravery in frontier
fighting. This ame coveted decora-
ton was worn by many of the wit
nesses and spectators. Empty sleeves
and c%rutches, especially among the
men who had been at Port Arthur.
showed that many of them had seen
hard service during the war.
The other accused officers, Generals
Fock, Reiss and Smirnoff, came to the
court clad in their uniforms. Cen
eral Smirnoff, who is a bitter enemy
of General Stoessel, ostentatiously
seated himself as far away as possible
from the central figure of the proceed
ings.
The court was %convolled at noon by
Vice Admiral Doubassoff. He de-
clared it to be the duty of the court
to proceed with the trial Of the four
officers charged with the responsibility
of surrendering the fortress On terms
d%ishonorable to the garrison and hui
initiating to the prestige Of Russia.
He then called the roll of 200 wit
nesses, including General Kuropatkin
and Vice Admiral Wren. Several Of
the witnesses were absent, but the
court decided to proceed with the
trial.
voIuminous Indictment Read.
The entire afternoon was taken up
with the reading OF the voluminous
and detailed indictment. The recital
brought the spirit of strife and war
into the courtroom and the men who
had defended the fortress against the
onslaught of the Japanese listened
with rapt attention to the story of
their work. From time to time, when
particular events we're referred to, a
nervous murmur ran through the hall.
Many of the witnesses still suffer from
the effects of the siege and 1t was
clear that they were controlling them
selves with difficulty.
One of the incidents showed the
attitude of the court to be %unfavor-
able to Stoessel. His personal re-
quest that two additional witnesses be
called in was dismissed without cere-
mony.
A correspondent of the Associated
Press spoke with witnesses of all
ranks. From these conversations it
was clear that the trial was making a
most painful impression upon them.
They declared it to be an insult to
General Stoessel and to his army.
The defenders of the fortress, they
said, we're being thus ungratefully re-
warded for having expended life and
strength in the soul racking defense.
While the witnesses are not partisans
of General Stoessel they are plainly
of the opinion that the generals de-
tractors and prosecutors, who person
ally took no part in the h%ardships en-
dured by the defenders of the be-
leaguered port, are now seeking to re-
! habilitate the sins of the war Office at
the expense of the Port Arthur gar
rison.