New-York tribune., 1908-07-25

So many fairy tales had been set affoat about
the gaIlantry Of General stoessel in the defence
of Port Arthur that when II was announced
that he had been tried and sentenced TO death
for his part n that affair the world ready
10 believe that Russia was perpetrsting gross
Injustice out of sheer pique at her own lack Of
success But the fact is gradually becoming
known that Russia's most dangerous foe was
inside the fortress. not without Months before
the trial Putnam weale. an English writer, pro-
nounced Stoessel worthy of death. and General
Fock equally culpabIe- Now have the whole
pttifuI tale from eyewitness. accredited
Russian war correspondent, who was present
during the entire siege and whose conclusions
independently arrived at. were confirmed In
every substantial particular by the courtrnartiaI
above mentioned NJ. Moline does not mince
words. He reoounts facts confirmed by docu-
rnentary evidence witnessed by himself In
his view General Srtrnor cornmandant Of the
fortress was the hero OF Port Arthur and he
was ably assisted by the iu-fated Kondratenko
But he was outranked by StoesseI in command
Of the district and upon Stoessel must fall the
blame for premature surrender Of the fortress
and for mismanagement that cost thousands of
lives and millions Of treasure In SO nanv
words or by implication the author pronounces
stoessel Incompetent boastful. coVvardly, jeaI-
Gus. intemperate-in fact an assemblage of all
the vices most detrimental to military discipline
and success.
Incapable. idle and utterly short sighted
diplomacy having led TO armed conflict the
horrors Of war were intensified by complete lack
Of preparation On February g 1904 the first
attack made. but little real damage was
done either side. Indeed" says our author
lowing 10 lack Of guns and ammunition some Of
our batteries were actually firing blank while
Russia cid not then know Of this, the japanese
did but with their natural cunning held their
tongues. The British knew Of IT, and chuckled.
while they kept silence for their allies" Al
though close blockade was inevitable Stoessel
made attempt to lessen the number of non
con1hatants, and in defiance of the cournissary's
protests permitted needed supplies 10 be sold
and exported. He had the further qualification
of profound contempt for the foe and was alb
soluteIy deaf 10 all warnings of Japan's prepara-
tons. On March Il Smirnorf arrived and took
charge Il being Stoessefs intention 10 leave but
e change Of orders LEFT him in the new position
of commander Of the district and hence sr1fr-
nof"s superior. This led TO endless trouble and
confusion, as Srnirnof was a strict discipline
r1an and stoessel had many favorftes What
smirnoH was land Admiral Makharof was
OF sea-an active. energetic, well equipped com
nander, possessing the confidence and devotion
Of his men On April u the Russian destroyer
strashny. separated from her companions was
overwhelmed by superior numbers and sunk
after giving good account Of herself. The
FIRE OF six big ships and q division Of destroy
ers vas centred on one Russian destroyer. SAYS
the historian:
But our feet dashed upon the scene. the Petro-
pe-oFs4 leaalns' ano me reTnalnoer IN single col
INN aIteT heT Getting into battle formation and
being joined by the Bayan. the feet steamed toward
The distance. more than hull down could be seen
the ereny's main feet. consisting Of eighteen
toward Liso-tieh-Shan 10 concentrate. Our fleet
had turned and began 70 change front under the
protection Of the guns of the fortress, when sud
~ ne Pr~or,s IoI-st an5 be-e boo-7e5 IN - forE Fb
dui sound of a submarine explosion followed i'm
rnedlarelv ny q second and louder report The
whole Of the centre Of the huge battleship was
envsloped in sheet of fame and q cloud OF vel
loV-broWn smoke Her stern rose high out Of
water and her screws glistened in the they
B.lzZ=o round racing II minute and half the
beeh vas cold dirty water. necked with foam.
And what was the cause Of this catastrophe?
On the preceding night the admiral had been on
ne Diana. which was doing duty in the outer
- or= zone s-2a T7 SLIps Esre slgateq rom ne
were our destroyers. and despite convincing proofs
that theT were not he would not open fire. They
stroved the Petropalovsk and injured the Pobieda
Anc 50 Pe-ished the gallant admiral whose com
-ns1d ~ the feet had in incredibly short time
done wonders and who had he been spared might
have changed the whole course Of after events.
By the middle Of Nav the fortress was cut of
and the question Of food supply came up The
troops were pUt on short rations. The railroad
had not been used as # might have been TO
bring in food. hut a mountain Of packing cases
so-- ~ tcfurphaI arcb-near the entrance to
the Old Town was composed entirely Of vodka.
Food might be lacking in Arthur but drink
never As might have been expected. the differ
ences between the TWO commanders became
gradually mora acute StoesseI proposed that
Snctrnof should act the formers staff. and
when this vas rejected said 70 the commanGant,
7 Do not mean 10 remove you from duty. You
VII remain comma andant, but I shall run the
fortress Whether legal not IS nv affair: I
VIII answer for that AS the outlying dis
tr1cts were surrendered 70 the enemy. Stoessel
having retired within the enceinte Of Port Ar
thur. should have been subordinate the com
nandant- But when StoesseI issued orders
snirnoF protested feebly. not being aware that
stoessel had concealed q telegram ordering him
70 leave Arthur and hand over the command 70
smirrof NJ. Moline blames smirnoff severely
for his course al this jUncture. He should have
stated categoricaIIy in orders that in accordance
with regulations he had assumed sole command
and any harmful Interference IN the sphere OF
Ms duties CT authority any encroachment
on them would be tried according 10 military
law n the field. with all his brilliant qualities
as strategist tactician and administrator he had
not sufficient decision run counter 10 in
pertal order which had placed him subordinate
TO stoesseL Thousands Of miles from the centre
Of authority a strong -esourceful loyal high
minded soldier was overr1dden and brewbeaten
oy Vain. false coxcomb.
With the removal Of Makharor naval matters
were inconpetentIy handled as matters or
lanc, and with successive defeats and rebuhs
TIE sEoSecr Of surrender becaT0a rroTninaut and