DISGRACEO GENERAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11248, 11 April 1908, Page 2 (Supplement)

DISGRACEO GENERAL.

, general stoessel sentenced. ST. PETERSBURG, February 25. The large and beautiful concert hall of the Army and Navy Club, crowded with ■a- distinguished public, mostly officers and a good sprinkling of ladies, was tonight tlie scene of the last phase oi the great historic drama begun on February J 8, 1904, by the Japanese surprise attack j on the Russian fleet at Port Arthur. i The court-martial, which - had heard during forty sittings evidence on the conduct of General Stoessel and the generals next m conunand during the siege and surrender of Port Arthur, had consider, ed its findings the whole of yesterday and to-day. General Stoessel, dressed wholly m black, wearing a long, old-fashioned kaftan-like frock-coat, took his place at the back of the hall. At eight m the evening the public were admitted.' The Coiut remained standing while General Dukmusoff, its president, read the verdict. ' . « General Stoessel was condemned to death for the surrender of the fortress against protest, without the knowledge of its commandant (General .Smirnoff), j Through the dead silence there came ! something lika a heavy groan from the tensely strung public. General {Stoessel turned very pale. "But," continued General Dukmnsoff, I "on account of his long, brave, and stub, born defence, the. court-martial has decidod to recommend the Czar graciously to commute our sentence to ten years' confinement m a fortress." General StoessePs face suddenly brightened, and the listeners gave a sigh of relief. General Fock was reprimanded for want of discipline. Generals Smirnoff and Reiss were acquitted ; the latter, momentarily overpowered by the'relaxation of the* lons, terrible stress, was unable to restrain" his tears of happiness. General Stoessel's fate evoked general sympathy. A telegram, signed by all the Port Arthur officers present, was sent to the Czar from the- court-room, imploring an act of grace oil his behalf.