The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1908-02-26
FOUND GUILTY.
Gen. stoessel Condemned to Die
For Surrendering the
POST OF PORT ARTHUR

ing him for Cowardice IN Surren-
dering Port Arthur Returns Yer
dict Sentencing Famous General
to Death, but Recommending Ten
years in Prison Instead.
Lieut-Ge. Stoessel was condemned
to death Thursday evening by a
Military Court at St Fetersnu:g for
the surrender Of Port Arthur to the
Japanese. The Court recommend
ed that the death sentence upon Lieut.
Gen. Stoessel be commuted to ten
years imprisonment in a fortress and
he be excluded from the service.
Gen. Frock, who commanded the
4th East Siberian division Of Port
Arthur, was ordered reprimandc:. for
disciplinary offence, which was
not connected with the surrender,
and Gen. Smirnof, acting command
Reiss, chief of staff to Gen. Stoessel,
Reiss, chief of staff to Gen. Stoesseh,
were acquitted Of the charges against
them for lack of proof.
Gen. Vodar, president of the Court,
read the sentences amid tense 81
lence. BY great effort Of self con-
troll Gen. Stoessel maintained rigid
Fsoldierly-like impassivity. Gen Snir-
notf 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 al the
means Of defence had been exhaust
ed, for falling to enforce his author
ity and for military misdemeanors."
Commutation 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 filed the world with as
sonishment 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 seise
had maintained the heroic courage
of the defenders and finally that be
had taken energetic part in three
campaigns
Before the sentence was read,
measures were taken to prevent de-
monstration in favor of Stoessel by
number Of the younger officers,
and witnesses who were present
These later sent 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 full pardon.
There was dramatic moment af-
ter the reading Of the sentence when
q detachment Of soldiers fled into
the hall. The spectators, thinking
they were about to seize Gen. Stoes-
sci, displayed great excitement, sew
eral women fainting. It developed,
however, that this was merely a
guard for the disposal OF the Court.
Cen. Stoessel, who was accompan-
led by his son, was the object OF a
synpathetic demonstration, friends
kissing and shaking him by the hand
as he left the Court leaning on ms
sons shoulder.
The basis Of the indictment upon
which Lieut.. Gen. Stoessel, Gen.
Frock, who commanded the 4th East
Siberian division Of Port Arthur,
and Major Gen. Reiss, chief OF stan
TO Gen. stoessel, were tried for tnelr
lives. was a secret report made oy
T,ieut. Gen. Smirnot, on the defence
of Port Arthur.
smirnon was acting comnano-
ant Of the fortress. Stoessel beng
commander OF the Kwang-Tung Fen-
insula. smirnoff categorically ac-
cused stoessel Of cowardice ana IN
capacity, and finally of the de!lpera1e
and treasonable Fastening OF the sur
render to save his own lie a.. oe-
eance of the decisions Of TWO sue
cessive councils Of war.
Gen. smirnof declared that tne
fortress, which was surrendered 70
the japanese, January 1, 1919, couio
have held out for six months longer.
The stands taken by Gens: stoes-
sci. Reiss and Frock We're .hae .ae
rota Of Port Arthur was seaiec VIZ
the capture Of the Eagles Nese'
and two other positions.
The indictment against Gen. smE cs
notr charged him with having iaIei
to remove Gen. Frock from his com,
mand although he suspected .he
aercement between Gems. stoesssi
and sn Frock to surrender the lori,
ress.