DUELS IN RUSSIA.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 115, 16 May 1908, Page 3

DUELS IN RUSSIA.

PORT ARTHUR GENERALS' EN-

COUNTER

WATCHED BY LADIES

ST # . PETERSBURG, March 18. General Smirnoff, the one prominent leader in the Port Arthur Garrison who was. acquitted with honour by the court-martial on the siege and surrender of the fortress, has fallen in a duel at the hand of General Fock, whom he described as General Stoessel's "evil genius," an. officer who was reprimanded by the court-martial for "want of discipline." On the day of the surrender General Smirnoff spoke strongly for fighting on against the Japanese, but was overruled by General Stoessel and "is advisers. When challenged last Saturday by General Fock he answered publicly that he was opposed on principle to fighting duels, but would act as the Ministry of War directed. They dei cided that the duel should be fought, \ with pistols at fifteen paces, as General Fock desired. ; The bitter mutual antipathy of the two generals dated back to the early days of the siege. General Smirnoff was a brave regimental leader, who wished to go on making frontal sorties, and he com-

plained the General Fock, a scientific soldier, took a pessimistic view of everything proposed, and demoralised General Stoessol and the spirit of the defence. , . . The Ministry of War having decided that General Smirnoff should accept General Fock's challenge, a duel hetween them was. fought at ten o'clock to-day in the Riding School of the Horse Guards. The arrangement resembled rather a public entertainment than a life-and-death issue. There were present, besides the seconds . and doctors, stretcher-bearers with1 stretchers, dressings, ,and antiseptics, and also several officers of the Horse Guards. Even some ladies were given places in the gallery. Among the seconds was the wellknown leader of the extreme Right in the Duma, M. Purishkevitch, who attended General Smirnoff. The conditions were pistols at fifteen paces, and that firing should continue till blood was drawn.

The adversaries entered the arena at ten o'clock, sharp, both wearing their uniforms} orders, and medals. They did not salute each other, but forthwith took the places indicated by their seconds. These gentlemen, having examined the pistols, handed them to the duellists, withdrew, and gave the sign to commence firing. For a moment the adversaries, both very serious and very pale, remained motionless, looking each other in the eyes. Then the report ofi> General Fock's pistol broke the death-like stillness, the bullet piercing General Smirnoff's coat. Fresh bullets followed quickly, General Fock firing four times and General Smirnoff thrice.

General Fock's fourth bullet hit General Smirnoff, who bent forward groaning slightly. Blood was seen to trickle From his right hip. The seconds signalled to the generals to stop firing. General Smirnoff was carried on a stretcher to the Horse Guards' Hospital; where, his wound was examined by the surgeons. The bullet had not struck a bone, but lodged rather deeply. The wound was dressed without attempting to extract it. The latest information is that the wound is not expected to prove fatal. To-morr w it will be examined by Rontgen-rays, and an attempt made to* extract the bullet. General Fock is reported to have been,challenged to a fresh duel by another Port Arthur general—General Gorbatoysky. This challenge will also be examined by the Ministry of War.

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