The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-02-25
Gen. Stoessel Condemned to Die
For Surrendering the
POST OF PORT ARTHUR
Court-Martial Which Has Been Try
ing him for Cowardice in Surren-
dering Port Arthur Returns Yer.
dict Sentencing Famous General
to Death, but Recommending Ten
x,oorc y, D,,;co,, T-.@o.xJ

to Death, but Recommending Ten
years in Prison Instead.
Lieut-Ge. Stoessel was condemned
to death Thursday evening by a
Military Court at st Petersburg for
The surrender of Port Arthur to the
Japanese. The Court recommend
ed that the death sentence upon Lieut.
Gen. Stoessel be committed to ten
years imprisonment in fortress and
he be excluded from the service.
Gen. Frock, who commanded the
4th East Siberian division of Port
Arthur, was ordered reprimanded fol
disciplinary offence, which was
not connected with the surrender
and Gen. Smirnoff, acting command
Reiss, chief Of staff to Gen. Stoessel.
Reiss, chic Of staff to Gen. StoesseIl
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 a great effort Of self con-
troll Gen. Stoessel maintained rigid
soldierly-like impassivity. Gen Smir-
noff also was seemingly unmoved.
but there were tears in the eyes 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. >
Communication of the sentence was
asked on the ground that Port Ar
thur, beset by overwhelming forces.
defended itself under Gen. Stoessel's $
leadership with uneXampled stub
bornness and filled the world with as
tonishment 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
campaigns" ;"
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 a hero. They asked the Empress
graciously to bespeak from the En-
peror a 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 we're about to seize Gen. Stoes-
sci. displayed great excitement sew
eral women fainting. 1t developed
however, that this was merely q
guard for the disposal Of the Court.
Gen. Stoessel, who was accompan-
led by his son, was the object Of a
symnathetic demonstration. friends
kis. ing onl shaking him by the hand
as he lcIl the Court leaning on his
sc., ) s'odlder.
'rhe basis Of the Indictment upon
which Lieut.. Gen. Sto2ssel, Gen.
Frock, who commanded the 4th East
Siberian division Of Port Arthur
and Major Cen Reiss. chief of stan
TO Gen. Stcessel, were tried for thelr
lives, was n secret report made by
Lieut.. Gen. Smirnoif, on the defence
Of P It Arthur.
S,airnoff was acting command
at of the fortress, :toessel being
G. ,a.nanl.el OF the Kwang-Tung Pen