THE RUSSIAN PRISONERS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1715, 11 January 1905, Page 19

THE RUSSIAN PRISONERS.

OVER THIRTY THOUSAND LAY DOWN THEIR ARMS. GENERAL NODES REPORT. SUCCOURING THE WOUNDED. LONDON, January 6. General Nogi reports that the transfer of Port Arthur from Russia to Japan is completed. The Japanese are to formally enter Port Arthur on the Bth inst. (next Sunday). The Russian commander gives the following figures showing the numbers and classification of the conquered garrison Surrendered ... ••• 32,207 Sick and wounded, in addition to above ... ... 16,000 The surrendered are classified as follows: Generals ... ... ... 8 Admirals ... ... ... 4 Colonels and majors ... 57 Naval captains and commanders ... ... 100 Army captains and lieutenants ... ... ... 531 Naval lieutenants and other naval officers ... ... 200 Surgeons ... ... ... 109 Chaplains ... ... ... 20 Army—rank and file ... 2,2,533 Navy—rank and file ... 4,500 Non-combatants connected with army and navy ... 4,145 32,207 The majority of the volunteers are included amongst the non-combatants. There have also fallen into the hands of the Japanese 1870 draught horses and 100 saddles. RUSSIANS LITERALLY SHELLED OUT. DEATH OF GENERAL KONDRA TOHENKO. LONDON, January 3. Captain Kartzkoff, commander of tire destroyer Vlastny, at Chefoo, in the course of an interview, declared that the Port Arthur garrison fell from exhaustion of men and ammunition, coupled with the effects of the Japanese artillery and the advantage gained by the tunnelling operations carried out by the Japanese. The Russians were, in fact, literally shelled out.

Captain Kartzkoff mentioned that Major - General Kondratchenko- and seven other officers were in a easement discussing the Russian plana of continuing the siege, when an eleven-inch, shell burst, killing them all.

VISCOUNT HAY A SHFS VIEWS. LONDON, January 3. Viscount Hay ash i, Japanese Minister at London, declares that the surrender of Stoessel’s garrison in no way affects the glory of the splendid defence. The question of peace, lie considers, rests entirely with Russia. Baron Suyematsu says, considering the nature of the fortifications. Port Arthur was reduced at comparatively small cost. Blockade-runners, be declares, were treated too leniently—they ought to have been ‘treated as spies. THE SURIIENDE RER 8. TWENTY THOUSAND SICK AND WOUNDED. LONDON, January 5. General Nogi reports that thirty-five thousand Russians surrendered at Port Arthur, including twenty-five thousand soldiers and sailors. Twenty thousand of the surrenderors are sick or wounded. Common provisions, such as bread, are plentiful, but there is scarcity of meat and vegetables. There are no medical supplies. The Japanese are strenuou-ly succouring the garrison. The British cruiser Andromeda, from Weihaiwei, carried to Port Arthur two surgeons and a hospital staff, a hundred thousand pounds of provi.-ions, 350 beds, and medical appliances and comforts for tile Russian sick and wounded. General' Nogi states that the transfer of war material and Government property began to-day. The report that eight hundred Port Arthur escapees have reached Kiaochau is contradicted. DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY. LONDON. January 4. Can tain Klisovitch, who was in command of the last launch which escaped to Oliefoo, states that the great portion of the fortress and town of Port Arthur has beep absolutely wrecked. Several explosions were necessary to destroy the warships. The Sebastopol caught fire, blew no, and turned turtle in deep water. The sunken ships have. Captain Klisovitch states, blocked the harbour entrance. Only the hospital ships, Kazan and Mongolia, are navigable.

Escapees from Port Arthur state that 11,000 of the garrison were killed. Some of the men were wounded seven times, but returned to fight when convalescent.

The proportion of officers killed was the highest recorded, owing to the men requiring constant leading in consequence of lethargy resulting from want of food and sleep.

BOMBARDMENT OF HOSPITALS. PARIS, January 5. The newspaper “Lo Temps” announces that Russia has asked Prance to transmit to Japan Russia's formal protest at the bombardment of hospitals at Port Arthur. COST OF THE SIEGE. LONDON, January 4. The Russians think that the capture of Port Arthur cost Japan 200,000,000 yen (about £20,000,000). DISGUISED ADMIRALS. LONDON, January 5. It is reported that Admiral- Uchtomsky and Admiral Loschinsky reached Chefoo disguised. THE FIGHT TO GO ON. LONDON, January 5. The weight of official opinion at Tokio is unfavourable to peace until General Ivouropatkin and Admiral Rozhdestvensky are defeated. Viscount Hayashi, the Japanese Ambassador in London, states that no armistice is contemplated, and that the operations will continue. GLOOM IN RUSSIA. ST. PETERSBURG, January 4. The feeling of gloom is growing in Russia. General Stoessel is universally regarded as a hero. The blowing up of the Russian warships at Port Arthur is acclaimed. The Russian press dwells on the heroic character of the defence of Port Arthur, and asserts that the sacrifices have not been in vain. THE CAPITULATION A SURPRISE. LONDON, January 5. It is stated that the surrender of the Port Arthur garrison surprised General Nogi’s army, who expected another month’s fighting. Victors and vanquished freely fraternised around bonfires. The awful destruction worked by dynamite at Eiriungjskun and Shanshushan greatly damped the ardour of the garrison, and subsequent assaults were comparatively feebly resisted. ASSISTANCE DECLINED. LONDON, January 5. Ten thousand Port Arthur prisoners, as well as non-combatants, will return to Russia. It is reported that Admiral Togo per-

mitted four destroyers to escape to Chefoo as a mark of appreciation or the brave defence of Port Arthur. Two hundred Japanese prisoners who were found at Port Arthur have been released. General Stoessel lost two hundred officers during October and November. He promoted sergeants and non-com-missioned officers, who behaved heroically. Renter’s Chefoo correspondent reports that little booty was found at Port Arthur, except 80,000 tons of coal and two months’ supply of rice and rations.

Out of 270 naval officers at the beginning of the war, 180 were killed and wounded, many while serving the forts. The “Daily Express” states that the Czar has informed General Stoessel that (lie Russian officers are at liberty to choose parole or remain prisoners. A supplementary agreement releases the civil officials, who did not serve as volunteers at Port Arthur. * LONDON, January G. r j ho British cruiser Andromeda, which left Weihaiwei for Port Arthur with provisions, medical appliances and comforts for the Russian sick end wounded, has returned to Weihaiwei, as the Japanese refused to allow her to enter Port Arthur on the ground that mines laid by tho Russians were undiscovered. The Japanese also declined all assistance in the way of drugs and provisions. It is expected the wounded will be nursed at" Port Arthur. Thousands of lives are likely to be saved when drugs and appliances are available. Russia warmly apnreciabes the action of the British authorities in despatching the Andromeda. PREPARING TO HOLD THE FORT. LONDON, January 6. General Nogi is recruiting hordes of Chinese coolies in order to refortify Port Arthur. He is eliminating all weaknesses in tho Russian scheme of defence. Vast quantities of cement, timber and iron have been accumulated on the Yalu river for thus purpose. THE OZAR THANKS STOESSEL. LONDON, January 6. The Czar has cabled to General Stoessel thanking him and his brave garrison for their defence of Pert Arthur. AN IMPARTIAL TRIBUTE. LONDON, January 5.’ Lord Selborne, First Lord of the Admiralty, speaking at Wolverhampton, paid a glowing tribute to the besiegers and besieged at Port Arthur. GAIETIES AT ST. PETERSBURG. LONDON, January 6. Notwithstanding the fall of Port Arthur, social gaieties at St. Petersburg have continued unslackened. The press denounces the callousness of society. MEETING OF IMPERIAL COUNCIL. The “Daily Express” reports that at a meeting of the Russian Imperial Council, presided over by the Czar, it was decided to continue the war energetically. Two hundred thousand more men are to be sent to General Kouropatkin, in Manchuria, by the end of February. The Baltic fleet, according to the “Express,” is to be withdrawn.