A LAST ECHO OF THE WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 70, 21 March 1908, Page 4

A LAST ECHO OF THE WAR.

The Czar is not often reported as saying anything particularly impressive or memorable, but in the rescript he has just issued to his army and navy, he certainly seems to have expressed himself with commendable clearness and force about Port Arthur. It is true that the gTeat stronghold was heroically defended, so far as the rank and file

of its garrison were concerned, with a devotion that roused the admiration of the whole world; and it is equally true that this splendid record was tarnished by the disgraceful surrender. For this dastardly act-—to which the surrender of Metz by Bazaine in the Franco-Prus-sian War affords the nearest parallel— the commanding officers were alone to blame, and Russia has done but tardy justice to the national honour and the prestige of her army by delaying so long to punish those responsible for this humiliating catastrophe.

We have already cited the evidenc-3 compiled by Dr. Morrison and the Japanese officials who took an inventory of the contents of the fortress after the surrender, to show that Port Arthur in resolute hands could have held out for many weeks or months longer. But the last few days of this memorable siege proved conclusively that Stoessel was unfit for the post he neid. Tne life and soul of the defence was General Kondrachenko, and within a fortnight after his death Stoessel called a council of war and advised surrender. Every officer present voted for fighting on except Stoessel, his chief of the staff, and General Fock, who had succeeded Kondrachenko and had at once lost the eastern forts which that gallant officer had held so long. Stoessel and Fock were ashamed to force their cowardly advice upon their colleagues, and decided to continue the defence. But within three days Fock precipitately withdrew his outposts, and galloping to Stoessel's headquarters, declared that unless the town were at once surrendered the Japanese would force an entrance in two hours, and would slaughter every human being within the walls. According to the Russian military regulations, Stoessel, if he found himself unable to maintain his post, should have handed over the command to the next senior officer, General Smirnoff. But he had made up his mind to surrender, and he at once opened negotiations with General Nogi. The effects of this precipitate and disgraceful act have often been pointed out. If Port Arthur had been defended to the last cartridge, as it undoubtedly would have been under such a leader as Kondraehenko, it could have held out at least well on into February, and this would have kept Nogi and his army in the South, and prevented the tremendous overthrow of Mukden. As it was, Stoessel's cowardice sealed the doom of the Russian army in Manchuria. The surrender of Port Arthur must continue to be a permanent stain upon the records of the Russian Army; but the dishonour is to some extent wiped out by the heavy penalties now inflicted on Stoessel and his guilty accomplices.