CONCLUSION[45] As this book leaves the hands of the printer, the columns of the daily press are conveying to the world the terms of the indictment of the chief characters mentioned in it for their share in the surrender of the Fortress of Port Arthur to the Japanese. As this constitutes an official confirmation of much that I have written, I include it in my book, so that the reader may be in a position to judge if the title of my work is justified. This indictment, I may add, has been drawn up by three separate Commissions, composed of the highest Government officials and experts in military law. Official Indictment. Lieutenant-General Stössel, of the retired list, is charged as follows: 1. In that he, having on July 3, 1904, received an order from the Commander-in-Chief of the Army in Manchuria to hand over command of the Fortress of Port Arthur to its Commandant, Lieutenant-General Smirnoff, and to leave the Fortress, disobeyed, and, remaining in the Fortress, retained command of it--an action provided for under Article 255, Book XXII., of the 'Military Code of 1869,' third edition. 2. In that he, in defiance of Order No. 339 of April 27, 1904, by the Viceroy in the Far East, did interfere with the powers and duties of the Commandant of the Fortress, thus undermining the latter's authority, shaking public confidence in him, and so diminishing the defensive capabilities of the Fortress. The following are instances of such interference: (_a_) Granting permission over the Commandant's head, and against his orders, for supplies to be taken out of the Fortress. (_b_) Appointing Civilian Counsellor Riabinin to the charge of the Medical Department without making him subordinate to the Commandant of the Fortress. (_c_) Transferring the Dalny Hospital, in opposition to the Commandant's orders and to the detriment of the public service, to a site selected by himself. (_d_) Removing the Chief of the Fire Brigade, Weykanen, from duty. (_e_) Sending the Gendarmerie to Liao-tieh-shan. (_f_) Closing the printing-offices of the _Novy Kry_, and ordering the arrest of M. Nojine, who was on the staff of that journal. (_g_) Stopping work on the second and third lines of defence. Provided for under, etc. 3. In that he did not in time take proper steps to increase the quantity of supplies in the Fortress, as follows: (_a_) By not supplementing the reserve of vegetables, although this was quite possible. (_b_) By not arranging to requisition horses, in accordance with the Mobilization Regulations, and to increase the number of cattle in the Fortress. (_c_) By not sanctioning the Commandant's request that the rations of horse-flesh might be increased, a course which was absolutely necessary to maintain the strength of the worn-out garrison. Provided for under, etc.