Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-21
STOESSEL SENTENCED
DEATH PENALTY MAY BE COM
MUTED To- IMPRISONMENT.

ST. PETERSBURG, February 81
Lieut.. Gen. Stoessel was condemned to
death last evening by military court for
the surrender of Port Arthur to the Japa-
nese. Gen. Fock, who commanded the
4th East Siberian Division of Port Arthur.
was ordered reprimanded for a disciple
nary offense, which was not connected
with the surrender and Gen. Smirnoff.
acting commandant of the fortress, and
Maj. Gen. Ress, chief of staff to Gen.
Stoessel. were acquitted of the charges
against them for lack of proof The court
recommended that the death sentence
upon Lieut.. Gen. Stoessel be committed to
ten years Imprisonment in a fortress and
that he be excluded from the service.
Gen. Vodar. president of the court. read
the sentences amid tense silence. By
great effort of self-control Gen. Stoessel
maintained rigid soldierlike impassivity.
Gen. Smirnoff also was seemingly I'M
moved but there were tears in the eyes of
Gen. ReiSs-
The sentence Or death was pronounced
uDc1 Gen. StOeSSel for SurrGndering the
fortress before all the means of defense
had been exhausted. for failing 10 enforce
his authority and for military misde-
meanors.
Plea for Communication.
Communication of the sentence was asked
on the ground that Port Arthur beset
by overwhelming forces, defended itself
under Gen. StOeSsel'S leadership with I'M
exampled Stutbornness and filled the world
with establishment at the heroic courage
of its garrison; that several assaults had
been repulsed with tremendous losses on
the part of the enemy; that Gen. Stoessel
throughout the siege had maintained the
heroic courage of the defenders. and
finally. that he had taken energetic part
in three campaigns
Before the sentence was read measures
were taken to prevent demonstration in
favor Of Stoessel by a number Of the
younger officers and witnesses who were
present. These later sent dispatch to
the empress saying that they would hum
bly, bear testimony that Gen. StOeSSel was
the soul of the defense of Port Arthur.
that he had always encouraged and sput
heart in the garrison, and that in case of
war they would wish to serve again under
such a hero. They asked the empress to
bespeak from the emperor a full pardon.
There was dramatic moment after the
reading of the sentence. when detach-
ment of soldiers filed into the hall. The
spectators, thinking that they were about
TO seize Gen. Stoessel. displayed great ex-
element, several women fainting. 1t de-
velOped. however, that this was merely a
guard for the dispersal of the court. Gen.
StoesSel. who accompanied by his
son. was the object of sympathetic
demonstration, friends kissing and shak-
ing him by the hand as he left the court
leaning on his sons shoulder.
Review of the Case.
The passing of the sentence of death
upon. Gen. Stoessel is a harsh ending to
the career of this Russian commander
who three years ago was acclaimed
around the world as the hero of Port
Arthur The general who was deco
rated by Emperor William of Germany
and honored by the Russian army for his
defense of the Port Arthur fortress, has
now been tried and found wanting in cour-
age and capabilfty by his own people.
Even StOessers former enemies the
Japanese. came forward to say that he
Goes not deserve this treatment at the
hands of his country, and Stoessel him.
self argued before the court-martial
that he had justification for his act In
his last words before the court Gen.
Stoessei. broken in health and fortune,
accepted full responsibility for the sur
render of Port Arthur and spleaded for
the death sentence if the court should
decide that a crime had been commit
ted
The basis of the indictments upon
which Stoessel. Gen. FOck. who COM
manded the 4th East Siberian Division
OF Port Arthur, and Maj. Gen. Reiss.
chlef OF stan to Gen. Stoessel. were
tried for their lives was a secret report
made by Lieut. Gen. Smirnoff en- the
defense of Port Arthur Smirnoff was
acting commandant of the fortress
StoesSel being commander OF the
kwangtung peninsula. Smirnoff cate
gorically accused Stoessel of cOwardice
and incapacity, and finally of the DELHI
crate and reasonable fastening CT the
surrender to save his own life. and in
defiance of the decisions of two sue
.cessive councils of war. The report was
extremely biased. Gen. Smirnoff sum-
med UP his indictments as follows:
objectionable Blunders.
series of objectionable plumbers
outside the fortress, due to the ignor-
ance and lack Of military capacity and