p ORT Arthur, after a siege protracted by the desperate valour
of its defenders for eight months, fell on the first day of the New Year. The Japanese in a furious assault on December 31st had captured the remaining forts on the eastern ridge, and on Sunday General Wesel held a council of war. According to the accounts which seem most probable, the stubborn General, in spite of the terrible circumstances . detailed below, was half inclined to fight on, and die in the final assault; but his officers convinced him that he had no longer men to fight with—indeed, he had himself reported the fact to the Emperor—and at 9 p.m. a despatch was re- ceived by General Nogi in which the heroic Russian confessed
• that he "found further resistance useless," and proposed "to open negotiations for capitulation." General Nogi, whose marvellous courage and persistency throughout the siege have hardly received from the world a sufficient measure of acknowledgment, at once' acceded to his rival's prayer; Commissioners were appointed ; and at 9.45 p.m. on the 2nd inst. the terms were accepted and signed. The terms were lenient, the Mikado himself having telegraphed that "military honours" should be shown to General Stossel, "who had rendered commendable service to his country in the midst of difficulties." Meanwhile two great forts had been blown up, and the battleships and cruisers sunk in the harbour had been destroyed with dynamite. Four destroyers were also despatched to Chifu. As part of this destruction seems to have taken place after the despatch of General Stowers offer, the " honour " of the proceeding is doubted ; but, in any case, it preceded the signature of the terms, and is, therefore, held to have been within the ordinary rules of war. The forts were occupied on the 3rd inst., and the siege closed with a "fraternisation" of Russians and Japanese, who praised each other's courage.
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