THE WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1346, 5 January 1905, Page 2

THE WAR.

GENERAL ITEMS. THE HEROIC DEFENCE OF PORT ARTHUR. By Telegraph—Prose Association —Copyright London, Jan. 8. Lord Roberts oonsidern that Port Arthur, made a ; inognifioont defence. General Btoeesel is a splendid follow, and how all the world must admire him.

Lord Wolseley considers the defence/ splendid. He admires the indomitable pluck and determination of the Japanese. General Baden Powell describes as honorable the surrender after a splendid defence.

Major-General Sir Alfred Turner, In. spector-Genoral of the Auxiliary Forces, considers that Russia, to reinstate herself, will turn her attention to the hortii-weui frontior of India.

Admiral Bowden-Smith describes the siege as the most daring and persistent attack and the most heroic defence on reoord.

The Daily Mail’s correspondent at Port Arthur says, the end came with dramatic suddenness.

For five days the fortress , was surrounded with an increasing ball of fire., The assaults on the eastern side were renewed on Saturday evening with amassing vehemence, and persisted in all night. The RnsßiaDß resisted stubbornly, but being over-weighted were slowly drivenback, leavibg the town open to attack. 'On Sunday morning Wantal was stormed after six hours’ bloody straggle, and then many Russians surrendered. The garrison began to blow up their magazine and warships. Some say that the efficients of the garrison numbered only 4000. There are 18,000 wounded and sick. Wounds were bound np with hemp, owing to the scarcity of. bandages. The condition of the wounded and the ill was miserable in the extreme.

The surrender did not surprise London diplomatists, who were aware that General Stoessol had reported at the end of October that the gnus were wearing out and the ammunition was short. The wasting of the men, increase of sickness, and defi oienuy of food indicated that they were unable to resist mnoh longer. Diplomatists fear that the surrender will not make for peace. There is a concensus of opinion abroad that the release of General Nogi’e three divisions of veterans formidably inoreasee General Kuropatkin’s difficulties. General Stoeeeel on Sunday still wanted to fight to keep his promise to the Czar not to surrender. The generals replied that it was impossible. Men went to sleep standing at their posts. Tokio newspapers contrast the Mikado’s magnanimity with General Stoessel’s conduct in destroying the ships. The hospital ships Hasan and Mongolia alone remain afloat.

Three Russian torpedo -launches have also arrived at Chifu.

The Japanese are occupying several forts at Port Arthur. , • Officers and officials from Port Arthnr are returning to Russia on parole, retaining their swords. The commissioners signed the terms of surrender last night There is an uutory at Tokio against allowing a surrender with honors, owing to the destruction by the Russians of their warships after offering to surrender. Captain' Kartzkoff, commander of the destroyer Yastny, at Chifu, interviewed, declared that Port Arthur fell from exhaustion of the men and ammnnition, ooupled with the Japanese artillery and tunnels. The Russians were literally shelled ont. He mentioned that Major General Kondiatehenk and seven other offioers were in a easement discussing plans, when a 11-inch shell burst, killing all of them.

Sydney, Jan. 4.

The Japanese Consul has received a cable message stating that Admiral Togo declared on January Ist, under command of the Imperial Government, that the blockade of the Liaotung Peninsula should only be maintained hereafter on the ooast lying westward of' a straight lino drawn from Sooth Entry Point to Wedge Head. The Imperial Government hae decided not to allow for the present any ships except those in their service to enter Talienwan without special permission of the naval and military authorities concerned.

TERMS OF CAPITULATION. THE AGREEMENT SIGNED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright | Received 9.18 p.m., Jan. 4. 1 Sydney, Jan. 4. A cable received by the Consul from theJapanese Minister for Foreign Affairs states that the capitulation agreement, consisting of eleven articles, was signed on the 2nd inst.

The essential points of the agreement are as' follows: The whole fortress, ships, arms, ammunition, military buildings, materials, as well as all other Government properties, shall be surrendered. The Japanese reserve to themselves the right of free’aotion in case the above mentioned properties being considered to have been destroyed of injured. After the signing of the’jagreement plans of forts, torpedoes, mines( and lists of military and naval officer j, etc., shall be delivered. The whole-navy and army and volunteers, as well as other officials, shall be taken prisoners. In consideration of the- brave defence the military and naval officers and eivil officials attached shall be allowed to bear arms and keep private property of immediate necessity for daily life, and return io Russia upon parole, not to take arms against Japanese interest until the end of the present war. The fprSs at Stuyshan and Actusban, I eto., ware surrendered at noon on the 3rd I as guaranteed, j

OPINION IN RU3SIA. UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER REFUSED. By Telegtaph—Press Association—Copyright received 9.42 p.m., Jan 4. }« jj y London, Jan 4. The nevs of the surrender came as a thunderbilt to Russia. At. first it was disbelieve!, - then accepted with quiet resignation almost relief, many remarking that it should have surrendered long ago. Naval tjen in Japan admit that General Stoessel w*s justified in blowing up the ships, ii. The Daily Mail’s Port Arthur correspondent rtoorts that prior to, during, and subsequen&o the surrender the Russians i blew up oßi burned buildings, ships, arsenals, and supplies. The Japanese at first insisted On unconditional surrender. The Russians refused. I

PLIGHT.

THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH DEFENDERS WORKED.

8y TelegrapWFress Association—Copyright Received 10,13 p.m., Jfin 4. ij ' : Loudon, Jan. 4. General Slos'ssel, in a despatch of December 28tb,fl i iated that the position was becoming veiy painful, owing to the rapid spread of scurvy. _ The terrible bombardment with 11-inch shells was mowing down the garrison. A scarcity of ammunition prevented them replying to the j shells, which oct ’of revenge were directed principally against . the hospitals .and ambulances. ;jhe loss of superior officers I was enormoua; :;Of ten gaherals two were I killed, one diiij; of disease, and two, in* I eluding himself?, were wounded; - another j was suffering grom contusion, Of nine I regimental ooaspanders two wero killed, I two died of jajounds, and four were I wounded. Man(- companies were com- j mended by ensigjs. The averago strength | of a company wm only 60. There were I 14,000 a>.ek and founded in the hospitals, and■ the number was increasing at the I rate of 300 doilyghOnly 10,000 wore under I arms. They wdigiall ill, and only able to I resist for a few longer. ,

Sr THE SURRENDER.

JAPANESE MONEY PROSPECTS

IMPROVE. By Telogiaph— PreßS Association— Copyright Received 11.45 p.m., Jan. 4. V London, Jan. 4. The agreement was signed at 9.40 on Monday night,and Ityasan and Autyushan were eurrouf.erod at noon on Tuesday. It is undentood that the soldiers will be intorned in Japan. Tho Times tays that terms amount to an unconditional surrender, tempered with military honors for the officers. Japanese four per cents in London rose I£. Russian fouw fell $, bat recovered under Gorman support. THE RUSSIAN FLEET. JAPANESE SAID TO BE IN viciyii’Y —. - KUBoPATKijra Complaint. By Telegraph—Press AssoolStton—Uopytlgh Received 11.45 p.m., Jan. 4. London, Jan 4. Admiral Foelkersahm’s squadron hae anchored in the bay of Paseandava, Madagascar. , Admiral Roshdestvenßky is ai Auto 5 ’., Bay, Madagascar. - , A cruiser, supposed to be a Japanese has been sighted in the vicinity of Retmior and Diego Saurez. Another report states - that there «ri Japanese oruisors off Java and a flotilla s: torpedo boats at North Borneo. General Kuropatkin complains of thi very dilatory manner in which troops munitions, and provisions are arriving.