THE WAR.

Bush Advocate, Volume XVII, Issue 4, 6 January 1905, Page 5

THE WAR.

♦— KUSSU AND JAPAN. (Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph — Copyright.) London, January 4. -Klisovitch, commanding the last launch which escaped to CUifu, states that most of the fortress town of Port Arthur was absolutely wrecked. Several explosions were necessary in order to destroy the warships. The Sevastopol caught fire, blew up, and turned turtle iv deep water. The sunken ships have blocked the harbour entrance,. • Only the hospital ships Kazan and Mongolia are navigable. Escapees state- that 11,000 of the garrison 'were killed. Some of the wounded seven times returned to fight when convalescent. The proportion of officers killed is the highest recorded, owing to the men requiring constant leading an of their lethargy resulting from a want of food and sleep. London, Jan. 5. General Stoessei, cabling to the Czar on Sunday states:— -"The Japanese on Saturday, after tremendous explosions under Port No. &, maintained for two hours an infernal bombardment along the whole line. They then assaulted the Chinese wall, extending to the Eagle's Nest fort. They were twice repulsed, the artillery inflicting much damage. When it became impossible to defend the wall we retired to the hills at the rear, aborido__g the greater part of the Eastern front. Since we are unable to long defend ihe : new position we must capitulate ; but everything is in '-''God's hands. "We suffered great losses. The commander of fort 3 perished in an explosion. Great Sovereign forgive _ te. .',-. I have done all hnmanly possible. Judge us, but be merciful. Eleven months of ceaseless fighting have exhausted <our strength. Only a quarter of the defenders remain, and half of these invalids, *o occupy 27 versts of fortifications, without support, without intervals, and without even the briefest repose. The men are reduced to shadows." y The surrender surprised A General Nogi's army, who expected 'another month's fighting; The victors and the vanquished freely fraternised round bonfires. Awful destruction was worked by the dynamite at Erlungshan and Shushungshah, and. greatly damped the garrison's ardour, Subsequent assaults were comparatively feebly .resisted. It is reported that Admirals Tichtomsky and Loschinski have reached Ghifu. .' .". :.."'.'... ,•...■'■';■■■ ' :1 y Pabis, January 5. Le Temps announces that Russia has asked France-i sto, transmit to Japan, Russia's formal protfestAgainst4;he bombardment of "' the hospitals at , Port Arthur. .'.' : V .'.;.;-;; / London, Jan. 5. . The weight of official opinion at Tokio is adverse to peace until General Kuropatkin and Admiral Rosjestyenski have been defeated. General Nogi reports that thirty-five thousand surrendered at Port Arthur, including tWehty-five thousand soldiers and ; sailors] of this, number twenty thou'sahd.^^^. sip* andi wounded.- • --.» j Cohim&n. prpyisibns such as bread were plentiful, but there was a scarcity of meat and vegetable food. No medical supplies were available. The Japanese are strenuously succouring the garrison. General Stoessei was ill in bed, and General Tmiruoff, with General Stoessel's approval, arranged a, surrender of the entire garrison. . All non-combatants march en Thursday to the village of Yaputhure, near Pigebnßay. .* i The officers will then be taken to Damy, where they will be liberated as prisoners of war. and will be removed from Dalny to Japan. The statement that British ships are shadowing the Baltic fleet is denied.