Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-10
STORY OF THE SIEGE
OUTSIDE WORLD MAY NEVER
KNOW THE TRUTH.

The indictments against Gems. Stoessel,
Reiss, Fock and Smirnoff are full of side
lights on the final stages of the siege of
the fortress and on the confusion which
existed in the direction of the defense
owing to the ambiguous position of.Gen.
Stoessel, he having received orders
instructing him to hand over
: the command of the fortress to Gen.
Smirnoff and rejoin the Manchurian
army. Gen. Stoessel did not follow these
instructions. On the contrary, he re-
manned at Port Arthur and arrogated to
himself the supreme authority. Gen.
Smirnoff found his hands completely tied.
His suggestions were ignored. his orders
countermanded and his subordinates re-
ceived direct orders from Gen. Stoessel
without any reference to himself.
Much of the evidence at the prelimi-
mary inquiry turned on the allegations
: against Gen. Stoessel of military incapac-
- ity, lack of foresight in regard to the
collection of food supplies and failure to
make the best use of his troops by pro-
viding them with adequate rations. At
n military council held December the
food condition was thoroughly canyassed.
and the first idea Of surrender was formu-
= lated in Gen. Stoessers name by Gen.
Reiss, chief of staff. This proposal was
.af In Terrible Straits.
A week later Gen. Fock was appointed
chief of the land defenses in succession
to Gen. Kondratenko, who had been kill
cd. Gen. Fock is considered to be re-
sponsible for the evacuation Of vitality
important forts between December IS and
January 1, and the evidence on this point
Is incontrovertible. The indictments give
a terribly graphic description of the
straits to which the defending forces we're
reduced by shell and rifle fire. mines and
hand grenades. The losses were enor-
nous: on one position alone the casualties
exceeded 400 in a single day, and at
another point there were but thirty sur
vivors from detachment of over 800
men. Nevertheless, neither Gen. Gorba-
fowsky nor Gen. Smirnoff admitted the
possibility of voluntarily evacuating the
defenses, and they both bitterly unbraid-
ed Gen. Fock when they heard of his or
der to do so. The last military council
before the equalization was held at Port
Arthur the evening of December %.
The council voted 10 to in favor of
holding out to the last extremity: Gen.
Stoessel took no active part in the dis
cussion. but Gen. Reiss. who recited
number of reasons for surrender, un-
7doubtedly spoke on his behalf.
The most sensational part of the indict
ments relate to the immediate circum-
the day after the evacuation OF the
"Eaglets Nest and other points. Gen.
Stoessel sent Lieut.. Malchenko with let
ter to Gen. Nogi proposing to enter into
fortress. Gems. Reiss and Fock appear
to have been the only superior officers
cognizant of Gen. StoesSeis intention to
capitulate.
Other Officers Protested.
The news of the dispatch of this letter,
when il came out three hours later,
caused great Indignation among the gem
erals and admirals. Some of them pro-
tested by telegraph to Admiral Alexief
and Gen. Kuropatkin. Admiral Wlren de-
nounced Gen. Reiss as a traitor. The
same day Gen. Stoessel sent his much
commented telegram to the emperor, be-
ginning with the words: Great Sover-
,eign, forgive US. We have done everything
within human limits. Judge US, but judge
US mercifully!'
Gen. Reiss was given full power by Gen.
Stoessel in the final negotiations. Stoes-
sci did not bid farewell to the troops
when they marched out of the fortress
after the surrender. He retained for his
own use ten of the eighteen carts placed
by the victors at the disposal of the Rus
stan women in Port Arthur. His only
solicitude. witnesses have affirmed was
for his own baggage.
1t will be the duty of the court martial
40 determine whether the capitulatioin of
Port Arthur January l was justified &C
cording to Russian military codes and
ethics. There were probably some 1900
hghting men left at the time of the sur
render. The sick and wounded numbered
about 1900.
: There is evidence to prove that in the
matter of provisions Port Arthur could
easily have held out another month and
the reserves of ammunition. both artillery
and rifle, would have sufficed for even
longer than this. The garrison had SOC
effective guns when the fortress was sur
rendered.
The standpoint taken by Gems. Stoessel
Reiss and Fock is that the fate of Port
Arthur was sealed with the capture of the
''Eaglets Nest" and two other positions
by the japanese; that every point remain.
ing in the hands of the Russians was ex.
posed to the Japanese fire and that the
so-called second and third lines Of defense
were absolutely valueless.
Gems. Stoessel Reiss and Fock all DOS.
sess the St. Georges Order for valor
which corresponds to the Victoria Cross