Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-19
Generals Fock and Smir-
noff Engage In Duel.
SmIrnoft Shot Fand Probably
Fatally Injured In Fight.
smIrnoff's Memorandum on Port
Arthur Cause Of Trouble.

ct Petersburg, March 1S.-LlSut. zen
Smirnolf was probably fatally wounded
in a duel fought here today with Lieut.
Gen. Fock The men met in the riding
school at the Chevalier Guard Regi-
mcnt and fought with pistols, a distance
of 20 PAGES separating them when the
shots were exchanged.
The duel was caused by the memo
randum written by Gen. Smirnof on
the siege Of Port Arthur, in which ne
questioned the courage of Gen. Fock.
The latter considered that his honor
and reputation were involved and chai-
lenged the author of the memorandum.
General Slnirnoff was acting conf
mandanl of the Port Arthur fortress
during the siege and at the time OF Its
surrender to the japanese. After ms
return t. Russia he prepared a secret
report Of the defence of Port Arthur
which was the basis of the indictments
on which Lieutenant-Gener StoeSsel,
Lieutenant General Fock, who COM
manded the fourth East Siberian dlVi-
sion at Port Arthur, and Major General
Reiss. chief of the staff of General
Stoessel, were tried for their lives be-
fore the supreme courtmartial.
General Stoessel was accused of
cowadice and incapacity and General
Fock according to the Indictment, dis
played thorough incapacity. He was
charged with disobeying General Stoes-
sells orders to defend Tsin Chau to the
last extremity. His incompetence, ac-
cording to General Smirnoff, resulted
in the Russian defeat at this point and
No ;pd,,ca5 Gaperol StoaSSol to order a
retreat hy declaring the Russian troops
to be in a most critical position, when
this was not the fact. General Smir-
noffs report has been characterized as
breathing the most bitter personal en-
nifty towards the high offers Of >the
Port Arthur garrison.
The outcome of the trial was the SEN
fencing to death of General Stoessel,
hut this finding was later committed To
ten years Imprisonment, while General
Flock was ordered to be reprimanded
for a disciplinary offence.
General Smirnof also was on trial be-
for the courtmartial charged with hay
ing failed to remove General Fock from
his command, although he suspected
an agreement between Generals Stoes-
sci and Fock to surrender the fortress.
He was acquitted on this charge. Dur
ing the closing days of the siege the re-
lations between the Russian generals
at Port Arthur becaf he very strained.
The riding school was placed at the
disposal of the combatants by the
commander of the regiment and the
duel occurred with the full appreciation
of the military authorities 1t was
witnessed by a number of officers of
high rank and it is even reported that
several women We're present.
Shortly before IL o'clock Generals
FOck and Slnirnoff appeared at the rid
ing school. Without sa1uting they took
their places and assigned their Sec
onis. For General Smirnoff the sec
onds were his brother-in-law, Vladimir
NJ. Purishkevich, a member OF the
Duma, and Captain Schultz, of the
navy: while for General Fock, Captain
Sida, AdJutant to General Stoessel, and
Lieutenant Podgursky. one of the Port
Arthur heroes, officiated.
The distance between the cornbatants
was 90 PAGES and the duellists were in
structed to open fire at the word Of
command and continue until one or the
other was hit. At General Fock' $
fourth SHOT General Smirnoff groaned
and sank forward He had been
wounded in the abdomen above the
right hip. He was carried in litter
10 the military hospital where doctors
this afternoon examined him by means
Of Roetgen rays to locate the bullet
The word fire" was given each tirae
by General Kireieff, the Russian au-
thority on duelling. At the second
exchange General Fock's coat was per-
forated. At the third exchange Gen.
eral Smirof accidentally fired prema-
turely but General Fock declined TO
shoot at the defenceless opponent and
the fourth and final shots were then
exchanged.
This duel will be followed by another
between General Fock and General
Gorbatoffsliy, the commander of the
Western front at Port Arthur, who
was severely criticized by General Fock
during the courtmartial proceedings.
General Goroatoffsky sent seconds
sometime ago to General Focll but ne
failed to secure permission to light a
duel