New-York tribune., 1908-02-21
STORY OF THE TRIAL.

The aaSsf7z of :1e sentence Or death upon Leu
tenant General Stoessel harsh and tragic end
~ % The career Of this Russian commander. who
-r-ee years ago was acclaimed around the world
= me hero q Port Arthur The general who
=as decorated By Emperor William of Germany
and horo--d by rhe Russian army Tor his gallant
ri~<~ra or the Port arthur fortress. has now been
-r5ef and found wanting u courage and capability
- lis own people. and sentenced Io give up MS
--~ - .be rrtIch o. army prestige
-Nc trial which has just come 10 an ei'u opeheu
r. : Petersburg on December 70 1So.- Wen Gen
-z- S-oesseI appeared before asseTnbiage of his
c1@ comrades IN arms The punishment for the
r--r-ca charged Gaiusr the general by the Russian
-,de Is death The trial has excited the most intense
Interest IN army circles. and the little auditorium
y --e Amy and Navy Club Of 81 Petersburg.
,rf.e-r -te bearings were held has been crowded
-- rr-rzt-- ss well As officers IN the army ever
since rre opening of the case The stand taken oy
Generals Stoessel. ReisE and Fock was that the
fac 81 ro-- Arthur was sealed w.Eh the capture
- ne f-aEle--s Nest and TWO other positions
F-1e-- rof-r remaining in the hands OF the Rus
sans was expoeed SO rhs japanese e. and the
<o-~zsled second and tH-~d fines of defence were
absolutely valaeIess-
When the court martial convened Tor Tho r'S'
t.-re General Stoessel appeared in civilian attire
=-z -rts -7ada-4 him conspicuous. He wore around
rf- neck rne GORDON ~ the Military order OF -
C5co-ze which conferred upon him oE the En-
ra-c- during the siege. and on his breast was
----ed the cross II George III. awarded Tor con
s-f-s-ar.s bravery in frontier lighting. The other
zr-sed officers Generals Fock Reiss and smiTToff'
~z7e 70 court clad in thoir uniforms The indict-
r1or. against General Sniruof charged him with
having failed 10 remove General Fock from Ms
command although he suspected the agreement
Hrrv.eer Generals StoeSsel and Fock 10 surrender
rf.a fortress Instead 81 preventing the 'ardJ4i@-
-.o- Genera. SmruoT couiented himself with tHle-
Erarrln= So General KUropatkn asking him either
n confirm him his appointment as cornInaIiuer
= Tc-- .-rs77s- or % remove him from his post
and lis at .ndant responsibility
TIE first fev DAYS OF the trial were taken Up with
.-~ --eserfgrior Of the voluminous indictment and
1He charges in detail on December Z General
r---opa-ktn appeared IN court and his testimony
rres-e6 2 sensation He declared that the Japan
ee could rave taker Per Arthur by assault IN the
early sz.-s Of tn. var- The defences were then SO
.-c~7rIere r-at r.e fortress must nave faiien AZ
sec -~st vigorous attack oTt the sio"ness OF IN"
garenez4 and the resistance made roy me arm! }"
lss fed gave the Russians time 90 lmpr"F'Se Ha-
Fence y-ols which ultimately Withstood the japan
fer months General i>HroIa'4-i = ''''-'i'1'
pas g. .ofsble TO General Si"fssei
W. ,,e progree~ Of the tfiai Hen'fa fai Si"ts9e'
became convinced tlla1 the court was excluding vii
-eeses , rs,a defence Otherwise DISCRIMINATING
against him tie once sent q protest "tt''' I"
i.-suetor Nicholas and as result tie Emperor sent
-ersoral aiae-de-camp - attend Inc 'iai anu
Furnish 3 report zlTect 20 himself II vas inc"
nattceaoIe th.a the Judges at once began sho"ihs
.ts defence greater consideration than theie'oiofe