The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-03-20
GENERAL sMlRNoFFI SERIOUS
~ INJURED sY GEN. rock
At 81. PETERSBURG. 4
POINT OF HONOR
smIrnoff Had eesrnlrched the Honor
Of Fock who challensed-The Duel
Was Held Under Government su-
~perintendence and With Strict
Ruies-Fock Must Fight Again.

Ru'es-Foek Must Fight Again.
st. Petersburg, March 1S.-Lieuten-
mt General Smirnof was probably
wounded In q duel fought here
his morning with Lieutenant General
7ock The men met In the riding
OF the Chevalier Guard regi-
nent and fought with pistols standing
It q distance Of 90 PAGES. Three shots
we're exchanged.
The duel was caused by the memo
randum written by General Smirnof
On the siege OF Port Arthur in which
he questioned the courage Of General
Fock. The latter considered that his
honor and reputation were involved
and challenged the author Of the mem-
orandum.
The riding school was placed at the
OF the combatants by the
Of the regiment and the
duel proceeded with the full knowl-
edge and approval Of the military. It
was witnessed by several omeers Of
high rank and it is even reported
that several women were present.
Shortly before 10 o'clock Generals
Fock and smirnon appeared at the
Without saluting they took
the places assigned by their seconds.
for General smirnoh the seconds
were his brother-in-law. Vladimir NJ.
Purishkevitch, a member OF the
douma, and Captain schultze Of the
navy, while for General Fock. Cap
tain sido, adjutant to General stoes-
sci and Lieutenant Podgursky, one Of
the Port Arthur heroes oflciated.
Al Twenty PAGES.
The distance between the two com
batants was 20 PAGES, and the duellists
instructed to open fire at the
word OF command and continue until
one or the other was killed. At Cen
eral Fock's fourth shot General smirs
non groaned and sank forward. He
had been wounded In the abdomen
above the right hip. He was carried
on q litter to the military hospital,
where doctors were employed to dress
the wound. An
The word Sire" was given each
time BY General Kireieff, the Russian
authority IN duelling. AT the second
exchange General Fock's coat was per-
forated. At the third exchange Cen
eral smirnon accidently fired prema-
turely but General Fock declined to
shoot at q defenseless opponent and
the fourth and fifth shots were then
This duel will be followed by an
other between General Fock and Cen
eral GorbaloRsky. the commander OF
the western frontier. who was sewers.
II criticised by General Fock during
tho court martial proceedings. Gen,
eral Gorbalofsky sent seconds some
time ago to General Fock. but he
failed to secure permission to light
q duel.
General smirnon was acting com
mander Of the Port Arthur fortress
during the siege and at the time OF its
surrender to the Japanese. After his
return to Russia he prepared . go
cret report Of the defense Of Port AZ.
thur which was the basis Of the In
dictments on which Lieutenant Gen
edral stoessel, General Fock and Major
General Weiss were tried for their
lives before the supreme court mar
tial.
General stoessel was accused Of
cowardice and incapacity and General
Flock, according to the indictment,
displayed incapacfty and want OF.
Judgment. 4's HassA
rhe outcome ot.thes trial was the
sentencing to death OF General stoes-
sci, which finding; Was later commute
ed 10 yeaea''s Imprisonment while
General :Eock was ordered to be. rep
rimanded. for. diaeiplinary onense.
General. .smirnpR. was asa On tzial
before. the court martial. sffaAasAsge4
With having failed to {, emqy a Gen;
,1ssll ,lFock from his. command ,',nal,llr ss.,s! p
though he knew Of az agreement s bes;
tween Generals stoessel and Eock e I.
surrender the fortress. ne, was ,,l e.
quilted Of this charge.