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Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 62, 10 September 1904, Page 5

PORT ARTHUR DISHEARTENED.

REPORTED DISASTER, TO A JAPANESE COLUMN. ECHOES OF THE BATTLE OF LIAOYANG. TWO BATTALIONS PREFER DEATH TO „ ' • SURRENDER. IN PURSUIT OF KUROPATKIN. THE RECENT NAVAL SORTIE. THRILLING ESCAPE OF A RUSSIAN WARSHIP.

[B* Electmo Telegram— Copyright— Piutss Association.]

(Received Soptombor 10, 7.40 a.m.) LONDON, 9th September. Unofficial nows from Tokio stales that tho garrison at Port Arthur is much disheartened, and tho number of desortora aro increasing. Mino clearing operations at tho entrance to tho harbour havo ceased. Tho Russian nowspapor Novykrai states that an electrical land mine near Port Arthur blew up a Japaneso column of 700 men, who wero marching in the valley. Very few escaped. (Recoivod September 10, 8.67 a.m.) . LONDON, tlth September. Tho newspaper Novykrai states that a mino exploded on tho night of fcho 22nd August on Redoubt No. 2, and killod many Japanese [It is not cloar from the cablegrams whether tho last mossago refers to tho explosion mentioned earlier, or whether a second disaster has occurred.] A TOWN BOMBARDED. (Received September 10, 7.47 a.m.) LONDON, 9th Soptombor. Tho Japanese bombarded Korsakovsk (south of Saghalicn). Tho Japaneso transports sent somo officorß and mon to inspect thd cruiser Novik, which was driven ashoro by tho Japanese warships at Korsakovsk, but tho Russian firo compollod them to with- ; draw. Tho Govornor, Gonoral Leapounow, tolographcd to tho Tsar stating that an examination showed that tbo Japanoso had placed mines in different parts of tho Novik, leaving somo electrical conductors connected with tho mines. Tho Russians removed tho conductors from nino mines. REFUSED TO ACCEPT QUARTER. TWO JAPANESE BATTALIONS KILLED. RUSSIAN GUARDS DECLINE TO SURRENDER. (Received Soptombor 10, 7.40 a.m.) LONDON, 9th" September. Many stories of heroism are told about both sides in tho fighting at Liaoyang. Tho Russians on ono occasion surrounded tv/o Japaneso battalions in a millot field. A desperate fight followed. Tho Japanese rofused to accopt quarter, preferring death to surrender. All of thorn woro killed. Tho Russian Fvontior Guards died at their post, refusing to surrender. HARDSHIPS ON TJIE BATTLE- ! FIELD. CAPTURE OF MUNITIONS. (Received September 10, 8.57 a.m.) LONDON, 9th September. A Moscow paper declares that the soldiers, officers, and even the Qmictola, wore living for days on inoukly broad, blown tinned mcat«C «"d filthy water teeming with vermin. Tho Russians admit tlwt tho position at Liaoyung wns too long for defence. After crossing tho Tailae River the soldiers ami horses wero so exhausted that they might havo mitlered terribly if the Japanese had displayed their usual enterprise. Attacks from tho eastern heights compelled tho Russians on Monday to cross the railway and retreat by the western road. i Rome pa-pers state that the Japanese, in j pursuing tho retreating Russians, secured 97 abandoned guns, most of which were ! unspiked, and thousands of rifles. | RUSSIAN GENERALS BLAMED. j (Received September 10, 8.57 a.m.) j LONDON, 9th September. Russian newspapers severely blame the commanded for under-estimating tho j strength, fighting qualities, and intelligence of the Jaiwnoso. Much of tho disaster is dtio, they atsscrt, to tho want of unity among the Russian commanders. General Kuropatkin is only nominal Com-mander-in-Clnef. THREATENED ON BOTH FLANKS SUPPOSED LARGE TURNING " MOVEMENT. ■ LONDON, 9th September. A vague mewsngo which has been roceived from General Kuropatkin is interpreted to mean that- he is threatened on both Hanks, by the Japanese. General Kui'oki is marching parallel with the railway. twenty -soven miles eastward, and Goncral Oko is carrying out n similar movement twenty miles westward. v 'J ho Russian rearguard jr seventeen miles south of Mukden, and is constantly fighting. Tho Times says that General Kuropatkin's despatch may indicate that a turning movement is progressing on a grander ecalo than that at Liaoyang. HARASSIN6 THE RUSSIANS. (Received September 10, 7.40 a.m.) LON]K)N, 9th September. Tho Standard^ states that General Kuroki is successfully harassing tho enemy. General Kuropatkin has halted near Mukden. ' IN POSSESSION OF MUKDEN. v (Received September 10, 8.57 a.m.) LONDON, 9th September. Colonel Gadke, war correspondent of the Berliner Tageblatt, telegraphed on Thursday that tho Russians stifl occupy Mukden. THE MARCH TO TIIIELING. (Received September 10 { 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, 9th September. Mukden rdttgrama abate thai tturvut jjco

greatly hindering tho Russians and Japanese in their inarch to Thieling (thirty-five miles north of Mukden). THE VOLUNTEER CRUISERS. DESPATCHES DELIVERED. LONDON, 9th September. Tho Smolensk and tho St. Petersburg, the Russian Voluuteer cruisers, woro lying in Monai Buy, soubh of Iho Island of Zanzibar, when the British cruiser Forte hovo in .sight. They immediately weighed anchor, and the commander of tho Forte signalled: "Have important despatches." Tho cruisera then dropped anchor a»d a boat from (Jie Forte carried tho cipher message from the- Tsar and tho British Agent's protest, embodying Britain's demands, to tlicm. Captain Skalsky, commander of the St. Petersburg, came aboard tho Forte, and was received by a guard of honour. He stated ho arrived at Monai Bay tho previous day, but owing to stress of weather hud not taken any coal aboard, nor communicated with anybody. Only one steamer had been searched, owing to tho bad weather experienced. Tho Smolensk had only three hundred tons of cool aboard. She had cruised off the Cape, for a month, "meeting with continuous bad weather. Ca plain Dundas, who is in command of tho Forte, in reply to Captain Skalsky's statement*, impressed on the Russhin commander the necessity of a prompt departure. Captain Skalsky was most courteous, and announced that ho intended leaving forthwith. ' The St. Petersburg then fired a ealul« of twenty •ono guns. The salute was duly returned. Captain Dundas returned tho visit by hoarding tho St. Potersburg, which was full of coal. She carried seven Sin guns and a fow of smaller calibre. The Smolensk had eleven more or less obsolete guns. After Clio departure of Captain Dundas, tho St. Petersburg and the Smolensk proceeded Jtnuth. Captain Dundas stood by in tho Forto watching. When tho cruisers were seven miles away a steamer was sigiited approaching tho anchorage the cruisers had occupied. Sho proved to bo their*collier. The vessel j« believed to be tho Hamburg - Aniflrican steamer Tlolsatia, but her identity could not be- definitely ascertained, as sho altered her comae. Tho cruiser*) did likcwi/te. Tho -tftrec ships were last seen fifteen miles west of tho most southern point of Zanzibar. Tho Kiuwnna would gladly have stopped the coUhu- frighted, if possible, as, but for tho Fortes visit, the Smolensk would have coaled at Zanzibar. Captain Skalsky, in an interview, asked foi pcrmiNtiaii to coal, but Captain Dundas replied : "Must enquire from tho British Government if permissible." A second Gorman vessel was seen bringing provisions from Daressalam. DOCK AT DALNY REPAIRED. LONDON, 9th September. The Japanese have repaired the Russian dry dock nt Dalny (north-cast of Port Arthur), and oro repairing a Japanese destroyer there. TSAREVITCH'S_GALLANT DASH THE RECENT NAVAL SORTIE. THRILLING DETAILS. ADMIRAL WITHOEFT'S DEATH. (Received September 10, 10.5 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Details of tho Russian fleet's dash from Port Arthur on lht> 10th August give a vivid description of me Tsarevitch's flight. The Tsarevitch, steaming, at a good naco, was a. target for a good many guns. She led a number of vessels through tho Japanese cordon, but was badly damaged before sho got out of sight, heading for tho Shantung Promontory. For a considerable time she was followed by the Japanese- vessels Asashi, Mi knsu, Shikishhna, Fuji, Niehin, Kasuga, Yakumo, Kasagi,' Chiiose, and Takasago, and soveral torpedo boats. Their fire was rapid and dangerous, though none of tho shots took effect below tho waterliae. The Tsarevitch ponndod away with her atern chasers, and managed to infliot a certain amount of damage on the Japanese ships, but not sufficient to stop any of them. About 430 j, la the pursuers closed in on the fugitive, near the Shantung Promontory, and severe fighting ensued. Shells Ml thick and fast on the deck of Hi© Tsarevitch. One swept away the bridgo on which the Admiral and his stuff were stnnding. A shell amashed in amongst tho group of ofticers with horrible results. When the smoke cleared, the woodwork of the bridgo was smashed to splinters, and the ironwork -twisted and torn. Only the legs of Admiral Withoeft could be found. Pieces of flesh clung to tho bridge and gearing, and blood was scattered everywhere in the vicinity. Tho Chief of the Navigating Staff and a flog lieutenant were nlao killed and mutilated. The- captain Avas the only dne on tho bridge who was not wounded. His escapo was rcmnrknblo, since he was close to where tlia group amongst which, the »in?ii exploded was stnnding. Tho 'lonrovitch put on as much speed as possible as soon as tho disastei occurred, and gradually outdistanced her pursuors. Towards nightfall tho Japanese warships diew off, and th© Tsarovitch got into Tsingtno HarboVn, vorv badly damaged. Her fun^ls wure totally gone, and tho bridge was in splinters, while her decks wero broken and covered with chbris, tho hull showing several big holes "ftbovo the waterline.