Port Arthur was besieged by the Japanese from July 30, 1904, to January 2, 1905—a period of 156 days. Whereas, as stated in the last chapter, the condition of health in the Russian army was good, the sanitary conditions in Port Arthur during the siege were very bad, since the supply of provisions that had been laid in proved to be insufficient.[351] The offer made on August 16 by General Nogi and Admiral Togo, granting all the women, children (under 16 years), ecclesiastics, members of the diplomatic corps and military and naval attachés of foreign powers permission to leave the stronghold, was refused by General Stössel. As early as August 5 horse-meat began to be distributed;[352] from September 17 on the troops were supplied four times a week with horse-meat, since there was no other fresh or canned meat available. At this time almost everything in the city was consumed, though the Chinese secretly brought rice, eggs, and other things, on boats from Chufoo. After September 28 the soldiers were given meat only twice a week (one-half of a pound of horse-meat or one-third of a can of preserved meat). Regarding conditions up to October 20 we are informed by the report of the Russian General Medical Staff:[353] ‘The supply of food ran lower and lower; beef gave out very early, only a small quantity of canned meat was left, and even the portions of horse-meat had to be dealt out very sparingly, as we had very important use for horses in transporting ammunition, water, food, &c., to the various positions. In the city it became more and more difficult every day to procure food; meat, if by any chance a small quantity was marketed, was sold in the stores for one and one-half roubles per pound. A chicken cost twelve roubles, a goose twenty roubles, an egg one rouble, a pound of onions one rouble, a pound of horse-meat one half-rouble.’ In November all the soldiers were given was horse-meat; only the sick received canned meat. The supply of food in the possession of private individuals was exhausted, while garlic and vegetables had given out altogether. On September 19 the Japanese captured the redoubts controlling one of the aqueducts that supplied Port Arthur with water; there was however another aqueduct, and, furthermore, wells were bored and a plant for distilling seawater was put into operation. The statement of the Russian General Staff that there was at no time a serious scarcity of water is not confirmed in Olga von Baumgarten’s diary, which frequently refers in plaintive terms to the lack of drinking-water in the lazarets.[354]