The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1908-02-28
FOUND GUILTY.
Gen. Stoessel Condemned to Die
For Surrendering the
POST OF PORT ARTHUR

Court-Martial Which Has Been Trv-
Ing him for Cowardicc in Surren-
dcring Port Arthur Returns Ver-
dict Sentencing Famous Genera,
to Death. but Recommending Ten
years i'm Prison Instead.
Lleut-Ge. Stoessel was condemned
to death Thursday evening bv n
Military Court at st Petersburg for
the surrender Of Port Arthur to tho
Japanese. The Court racomnend-
ed that the death sentence upon Lieut
Cen Stoessel be commuted to ten
years Imprisonment in a fortress and
he be excluded from the service.
Gen. Frock, who commanded tho
4th East Siberian division of Port
Arthur, was ordered reprimanded for
disciplinary offence, which was
not connected with the surrender.
ana Cen Smirnoff, acting command
Reiss, chief OF staff to Gen. Stoessel.
Rciss, chief of STAFF to Gen. Stoesseu.
were acquitted Of the charges against
them for lack Of proof.
Gen. Vodar, president Of the Court.
read the sentences amid tense ST.
lence. BY great effort of self con-
troll Gen. Stocssel maintained rigid
soldlerly-like impassivity. Gen Smir-
noH also was seemingly unmoved.
put there were tears in the ewes of
Gen. Reiss
The sentence Of death was pro-
nounced upon Gen Stoessel. "for sur
rendering the fortress before all the
means OF defence had been exhaust
ed, for failing to enforce his author
ity and for military misdemeanors."
,liommutation5of&t the sentence WAS
asked on the ground that "Port Ar
thur, beset by overwhelming forces.
defended itself under Gen Stoessel's
leadership with unexamped stub
bornness and filled the world with as.
tonishmcnt at the heroic courage OF
It's garrison; that several assaults
have been repulsed with tremendous
losses on the part OF the enemy; that
Gen. Stoessel throughout the seige
had maintained the heroic courage
OF the defenders and finally that he
had taken energetic part In three
Before the sentence was read,
measures were taken to prevent a de-
monstration in favor Of Stoessel by
a number OF the younger officers.
and witnesses who were present.
These later sent a dispatch to the
Empress saying that they would hum
bly, bear testimony that Gen. Stoes-
sci was the soul Of the defence
OF Port Arthur; that he had always
encouraged and put heart In the gar
rison, and that in case Of war they
would wish to serve again under
such hero. They asked the Empress
graciously to bespeak from the EN-
peror full pardon
There was dramatic moment af-
ter the reading of the sentence when
detachment Of soldiers filed into
the hall. The spectators, thinking
they were about to seize Gen. Stoes-
sell displayed great excitement, sew
cral women fainting. 1t developed,
however, that this was merely Il
guard for the disposal OF the Court.
Gen. Stoesscl, who was accompan-
led by his son, was the object Of
sympathetic demonstration, friends
kissing and shaking him by the hand
as he left the Court leaning on his
sons shoulder.
The basis Of the indictment upon
l'rock, who commanded the 4th East
Siberian division OF Port Arthur,
and Major Gen. Reiss, chief OF staff
to Gen. Stoessel, were tried for their
lives, was a secret report made by
Lieut.. Gen. SMirnoff, on the defence
Of Port Arthur.
Smirnoff was acting command
ant OF the fortress, Stoessel being
commander OF the KwangTung PEN
nsula. Smirnoff categorically ac-
cused Stoessel Of cowardice and in
capacity, and finally Of the deliberate
and reasonable Fastening Of the sur
render to save his own life and de-
fiance OF the decisions OF two sue
cessive councils OF war.
Gen. Smirnoff declared that the
for tress, which was surrendered to
the Japanese, January /, 1905, could
have held out for six months longer.
The stands taken by Gems. Stoes-
sci, Reiss and Frock were that the
fate OF Port Arthur was sealed with
the capture OF the Eagles Nest"
and two other nOSitiOnS
The indictment against Gen. Smir-
| noff charged him with having failed