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Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7704, 5 January 1905, Page 3

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9|KfflFS lEm SUMMARISED. Daily Mail's correspondent at f" -port Arthur Says the end came with 'dramatic suddenness. For five days •the fortress nos surrounded by an Increasing shell fire, and the assaults on the eastern side were renewed on Saturday evening with Amazing vehemence, and persisted in v all night. Tho Russians resisted stubbornly, but were overweighted, and slowly driven back, leaving the ,town open to attack. On Sunday morning Wantai was stormoa, after :a sutJlours' bloody struggle. Then many of the Russians surrendered, j fcfta fa.oV*begMi to blow up their magazines and warships. Some say the officials in the garrison only numbered four thousand. There were eighteen thousand wounded and sick. The wounds had to be bound up with hemp, owing to the scarcity of bandages, and the condition of the wounded was miserable in the extreme. The surrender did not surprise London diplomatists, who were aware that General Stocssel had reported at the end of October that the guns were wearing out, that ammunition was short, and that he was wasting l men. Increased sickness and deficiency of food indicated that he would be unable to resist much longer. Diplomatists fear that the surrender will not make for peace. '• General Stocssel, on Sunday, still wanted to fight, ami keep his promise to the Czar not to surrender. His Generals replied that it was impossible. The men went to sleep standing in their positions. The Japanese are occupying several forts in Port Arthur. Officers of the garrison and officials arc returning to Russia on parole, retaining their swords. • The Commissioners signed the terms of surrender last night. There is an outcry in Tokio ' against allowing the surrender with honours, owing to the destruction of the warships after offering to surrender. 'Tokio tiewspaiKjrs contrast li\s Mikadoes magnanimity with General Stoessel'.s conduct in destroying the ships. The hospital ships Kasan and Mongolia alone remain afloat. Three Russian torpedo launches have also arrived at Che-foo. There is a consensus of opinion abroad that the release of General Kogi's three dividions of veterans will formidably increase General Kuropatkin's difficulties. Captain Kartzkoff, commander of the destroyer Ylastny, at Che-foo, interviewed, declared that Port Arthur fell from exhaustion of men and ammunition, coupled with the Japanese artillery and tunnels. The Russians were literally shelled out. He mentioned that Major-JGener a l j Kondratchenko and seven other officers were in a casement discussing plans when an eleven-inch shell burst,. killing all. Lord Roberts considers it was a magnificent defence. "Stocsscl," he says, "is a splendid fellow. How all the world must admire him." Field-Marshal Lord Wolseley considers the defence was splendid. He admires the indomitable pluck and determination of the Japanese. General Baden-Powell (InspectorGeneral of Cavalry) describes it as an honourable surrender after a splendid defence. Major-Oeneral Sir Alfred Turner, General of the Auxiliary Forces, considers that Russia, to re-instate herself, will turn her attention to the north-west frontier of India. Admiral Sir Nathaniel BowdcnSnrith (formerly in command of the -Australian Squadron) describes it as a most daring, persistent attack, and the most heroic defence on record. SYDNEY, Jan. 4. The Japanese Consul has received a cable from Admiral Togo, which says that it was declared on the Ist inst., under command of the Imperial Government, that the blockade of the Liao-tuhj* Peninsula should only be maintained thereafter on a portion of tho coast lying westward. The Imperial Government has decided not to allow for the present any ships except those in the servipe to enter Talienw a n without special permission from the naval and military authorities concerned. THE TERMS OF SURRENDER. AN AGREEMENT CONTAINING 11 ARTICLES SIGNED. (Received Jan. 4, 9.7 p.m.) SYDNEY, Jan. 4. A cable received by the Consul from the Japanese 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 of the fortress, ships, arms, ammunition, military buildings, and materials, as well as all other Goveenraent properties, shall he surrendered. The Japanese reserve to themselves the right top serve to themselves the right of free action i.i any case of the above-men-tioned properties being considered to have been destroyed or injured after the signing of the agreement. ■ Plans of tbe forts, positions of the torpedoes and mines, and lists 0 f military and naval officers., etc., shall be 'delivered. The whole of the army, navy, and volunteers,, as well as otbee officials, shall be taken prisoners. In consideration of their brave defence the military and naval fencers and civil officia.s shall be aHowed to bear arms and keep private property* of immediate necessity for, daily life, and return to Russia upon parole. Thcv are not to take up arms against the Japanese interest until the end of the present war. The forts of Itzushan, Antus-han, cfc were surrendered at noon on tnc dnd, as guaranteed. (Received Jan. 4, 11.43 ~ , n j LONDON, Jan. 1. „„ w "| rrecm pW was signed at 9.50 on Monday night, ami Itzushan and Tuesday. It , s understood that soldiers will be interned in J, pan. "■ The Times says the terms amount I°. surrender, tempered fi*Ps. MbU "y h °™<* tp the ofTHE, NEWS IN RUSSIA. CAUSES CONSTERNATION FIRST AND THEN RELIEF. (Received Jan. 4, 9.42 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 4. The news of the surrender came as a thunderbolt to Russia, and was at first disbelieved, but then accepted bv the population 'with a quiet resigiiam lion, and a feeling of relief. Many ■ persons remarked that it should have ■ surrendered; long ago,.' I DESTROYING SHIPUND PROPERTY. ■ THE DEFENDERS' FINAL ACA TIONS DISCUSSED, |B LONDON, Jan. 4. Naval men in Japan admit that Stocssel was justified in up his ships. The Daily Mail's Port Arthur correports that prior to, ■ during, and subsequent to the surH render, the Russians blew up and H burned buildings, ships, arsenals and ■ supplies. The Japanese at first inV sisted. on an unconditional surrend- ■ er, but this the Russians refused. I • RUSSIA'S LAST NAYAL UNITS. I SQUADRONS NOW IN MADAGAS(Received Jan. 4, 11.43 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 4. Admiral Foclkersahm's squadron is anchored m a bay at Pas.sandava, in Madagascar, and Admiral RozKdestveriskv's 'at An'tongil lla\, jn Madagascar. Cruisers, supposed to lie Japanese, ; have been sighted in the vicinitv of Reunion and Diego Saurez, in "the Chagos Islands, Indian Ocean. L Another report states that there are Japanese cruisers off Java and a flotilla of torpedo boats north of

PBIOR TO THE FALL—AN AWFUL STORY. (Received Jan. 4, 10.13 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 4. General Stocsscl, in a despatch dated the 29th ult., stated that the position was becoming very painful, owing to the rapid spread of scurvy. The terrible bombardment of eleveninch shells was mowing down the garrison, and 'the scarcity of ammunition prevented them from replyingl,. The shells were directed principally against the hospitals and amIbulances. The losses among the superior officers were enormous. Of ■ ten generals two were killed, one ,died of disease, and two, including himself, were wounded, und another ,was suffering from contusions. Of ni»e regimental commanders two l.were killed, two died of wounds, and four were wounded. Many of Ithe companies were commanded by ensigns, and the average strength of a company was only 60. There were 14,000 sicE and wounded in the hospitals, and these were increasing at the rate of 300 daily. Only 10,000 men were under arms, and they were all ill. He would only be able to resist for a few days longer. KUROPATKIN'S COMPLAINT. AT DELAYS OF TRANSPORT OPERATIONS, LONDON, Jan. 4. General Kuropatk'in complains of the very dilatory manner in which troops, munitions and provisions are arriving at the front. THE FINANCIAL BAROMETER, REFLECTS EFFECT OF VICTORY ON COMMERCIAL WORLD. ' (Received Jan!. 4, 11.45 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 4. Jajranesc 4 per cent, stocks in Londoa rose £1 5s and Russian 4 !p»r events fell 16s, but recovered under German support. "UNHAPPY LIES THE HEAD." CZAR IN STRANGELY DISTURBED STATE, (Received Janj. 4, 11.45 p.m.) ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. 4. The Czar has suddenly returned to St. Petersburg. PARIS, Jan. 4. A French correspondent in St. Petersburg has declared that the Caar is in a dtate of mystic indecision, partly as the result of his faith in spiritualism. He is swayed by conflicting influences.