22 FEBRUARY 1908, Page 1
On Thursday General Stossel was condemned to death in St.
Petersburgior surrendering the fortress of Port Arthur before all means of defending it had been exhausted, for failing to enforce his authority, and for disciplinary mis- demeanour. The Court, however, will ask the Czar to com- mute the sentence to ten years' imprisonment in a fortress, on the ground that Port Arthur was beset by overwhelming forces. When we remember the way in which General Stoogel was acclaimed, not only in Russia, but throughout Europe, for his heroic defence, the verdict—upon the merits of which we pronounce no opinion—cannot but be regarded as a most remarkable example of historic irony. " Call no soldier glorious until he has been court-martialled" would seem to be the only safe rule, at any rate for Russia.
