PORT ARTHUR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 16, 19 January 1905, Page 5

PORT ARTHUR.

STOESSEL INTERVIEWED. UNANIMOUS FOR SURRENDER. THE AMMUNITION FAILING. NO WARSHIPS SCUTTLED. FRIGHTFUL EXCESSES OF SOLDIERS. OFFICERS' LIVES ENDANGERED (Received 7.47 a.m.) LONDON, January 18. General Stoessel has been Interviewed by a correspondent of the .Daily Express. In the course of bis remarks the defender of Fort Arthur said that until October be bad bad great bopes tbat the Baltio fleet would succeed In relieving the garrison. The surrender of the town was decided by a council of officers, and the decision was absolutely unanimous. Otber officers declared tbat Admiral Alexeieff was a coward for quitting Port Arthur when be did, and they said that Admiral Ughotomsky was also a coward for returning, when the Csar bad told him to fight to the death. All the regimental and naval flags were conveyed to Chifu. The Russians are unanimous in stating that none*of the warships in the harbour -were scuttled, but that all of them were sunk by the guns of the Japanese from 203Metre Hill. The officers further state that General Kondrachenko was the soul of the defence, and confirm the news that frightful excesses were committed after the surrender. So extensive -was the mutiny that the lives of the officers were considerably imperilled, but ultimately the men were starved into submission . Before the Japanese entry only enough ammunition was left te resist one more general assault. 9 STATE OF WARSHIPS. POSSIBILITIES OF REFLOATING LONDON, January 18. The correspondent of the Times at Port Arthur says that the battleships Peresviet and Poltava and the cruisers Pallada and Bayan may be refloated but at great expense. The Retvisau's condition is hopeless, and it is doubtful whether the Pobieda can be raised and made serviceable. All the guns in the turrets, he says, were blown up before the surrender, but some of the secondary armament is intact. Of the Russian officers who have accepted parole 250 have sailed for Europe.