TIME'S WHIRLIGIG. GENERAL STOESSEL IN THE DOCK.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 27, 1 February 1908, Page 9

TIME'S WHIRLIGIG.

GENERAL STOESSEL IN THE DOCK.

THE FALL OF PORT ARTHUR. ' A CHARGE OF COWARDICE, Not long ago General Stoessel was on the pinnacle of fame ; in December, last year, he was >n tho dock, standing his trial on a qharge of cowardice. Onco Russia and the world at large reverenced him in a belief that he nobly defended Port Arthur; then cams doubt, suspicion; tongues wagged against the man whose name once tripped so gloriously from the lips of men. THE LAST ACT. All those Russian heroes who survived the long and sanguinary seige have been, § as' though by the wave of a magician's wand, transported to the Army and Aavy Hall' (writes a correspondent of the London 'Daily Telegraph from St. Petersburg on 13th December). General Stoessel, the hope of Russia' and the admiration of the whole world at that time, is -here in the front seat of the dock. He is threatened with the death sentence for cowardice and the betrayal of his military duties. With him are sitting Generals Fock and Reyg, his two chief co-defenders of Port Arthur, and General Smirnoff, the nominal Commandant of Port Arthur, whom Stoessel superseded, in spito of the direct order of Kuropatkin. The temple of glory which seemed to be awaiting them upon their return home has been suddenly transformed into a court of justice, in. which ten of their older fellow generals have now to decide their fate. The average ago of the -ten judgos is about seventy. But old age has apparently not abated their military vigour. When the list of those desirous of attending the tiial was presented to the President of tho Courfj General Dukmassoff, lie observed that it was headed by' the name of his wife. "We ne»d no females," 'ho remarked, and struck thei name out, along with many others/ 130 WITNESSES. - The seats reserved for witnesses are occupied' by a dazjzKng array of decorated soldiers. There are 130 witnesses in all, and nearly all wear the uniforms of generals and colonels. The place of honour among them is filled by the Field-Marshal of the Far Eastern War, General Kuropatkin himself. Ho has changed much since ths ■ war. He lias grown much older, more bent and wrinkled, and his hair is nearly white. The public seats are sparsely filled. Their occupants for tho most pait also wear military uniforms. Admission to these seats, by General Dukmassoff's order, has been made extremely difficult. Tho few Russian journalists present were admitted only after promising to publish nothing which nad not b<s-?n s submitted to the president's censorship. Scores of generals and otficers surround Stoessel, saluting, greeting hinii shaking his hand. He is dressed in a frock-coat, with »avo Georgian crosses upon his breast. He looks well, strong, and in good Spirit 3. A few fashionable women have somenow succeeded ifi escaping Dukmassoli's vigilance, and their gay toilettes arc the only softbning influence upon the severely military aspect of tho hall. THE CHARGES. The reading of the indictm-snt occupied a day and a half, but tho charges may be summarisod in n few words. General Stoessel in accused of wilful misrepresentation of facts, failure to obey orders, ungallant. behaviour, and finally surrendering tho fortress, "on .conditions humiliating to Russia," when the means of defence were. not exhausted"While- listening to-day to the depositions of Generals Kuropatkin, Tretiakoff, ond Nikitin I could not but feel that the Russian v Government has acted daringly in embarking upon this trial," comments the correspondent. "Has it not, indeed, been rather thoughtlessness and ignorance than daring- which could permit such proceeding's; to come to light ; for what is proceeding is not. tlie- trial of the fallen heroes of Port Arthur, but in far greater degree that of the Russian War Office and the whole bureaucratic system of the Czardom." . KUR'OPATKIN'S EVIDENCE. According to Kuropa.tkin, after the loss inflicted upon ths Russians by tho "treacherous." attack of the Japanese upon the floet at Port Arthur at the beginning of tho war,- after, tho death of Makhajfoff, and after tho removal of the 3rd Division from the promontory, a too obstinate defence- of Port Arthur had become risky, as the defending troops wot© in danger of being cut off from Port Arthur Ly a descent of the- Japanese. Therefore a timely retreat to Port Arthur, which was of far 1 more vital importance to Russia, was advisable. In this sense ho gave instructions to Stoessel: "1 learpt from the indictment," he candidly admitted; "that the Viceroy was of the same opinion upon the subject." This was a startling admission to the world. Kuropatkin and Admiral Alexieff were the joint leaders of the war, and tlie one learnt from an/ act of indictment drawn up three years after tho war what was the opinion of the other upon a vital point ! Admitting that Stoessel was instructed by him to act cautiously in the defence of Kin-Chau, Kuropatkin, however^ expressed' his amajement' that the position was defended by one regiment only, while many other Russian troops were on the spot. A MYSTERIOUS TELEGRAM. Kuropatkin declared that he did not remember that Stoessel in his despatches represented himself as always taking personal part 'in the battles. But to-day he brought with him a. ciphered telegram from, Stoessel, found, he said, among his papers, in which Stoessel^ wrote that he had joined the position on foot, his train having been shelled by the Japanese, a.nd that he had ordered the retreat when the; position had become untenable. ; This telegram was handed to Kuropatkin after the fight by an officer, Yolkin.. "I never wrote such a telegram," exclaimed. Stoessel, curtly. "Yolkin is a lunatic !" shouted General Fock indignantly from 'his place "The telegram is not signed," remarkedi Stoessel's counsel. "Perhaps Yolkin wrote about himself." i "A non-commissioned officer could hardly order the retreat of an army. W° have not como to that yet," remarked Kuropatkin, calmly. Generally the behaviour of Generals Fock andi Stoessel during the trial has been very peculiar. General Fock was reprimanded by the President for calling' General Treliakoff a liar, when the latter, -as it seemed to him wrongly, described llio battle of Kin-Chan. Stoessel treats Kuropatkin all the timo not as a superior, but as a subordinate. SHORT-RANGE' ARTILLERY. Other witnesses gave evidence as-to tho part played by the Russian field artillery m the battle of Kin-chau. Among other facts, it was discovered that the Russian field-pieces were in good condition, but that thoir longest range did not exceed about o 1-3 miles, while the enemy's positions ■were a greater distance away.