The sun., 1908-03-19

ST. PETERSBURG, March 1s.-Lieut, Gen,
rock, who with Gen. Stoessel was recently
,,ied hy court-martial on the charge Of
having surrendered Port Arthur to the
rspanese needlessly. shot and seriously
wounded Lieut.. Gen. Smirnoh. his chief
sccuser in the fourth exchange OF shots
in A duel that was held between them on
the floor of the riding school Of the Chevaler
regiment this morning. The affair was
carried out under rigid military iormalities
and with the consent and encouragement
- the high commanding officers Of the
regiment.
To.days affair, the first Of two duels
hat Gen. Fock has on his hands, was a
Consequence Of the bitter feeling mani
resfed by army officers over the recent
trial Of Gems. Stoessel, Fock, Reiss and
snirnoT on charges arising out OF the
pI-rer1er Of the fortress which they had
sn cooperated in defending.
zen. Fock challenged Gen. Smirnoh
because Of the secret memorandum on
he defence Of Port Arthur which he pre-
pared and placed in the hands Of the judges
e the court martial during the progress Of
len. Stoessels examination Fock oonsid-
srsd that Smirnoff had made statements
4erogatory 70 his honor end reputation
and upon thet ground he became the chal-
enger
The duel was carried through like a dress
parade The riding school was placed at
he disposition OF the duellists by the COM
nander Of the Chevslier regiment Word
NJ the event spread through military circles
the capital and when 10 O'Clock came
his morning the riding school was fairly
crowded with a representative gathering
II military men. friends Of the principals.
Several ladies connected with the court
ard the bureaucracy voro seated in the
gallery.
Gen Smi-ncN was represented by his
seconds. Vladimir NJ. Furlshkovich, a mem
or If the Duma and his brother-in-aw,
ar4 Capt Schultz NJ the navy. Capt Sido,
adiutant TO Cen. Stoessel, and Lieut.. Pod
gursky we're Gen Tock's seconds. These
len carried the weapons and measured
~ the ground vhero the firing was to take
piaca Gen. SnirnoT the challenged party,
ned chosen pistols AS the Weapons.
few minutes before 10 O'Clock both
PRINCIPALS appeared at the riding school
and Without saluting they took their places
nt fifteen PAGES from each other. Both
we're in full uniform AID wore all their
orders and medals. Gen. Kreieff. who
9 the master Of the duel code in Russia,
acted as referee As he gave the word
Fire both combatants were 10 discharge
heir weapons simultaneously and this
Procedure vas to be carried through until
one or both we're badly hit.
At the first exchange ~ shots there was
no damage done At the second Gen.
Focks coat was borel through near the
waist. but he suffered no injury. The
hird round was equally harmless. In this
,ound Gen Smirnoh suffered from nervous
ress and his pistol was discharged before
lhA word came from the referee.
Seeing this, Gen. Fock refused TO take
advantage Of his adyersary's mistake and
held his fire.
Gen. KireiefT gave the word to fire for
the fourth time and Immediately after the
sound of the double discharge Gen. Smirnof
bent forward with a slight groan. Gen.
Fock was unhurt.
The seconds at once stopped the fight,
Blood trickled through Gen. Smirnoff's
clothing. Doctors who we're in attendance
carried litter on TO the firing ground and in
it, they conveyed the wounded man TO
military hospital near by. Gen. Fock turned
coolly away to receive the congratulations
Of his friends.
At the hospital it was found that the
nistol ball had entered Gen. Smirnoh's
abdomen above the right hip. Surgeons
probed for It in vain. Later the bullet
was located by means Of the X-ray. but
the patient was so weak that 1t was deemed
dangerous to attempt an operation.
Late this evening word came from the
bospital that Gen. Smirnoif's wound might
prove mortal,
Gen. Fock will next fight Gen. Gorbat-
ofsky, commander Of the western front
of defence at Port Arthur and one OF those
who criticised him most severely before
rhe court-martial The date for this duel
mas not been set
Gen. Smirnotfs intrepidty in the Russo
Turkish War earned him the nickname Of
Seven Devils He opposed the surrender
Of Port Arthur and asoribed Gen. Stoessel's
Welding of the fortress largely TO Gen.
rook's evil genius. He at first declined 10
accept Gen. Focks challenge. The prin-
cipls was submitted to the Ministry OF
War as court OF honor.
DuelIing is illegal in Russia. but an
ordinance Of Alexander III. permits 1t in
the army, although hitherto none but
junior officers has resorted to it,
The encounter between Gen. Fock and
Gen. Smirnoff has been expected by Russian
army officers since ii became known that
Gen. Smirnofi. one Of those who were tried
tor their lives with Stoessel and acquitted.
had prepared a secret report on the de-
lence Of Port Arthur, which was used as Q
foundation for the cases against all the
men accused but himself. On the testimony
contained in this elaborate document
Stoessel. Reiss and Fock were accused
specifically Of being guilty from a military
point Of view Of cowardice and inoom-
petence Smirnoh had to answer only
Ia the charge Of having as commander
- the fortress failed to remove Gen. Fock
from his command when he suspected
that Fock and Stoessel had agreed upon
The surrender 10 the japanese.
against Stoessel the charges we're many
and seriOus Gen. Fock was charged with