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286 THE SIEGE OF PORT ARTHUR
bitter fight. The defenders had done their duty
and more, and nothing but praise was heard of
their decision from the Japanese, for so long
their opponents, or from the military attaches and
the foreign correspondents who had witnessed
their splendid defence. In the opinion of all they
were nothing less than heroes, and the capitula-
tion was honourable and well advised.
Unfortunately this first impression did not last
long. The following days established beyond
doubt that most of the statements which the
Russians (presumably General Reiss, the chief
of staff) had made were to a large extent either
absolutely false or greatly exaggerated. Point
for point, the Japanese investigations disclosed
the following facts, as compared with the Russian
statements :
1. Exclusive of those in hospital, the total
garrison of Port Arthur on the day of surrender
consisted of about 27,200 officers and men, the
navy included. This force, which is a good deal
in excess even of what the Japanese estimated to
be the total number at the beginning of the siege,
would be fully adequate to make a good defence
of the large section of the fortress still remaining
in the hands of the Russians at the date of
capitulation.
2. Still more misleading were the statements
concerning the stocks of provisions and ammuni-
tion. There was flour enough to feed the garrison
for months, and there were over 1,800 horses ;
private stores had not been commandeered. There
were, according to Japanese statements, 82,670
shells and 2,266,800 rifle cartridges left in the
fortress, together with about thirty tons of gun-
powder, and means for refilling the empty cartridge
cases.
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