CHAPTER XLI

The Surrender--New Year’s Day--Flag of Truce--A Land of Silence--Incredible News--“Port Arthur has Fallen”--Stoessel’s Message--Fateful Council of War--Orders to Destroy the Ships--Nogi Agrees to Negotiate--His Delegates--“The Road to Peace”--Plum Tree Cottage--Terms of Capitulation--Russian Requests--The Answer--Fire in Port Arthur--Stoessel’s Enquiries after Kuropatkin and the Baltic Fleet--Kondrachenko, the Heart and Soul of the Defence--Stoessel’s View of the Cause of the War--His Wish to Retire.