EDITORIAL
“Sir, a drink—a drink, for God's sake!”
The cry stabbed me. From the indistinguish-
‘able pile of flesh, and other things—I saw at
my feet a blood-stained head, a sheet-white
face lit up by two burning eyes, and an arm
stretched toward me. I gave it—this thing—
my water bottle. The wounded man seized
it with both hands, but after a second let them
fall helplessly, his head lolling back on some-
one’s enormous and blood-smeared boots.—
Nojine, Ibid., p. 78.
Surely the “Rasplata,” ie. “The
Reckoning” of the people of Rosh—the
Russians—had come.
was against them. But when the ham-
mered, battered, and tattered remnants
of the gallant fifth regiment, which, by
its magnificent defense of Kinchou had
covered itself with glory, having lost
more than one half of its men and two
thirds of its officers—marched into Port
Arthur, it was thus wel-
Surely something
601
sistance, He declared the fortress needed
neither food, medicines, or big-gun am-
munition, Surely the “wisdom of the
officials” was being taken away—yea,
God was taking away the “judgment of
the leaders of the people.”
A Telegram from Kuropatkin
Soon Stossel received a telegram from
General Kuropatkin, dated June 18th, in
which he was ordered to hand over the
command to Smirnoff, and to leave Ar-
thur in a cruiser. This, of course,
spelled disgrace. So he stuffed the mes-
sage in his pocket and said nothing.
Simultaneously another telegram was
sent to Smirnoff containing a copy of the
one to Stossel. This fell into Stossel’s
hands. He destroyed it, and left General
Smirnoff in blissful ignorance.
comed by Stossel :—
“You are a wretched un-
disciplined corps of traitors,
cowards, and Dblackguards. |
will try the lot of you hy
courtmartial. How did you
dare leave Kinchou? Don't
dare to show yourselves in
Arthur, lest by your presence
you infect the whole garri-
son with your cowardice.”
Nojine, 84.
“In Need of Nothing’’
During June the block-
ade of Port Arthur was
very slack. Stossel re-
ceived inquiries from
headquarters as to what
he wanted, and was told
that whatever he required
would be sent. Plenty of
merchant firms and cap-
tains were willing to make
the run—for a price. But
Stossel seemed devoid of
the commonest sense, He
refused all proffers of as- Copyright
Underwood, N. Y
General Nogi and His Officers