GENERALS FIGHT A FIERCE DUEL.

North Otago Times, 29 May 1908, Page 2

GENERALS FIGHT A FIERCE DUEL.

RUSSIAN OFFICERS MEET WITH PISTOLS.

An amazing duel was fought at St, Petersburg on March ISth,.,between two of (lie generals who wcro in tho defence of Port Arthur.

General Smirnoff, who was acquitted with honor by tho recent court-mar-lial, had referred to General Fock as the " evil genius" ot Stoessol. Tho man Fock was actually reprimanded by tho court-martial for " want 'of discipline."

Ho thereupon challenged General Smirnoff..to a duel. Smirnoff's courage had been tried many times on the battlefield, and it was moro a proof of courage-'than anything else when he replied that ho was opposed, on principle, to fighting duels, Tho mnttor was, liowovcr, submitted to tho Russian Minister of War, who decided there must bo a duul. The meeting was something thoroforo in (ho way of an official encounter. It was a remarkablo meeting in many ways, and tho result—a severe wound for General Smirnoff-was the last thing, according to romantic conventions, that should have happened; Tho communtlcr ol the Czar's Bodyguard Regiment placed tho riding sdiool nt the disposal of the combatants, and ordered tho medical stall of tho regiment to malic duo preparations,

The sun was shining brilliantly on the ice-covered when tho venerable General Kiroycff, several officers of the Bodyguard llcgiment, and a few ladies drove up to tho riding school shortly before ten, The ladies found accommodation in the gallery. Among tho seconds was tho wellknown lender of the oxlremo Eight in tlio Diimn, M, Ptirishkovitch, who attended General Smirnoff. The conditions were pistols at fifteen paces, oad that firing should continue till blood was drawn. -Seven Shots Exchanged.— As ten o'clock struck the two principals entered (he arena. Both wore thoir uniforms, orders, and medals. They faced each other without salute. Tho seconds having mndo tho usual parade of examining tho pistols,, handed them to tho duellists, withdrew, and gave the sign to commence firing, For a moment tho adversaries remained motionless. Then the report of General Fock's pistol broke the death-liko stillness, tho bullet piercing General Smirnoff's coat and carrying off tho right flap. Fresh bullets followed quickly, General Fock firing four times and General Smirnoff thrice. General Fock's fourth bullet hit General Smirnoff, who bent forwurd with a moan. Wood was seen to trickle from his right hip. The seconds signalled to tho 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 bono, but lodged rather.deeply. Tho wound was dressed without attempt to extract it. Later the wounded general was allowed to re-. coivc his daughter and friends. Ho is expected to recover. I General Fock, who received a slight abrasion in the side, has since been challenged to a fresh duel W another Port Arthur general-General Gorbatovsky. This chnllcngo will also ho examined by the Minister oHVnr, In military circles tho duel is regarded ns raising tho prestige of the army, ami ns showing a fine sense of honor. Tho public, however, only consider it in the !ight of the revelations mndo nt tho court-martial. Duelling is forbidden by the law of Russia, but an ordinance of Alexander 111 permits it in the army, though it has hitherto been confined solely to officers below the rank of captain.