The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-02-27
THE CONVICTION OF STOESSEL.

The sentence passed upon Gen. Stoes.
sci, who, because of his position at Port
Arthur. has always stood ont in the
public eye az the most dramatic figure
on the Russian side during the recent
war will prove a great shock to persons
who have been e.teenlng him a hero.
To these he will be a martyr to incom.
prehensible injustice, vengeance of riv
ais, uncompromising militarism, ingrat-
itude or whatever else you choose
Those who have regarded Gen. Stoes-
sci as hero have been swept away,
whole Port Arthur affair. An analysis
| of his record in the Far Eastern citadel
at the time Of his captvation was sutfi.
Gent to show that he WAS not such n
hero rs the shivering music and red
lights indicated. War being serious
business and the very existence of ma.
tons depending upon it, the conduct of
its commanders mast necessarily be
strictly judged. Even though the Jap,
anese forces had hard time achieving
the downfall of Port Arthur, it did not
imperatively follow that Stoessel was
conducting the defense ideally, and the
evidence made public at the time prov
ed that he was far from ideal in his
methods. His disobedience of orders, his
violation of decisions of the councils Of
war, his Bullying attitude toward his
men, his riotous living while others were
starving were in themselves objection
able These were not all
That the General surrendered was not
Of itself reprehensible, provided that the
surrender was not premature, that it
was inevitable and that it was necessary
for certain ends. A surrender under
any other conditions is always coward
ly and meriting an Itreme penalty for
the officer guilty of it. just when it is
premature and when imperative is n
matter requiring the finest Judgment
and there always will be critics to com
plain of whatever il done in the way of
was a foregone conclusion that the Jap
anese would in the end take Port Arth
ur, but such m inevitable end was not
justification of Gen. Stoessel's surrender
ut his own within or convenience. There
were strategic questions involved of the
weightiest importance. For instance
~ long IA Port Arthur held out a
large body of japanese troops were
kept separate from the main army,
which was forcing its way westward
The capitulatiou of Port Arthur instant.
~ released thousands of men who pro.
Ceeded To add TO the strength of the ar
my moving on Mukden. Not an unim-
poitant matter was the moral effect.
The collapse of Port Arthur afforded ut
once a powerful stimulant for the jap.
anese and inst IA potential discourage
menu lDl lut huHNluIS. mere WAS tnt
real sin Of the capitulation
The close Of every war is hard time
for unsuccessful warriors. They have
TO stand denunciation, accusations and
mud throwing. Gen. Stoessel was
bound TO have his share of troubles. Al.
though sentenced to death, il il reason
able TO expect that the recommendation
Of the court that it's sentence be com
muted to prison term will be granted
Military discipline requires some punish
ment for wrongdoers and the good OF
service would seem to demand q ceitaiu
amount Of punishment for Gen. Stoessel
One object Of heavy penalties being to
impress the army IN general with the
fate that must befall shrker or traitor
and so develop a spirit Of obedience and
courage, TOO severe punishment can
have disastrous effect in keeping down
ambition ~ likely to lead to the risk OF
Disgrace aud death. The courts recon.
mendation Of mercy in Gen Stoessels
case seems just