RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Bush Advocate, Volume XVII, Issue 2, 4 January 1905, Page 5

RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

(Press Association:) (By Electric Telegraph— Copyright.) Londonj January 2. Three more large Russian destroyers t have arrived at Chifu undamaged. Theresas, apparently, been a general escape of the remnants ofttie Port Arthur fleet. AH the destroyers at Chifu will be disarmed. V The capture of Metre Hill and the extension of the Japanese right eomr pelled the Russians to fight over an extended front, making adequate concenrration with their reduced numbers; impossible. . , General Nbgi reports that prior to evacuation V the Russians exploded Tunkeekwanslian forts, which the Japanese occupied with the heights southwardw The Russians at "Cbefoo explain that the explosion of the forts was-'due to a shortage of men and ammunition. . . Sydney, Jan. 3. Cabies received by < the Japanese Consul regarding the surrender, of Port Arthur states the Mikado, in appreciating the self-sacrifice and devotion General $stoessel has displayed for the cause of his Sutherland , desired that the due honours of a soldier be accorded him. . : - General Nogi reports : "Tungkikwanshan and Q Forts were blown up on Monday by the enemy, who had evacuated therefrom;. ; We occupied the forts and height's to the southward thereof. Almost all the Russian ships in the- harbour or harbour entrance were o blojyyn /up by the, enemy. , Our bpeiratibns have been suspended since the sa : me L 'morningv pending the con > elusion of negotiations " for surrender." .■'. London; Jan. 3AiterSungshushan "was captured the Japanese stormed Wantai on Sunday, rendering further, resistance impossible. ; wAt s?p.m. a white .flag was .hoisted at South Shushiying, and General Stossel Bent Greneral Npgi a letter offering to negotiate f6r a surrencler to prevent the useless Baorifice of lives. /'At dawn on Monday {General Nbgi appointed General Ijiohi, Chief of Staff, to meet the Bussian Commissioner, and arrange terms of capitijlation. . !. MeanW^iie^ep'er^l^attagator Com-mander-in-Cbief, babied General Nogi that the Mikado apprebiateS General StO9Vel'iß self sacrifice and devotion ■ to his fatherland) an"d/wisliea that niilitary honours beaccorded'him. w • ■' '■: ; . After^a ; foiir hours' conference , the Russians acoepted the Japanese terms, which are believed to be lenient:,; o Tokto, on receipt of General Yogi's telegram oh Sunday night, Went wild with joy. .. Aerial bombs and rockets were fired, and. processions paraded th? streets, the populace shouting "Baozai." Escapees describe. Port: Arthur as a living hell. , ; > ' Many hospitals were destroyed and of fifteen thousand wounded in the city, many lay amongst debris in the cold;, streets. -<.-. ■■:•> Some, of them delirious returned to the iront hurling stones and, defying the enemy, until they were ultimately captured or killed. - • Only five thousand able-bodied and convalescent men manned the forts. Reuter's Chifu correspondent re - ports that the Retvisan; the Pallada, and the Poltava caught fire on Monday. '.". '.■■'• "... ' ; ' ■ .• ■ ' 'The Russians blew up the Sevastop6i. ■■■. : ;■■■-■ - , , : ■ ■ Russian officers declare that for five days and .nights' the Japanese bombarded and assaulted the town incessantly. - ... ■y : r'.> •:';■'' .'.-■■'';...■■ ;". The horrors of the scene defy desorip. tion " .. ■■■■ .V ■ ■■ ■■:■■■; ' ■"■ ■ >■■■' V -.■■*; Not .one spot was safe* from the. shrapnel. Finding the situation hopeless; General Stoessel called a Giand Council meeting. ■ The scene was pathetic. Qfficeris, byercomer with emotion, decided to accept honourable terms or die fighting. Jt is believed at Tokio that the Rus sifth officers will be allowed to return home on parole, retaining their armour. * 'It i9ftHistfghrp^ilßibletbtttt'he,soldierß; also may be released on parole. The Times says that General Sto easel has done all that the moat exacting 1 code of military ; hon/pr, cgujd de^nd and that human energy and devotion could accomplish V The entire British. American, and Con tioental press applaud him. Baron Hayashi, Japanese Minister in London, declared that the surrender, would in no way affect the glory of the; splendid defence. l - >* ; The question of peace now rests •entirely with Russia. Suyesmatsu says that considering the nature of the fortifications, Port Arthur was reduced at a comparative small .cbst. ' ' ■ : :?•- . • ■.-..?■;■* '■'■■' ■ v Blockade runnersjffh'e^sayg, were treated too leniently. They ought to have been treated as spies. Up to io o'clock on Monday night the news was- not announced at St. Petersburg, though the officials and some of the educated classes %"ere. -aware of the fall. ■ . „ * Reformers, who dread military triumphs, are* delighted, declaring that a weighty obstacle to the realisation of constitutional aspirations is removed. Others accept the fall with fatalistic resignation. A Taraatave telegram reports that the Baltic Aeet Was anchored at Sain te Marie on Sunday in excellent condition, despite the violence of the storms. [Sainte Marie Island is east of Madagascar and a hundred miles north of Tamatave.] ' There is a concensus of opinion in Germany that the war will continue unabated, and it is expected that Vladivostok will be attacked. -.. . : It is also thought the Russian loan will be unaffected. The French press, while applauding the stoic heroism of the defence of Port Arthur* consider the oapjture will proclucr an overwhelming moral effect in the Far East, appealing to the yellow races as the awakening of their Boljdarity* "\'. : ■.-"■■;: / -V--: ': -\'"t : ■■••

raging fnriously on both sides of the line near Mittagong, and the return journey was made through thirty miles of fire near Wogga. The. passengers were almost suffocated, the windows having to bo kept closed to keep out the smoke. The telegraphic service is still 'seriously disorganised. ' The latest report from the southern and mountain districts is more hopeful. Rain is spreading and checking the fires. Button forest and other threatened townships are now safe. Mr Seddon. has cabled the Hon Carruthers, Premier, that the warmest sympathy of New Zealand goes out to the sufferers in the disastrous bush fires. Adelaide, January 3. •■' During the height of the heat wave on Saturday over a hundred birds of various kinds, , including a nujmber of hawks* flew aboard a steamer in the vicinity of Wardong lsland, in Spencer's Gulf, cv?- --' dently (driven there from the land by heat. They dwelt together in amity and allowed the crew to walk amongst them until a cool breeze. sprang up, and' they departed. ,