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Show ARTHUR'S SURRENDER STRONGLY CRITICISED LONDON. Jan. 25. The Times correspondent corre-spondent at Peking, who has returned frcm a visit at Port Arthur, describes the Impressions he gather there and says: "Without seeing them, nobody could form any idea of the stupendous strength of the forts or the Incredible heroism displayed dis-played in their capture. No foreign officer offi-cer Is able to explain the reason for the surrender Of Port Arthur. Those who have seen the condition of the fortress believe be-lieve that no more discreditable surrender is recorded in history. "There were 25,000 able-bodied men capable capa-ble of making a sortie, hundreds of officers, offi-cers, all well nournlshed, anl pdenty of ammunition, the largest magasine being untouched and full to the roof with all kinds of ammunition for naval guns. There was, further, ample food for three months even If no fresh supplies could be received, and, besides, the waters are teeming with fish. There was an abundance abund-ance of wl and medical comforts, and large quantities of fuel of all kinds. "The stories that the Red Cross buildings build-ings were wrecked by the Japanese fire are admitted by reputable residents to have been pure fabrications to excite sympathy. All accounts agree in condemning con-demning the majority of the officers, who feared the failure of comforts more than of ammunition, and agree that no man ever held a responsible command who less deserved the title of hero than Gen. Stoes-sel." |