Every one remained silent; no one liked to speak. The Commandant had spoken what all knew to be the truth. _Stössel_ continued: 'In my opinion the second line is extremely weak, and it is in no way important. Well, gentlemen, I see that all of you almost are in favour of a further defence, and we will accordingly carry on. Russian soldiers could not act otherwise. I am extremely grateful to all of you for coming to such a resolution.' The meeting broke up, and the news of the conclusion reached and of the opinions of individual members was soon spread abroad. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 40: Omitted by Author.--A.B.L.] [Footnote 41: This paper appears, from an independent source ['The Siege and Fall of Port Arthur,' by Major-General Kostenko, President of the Military Court of Port Arthur during the siege], to have been the copy of a telegram to the Tsar which Stössel had despatched to the Tsar _before_ this council meeting was held. According to Kostenko this telegram was: 'We cannot hold out more than a few days; am taking measures to prevent a street massacre'; and in his opinion Stössel did not read it out at this council meeting after the feeling of the members had been so strongly declared against surrender, because he was afraid of being arrested for having sent it.--A.B.L.] CHAPTER XLI THE FALL OF FORTIFICATION NO. 3--THE FAILURE OF THE DEFENCE AND MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS The garrison no longer showed the same steadiness that it had shown in the many desperate fights in the beginning of December. This was certainly owing to the example of Fort Chi-kuan-shan. The men's spirits seemed to have gone, and it was too late for the officers to stop the hæmorrhage from the moral wounds caused by Fock. A passionate desire for life was everywhere noticeable, and any attempt to persuade the men that it was their duty to die was now useless. Early in the morning of the 31st Gorbatovsky was summoned by Fock to confer with him. The latter was, as usual, dilating on the splendid qualities of the men, and the pity it was to make them suffer needlessly, when a great pillar of smoke suddenly shot up from Fortification No. 3, followed by a tremendous explosion. 'I must go back, sir, and I will return at once and let you know what has happened.' 'Yes, come back as soon as you can.' Gorbatovsky then went off. Without waiting for a report from him, Fock there and then, in the presence of Captain Rodionoff, of the Engineers, wrote out his orders for the abandonment of Fortification No. 3, and sent them off by (I think) a sailor. There was no reference, no word to the Commandant, or even to Stössel. Comment is unnecessary; such action speaks for itself. What had happened is best seen by reference to the diary: