THE FALL OF POET ARTHUR.

Manawatu Herald, 7 January 1905, Page 2

THE FALL OF POET ARTHUR.

Klisovitch commanding the last, launch which escaped to Chifu, states that most of the fortress town of Fort Arthur was absolutely wrecked. Several explosions were necessary in order to destroy the warships. The Sevastopol caught fire, blew up, and turned turtle in deep water. The sunken ships have blocked the harbour entrance.

Only the hospital ships Kazan and Mongolia are navigable. Escapees state that eleven thousand of the garrison were killed. Some of the wounded seven times returned to fight when convalescent.

The proportion of officers killed is the highest recorded, owing to the men requiring constant leading in consequence of their lethargy resulting from a want of food and sleep. THE BALTIC FLEET MUST FIGHT OR RETURN. The Standard states that Admiral , Togo intends to force the Baltic fleet to fight or return to Europe, and be will be ready to advance a considerate distance to meet Admiral Ro*hjestvensky. The Novoe Vremya says British ~ ships are shadowing the Baltic fleet in order to disclose their movements to Japan. The Novoe Vremya adds that the least cause may provoke consequences akin to $0 North Sea incident. t Viscount Hayashi, Japanese Minister in London, slates that no armistice is contemplated, and that operations will continue. The Russian press dwells on the heroic character of the defence of Port Arthur, and assert that the sacrifices will not be in vain. PORT ARTHUR’S SICK AND WOUNDED. General Nogi reports that the transfer of war material and Government property was begun on Wednesday. . * Four Japanese warships are cruising along the east coast of Sumatra* The British cruiser Andromeda, from Weihaiwei, carried to Port Arthur two surgeons and a hospital staff, one hundred thousand pound of provisions, 350 beds, medical ap : pliances and comforts for the Russian sick and wounded. The feeling of gloom is growing in Russia,. j ; ' / General Stoessel is regarded mesa..----' Universal hero, and the blowing up _ of the ships is acclaimed. J~y It is stated in financial circles ini { St. Petersburg that Russia is spend# 1 ing forty millions sterling abroad if j the next three years in the constru# / tion of a navy. f f THE CAPITULATION AGREEMENT. p SYDNEY, Jan. 6. I A cable received by the Consul I from the Japanese Minister for I Foreign Affairs states that th® I Capitulation Agreement consisting i of eleven articles, was signed on the 1 2nd inst. 1

The essential points of the agree* i ment are as follow ;—“ The whole I fortress, ships, arms, ammunition* * military buildings, materials, as well as all other Government properties, shall be surrendered. The Japanese reserve themselves the right of free action in the case of the abovementioned properties being considered to have been destroyed or injured after the signing of the agreement. > i “Plans of forts, torpedo mines, and Hats of military and naval officers, etc., shall be delivered. | “ The whole army, navy and | volunteers, as well as other officials, shall be taken prisoners, and in consideration of the brave defence the ! military and naval officers and civil officials attached shall be allowed to bear their arms and keep private property of immediate necessity for daily life, and return to Russia upon giving their parole not to take up arms against Japanese interest unt" the end of the presentwa r.” The forts of Itzushan, Antzushan, etc., were surrendered at noon on the 3rd as guaranteed.