PANIC AT PORT ARTHUR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 37, 12 February 1904, Page 5

PANIC AT PORT ARTHUR.

THE SOLDIERY MUTINOUS. JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF SEOUL. ■• » » . A GREAT BATTLE PENDING.

PSSSS AssCCIXIiOX. COPTSIGHT.] ?

•'Received 9.2 ajn.) LONDON. February 11. The latest reports make it dear tiat a gTowjis state of panic prevails both in. Port Artlmx and ia. tile neiglibotLxijrg port of Dalny kno\ra before Russian occupation a≤ . The soldiery at both of these ! stations is stowing signs of geti ting ont cf iand and tie danger of mntiny is far from remote. At tie same time tlie men's of- | Seers are expressing strong condemnation of the lack of prudence and foresight er'v ifai-ed by Admiral AlexieS. tie RcLSsian Com-msmder-in-Ciiief in tie Far East.

! Japanese in Manchuria. OUTRAGES BY RUSSIANS. LAN HAMHTON TO WATCH TH <-? WAB. v Received S.-io a.m.; LONDON. February 11. Japanese to the number of about a hundred are at Vladivostok still, awaiting the means of reaching their own coamtry. They complain that their houses are being destroyed, their jewellery and furniture stolen, and their lives threatened. Tie police exhibit the most complete indifference to these ontrages.

They go so far, indeed, as to pronounce the Admiral " a drawingroom commander," and to speak in bitter terras of the opportunities he has missed. £he Japanese have seized the port of Masaspo, on the southern coast of Corea, and after Fnsan I the nearest to the Japanese coast. It is intended to make this port I both a military and naval base for future operations oxi Corean territory. The Japanese Government has now issued a formal declaration i that a state of war exists with i Russia. Masanpo is about 150 miles across the I Corean Strait from the coast of Japan. RUSSIA FIRED THE FIRST SHOT. I Received 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, February 11. " The Times" says it is clear in j face of reliable accounts that it ' -α-as the Coreetz which opened fire hours before the attack on Port Arthur. This fact, says the "Times," J disposes of Russia's complaint that jit 'eras Japan, -who assumed tfce of- , f ensive. GERMANY SUPPORTS THE AMERICAN NOTE. ' Received 9.2 a.m.) LONDON, February 11. The German. Foreign Offi-ce has J signified the agreement of its Gov- ; ernment with the suggestion made jty the American Secretary of State Mr Hay. that the outstanding Powers should unite in a warning to the combatants in the Tar East, that the neutrality and in-ieerity ef Chine must be recognised duxi T-n g and after the w<

There is no eonfiimatisn of the stateiaeat cabled yesterday that French soldiers had taken the place of the Hixssisn garrison at Shan-liai-K-waiL. General Sir lan Hamilton, commanding the troops in South Africa, has been appointed a≤ a foreign military attache to the headquarter ~tad of the Japanese army. General Hildvard will succeed Sir lan Hamilton during his absence in Japan. THE MANCHUmAN FORCES. RUSSIAN EXAGGERATIONS A2TD THEIR MOTIVE. (Received 9.2 a.m.) LONDON, February 11. E>r. Morrison, the Pekin correspondent of the "Times," in a despatch published this morning, throws some light on the exaggerated statements as to tae number of Cossacks in Manchuria. He says that these exaggerations are due to M. Degier's claim in 1900 for an indemnity of £18.000.000 for miliary expenses on the ground that Russia had 179,000 men in the field, when in reality the number was under 50,000, Ninety per cent, of the elaiin was, however, concededBATTLE OF~CHEMULPO. FIRST SHOT NOT JAPAN'S. HEAVY RUSSIAN LOSSES. i Received 7.31 a.m. ) LONDON. February 11. The action "bet-ween the Japanese and the Russians off the westera coast of Cores is now more fully described. It appears that -when the Japanese sqmawlrcm under the command of Admiral TJrius appeared, the Bnssian -vessels -tried to escape. But when the torpedo-boats steamed across the fao-ors of the K-HASians. the Varyag opened fire with the fir-rt shot of the war. The Japanese torpedo-boats ik«s twice attempted to tarp*i*

MOVEMENTS ON LAND. i OCCUPATION OF SEOUL. BIG BATTLE PROBABLE. s j LONDON, February 11. I The Japanese march on the Corean m J capital. Seoul, has proved completely . j saccessftil. The forces advanced from Chemulpho, ' leaving that port of Western Corea on Sunday. The offered no opposition, and the occupation of the capital 1' by the invaders was at once proceeded * J with. 1 ; The Russians, after rapidly assembling * co the number of 50,000. on the banks of the Yalu River, -which lies between the ! Corean peninsula and Manchuria, have i now crossed into Corea.. and are making ' for Seoul, where they will attack the : Japanese troops of occupation. CHINESE CONCENTRATING. i ; j 80,000 IN THE NORTH. ; : LONDON, February 11. j Eighty thousand Chinese troops are . concentrated between Kalgun. a town 120 miles nortn-west of Pekin, and Shanhaikwan. on the gulf of Liao-tong. and half , way by rail from Port Arthur to Tient- [ =in. bueh concentrauon Ls unknown under I normal conditions. The Nippon Yusen Kaistia's steamer ; Wakaiamaru. eluding the Russian cruisers and destroyers in the Indian Ocean has reached Colombo. The Russian gunboat Mangur was in I dock at Shanghai, not Nagasaki, in Jai pen. as previously stated, fhe Mangur I h;t-- now put to sea, J The Japanese Minister at St. Petersj burg has gone to Berlin.

i tlie enemy, tut in eaei case tie ; efFoTt was Tuisneeessfiil. Tie Kussiaois sliortly afterwards retTiraied te harbaor at Caiemnlpo. Next day Admiral TTxins represented that the Hessians had no right in Corean and threatened to attach tneni nnle=s tiey re- ' turned to the high seas. Tlie Vaxya s tiien tried, to gain sls.el.ter among tie adjacent islands, bnt tte Japanese were assiduous in keeping them in vie-w. A rmming fight enacned,in wnieh the ehootiag of tie Japanese proved greatly superior to tiat of tie JSnssians. JPreeently tie Cortetz cangit fire, and the flames spread to the P«wder mgazine, a loud explosion immediately resulting. Tiere is no doubt that tie Husl aiaas lost heavily. tHouyh tie Frenci cruiser Pascal rescued saaJiy of tie crews of both vessels. Several of tie Japanese siips were sligitly damaged. TO RUN THE GAUNTLET. KUSSIANS WIXX TK.Y TO ESCAI»E FROM BOUT ARTHUR. LONDON. February 11. Yesterday's statement th&t the Russians in Port Arthur were in a desperate , position receives support in a telegram ! from Vladivostok. WTiicii states that the i Russian cruisers are about to run the gauntlet and endeavour to pa=s the Japanese lines. I ——— J VIEWS IN ST. PETERSBURG. MUST ACT ON TBCE DEFENSTVTE. LONDON. February 11The Russian public regard the situation with much ■-=. Tlie newspapers are trying to kindle j the patriotism of the people, and em- | phasise Japan's treachery. They admit , that it is necessary to act on the defen- j iive until the forces in Corea and South-

The nobility, gentry and municipal authorities are p-rhihitiTig much self-sac-rifice. All balls have been. cancelled. ST. PETERSBURG, February 1L The Czar, addressing the najrai on signs, urged them to deeds of bravery against the treacherous foe, who, in the darkness of the night, without provocation, attacked a Russian fortress and fleet, WAR DECLARED ON WEDNESDAY. SYDNEY, February 1L The Japanese Consul lias received a cable from Baron Komura, Minister for Foreign Affairs, stating that war was declared yesterday. At a gathering of Japanese residents to-night, patriotic speeches were delivered, and steps taken to start a patriotic fund.