Omaha daily bee., 1908-03-19
FINISHING UP RUSSIAN WAR
General Fock Seriously Wounds Gen.
eral Smirnoff in Duel.
MEETING HAS OFFICIAL CONSENT
National Authority on DueIing Gives
Word TO Fire-CRuse Grows
out of Port Arthur's
Siege.

ST. PETERSBURG, March ls-Lieuten-
ant General smirnoff was probably fatally
wounded in a duel fought here this morn
ing with Lieutenant General Fock.
The men met in the riding school of the
Chevalier Guard regiment and fought with
pistols, standing close to each other when
the shots we're exchanged.
The duel was caused by the memoran-
dunn written by General Srnirnoff on the
siege Of Port Arthur. in which he ques-
toned the courage Of General Fock. The
latter considered that his honor and repu-
tation were involved and challenged the
author of the memorandum.
The riding school was placed at the dis
posal of the combatants by the commander
of the regiment. and the duel occurred
with the full knowledge and appreciation
of the military authorities 1t was wit
messed by several officers Of high rank
and It is even reported that several women
were present
Shortly before 10 o'clock Generals Fcck
and smirnoff appeared at the school
Without saluting, they took the places as
signed by their seconds. For General
smlrnoff the seconds were his brother-in-
law, vladimir NJ Purishkevich, a member
of the Duma, and Captain schultze of the
navy. while for General Fock Captain Sdo,
adjutant to General stoessel, and Lieuten-
ant Podgursky, one of the Port Arthur
heroes. officiated. The distance between
the two combatants was twenty PAGES, and
the dueists were instructed TO open fire
at the word of command and continue until
one or the other was killed.
General smirnOR wounded.
At General Fock's fourth shot General
Smirnoff groaned and sank forward. He
had been wounded in the abdomen above
the right hip He was carried in litter
to the military hospital where doctors this
afternoon employed Roetgen rays to locate
the bullet.
The word "fire" was given each time by
General Kireieff. the Russian authority on
duelling. At the second exchange General
Tock's coat was perforated. At the third
exchange General Smirnoff accidentally
fired prematurely but General Fock mag
unanimously declined to shoot at a defense
less opponent, and the fourth and final
shots were then exchanged.
This duel will be followed by another
between General Focll and General Cor
batoffsky. the commander of the western
front at Port Arthur who was severely
criticised by General Foclk during the
ccurt-martial proceedings. General Cor
batoffsky sent seconds some time ago to
General Fock, but he failed to secure per-
mission to fight duel
Cause of Encounter.
General Smirnoff was acting command
ant of the Port Arthur fortress during the
siege and at the time OF its surrender to
the japanese. After his return to Russia
he prepared a secret report of the defense
of Port Arthur, which was the basis of the
indictments on which Lieutenant General
Stoessel. Lieutenant General Fock and
Major General Reiss were tried for theiu
lives before the supreme cOurt-martial
General Stoessel was accused Of cowardlce
and incapacity, and General Fock, accord
ing to the indictment displayed thorough
incapacty and want of judgment.
The outcome of the trial was the SEN
fencing to death of General Stoessel, which
finding was later commuted to ten years
Imprisonment. while General Fock was
ordered to be reprimanded for disciplin'
airy offense.
General Smirnoff was also on trial be-
fore the court-martial, charged with hav'
| ing failed to remove General Fock from
his command. although he succeeded il
reaching an agreement between Generals
! Stoessel and Fock to surrender the fortress
He was acquitted of this charge.