following the loss of the pacific fleet, the rationale for holding onto port arthur was questioned by stoessel and foch in a council on december 8, 1904, but the idea of surrender was rejected by the other senior officers. japanese trench and tunnel warfare continued. with the death of general kondratenko on december 15, 1904, at fort chikuan, stoessel appointed the incompetent foch in his place. on december 18, 1904, the japanese exploded an 1,800-kilogram (3,968-pound) mine under fort chikuan, which fell that night. on december 28, 1904, mines under fort erhlung were detonated, destroying that fort as well.