RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 1414, 22 November 1904, Page 4

RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Nov. 18. A correspondent with the Russian western army states that both sidesoccupy quarters wherein it would be possible ,to spend the winter, but the crops of the villagers have been destroyed; there is little fuel; fodder must be brought long distances; water is scarce,' most of the wells along the railway being dry. Russian and Jap horses at many places are watered side by side. On the Shaho on one occasion Japanese and Russians, being unarmed, fought with their fists for possession of a certain pool. On another occasion men in the trenches exchanged cigarettes, jack knives, and food with the enemy. Mukden reports that 30,000 Japanese have landed at Yinkow and 30,000 at Pitserno, and a movement to turn the Russian right flank is expected for the purpose of cutting ,the Russians off from Tieling. There will be a mobilisation of troops in the St. Petersburg district next Monday. ' Advices from Tokio state that the commander of the destroyers sent to blockade the Raztoropni has forwarded no report. No concern is manifested in official circles in Tokio, because the Japanese feel at liberty to use Chefu, considering that the Russians have relieved them of any responsibility with regard to its neutrality. Gen. Stoessel has informed the Czar that the Japanese on the 25th - ult. vigorously bombarded the forts and entrenchments to the north and north-east of Port Arthur, and on the 26th delivered attacks on the entrenchments and a fort to the north, but the Russian heavy artillery and shrapnel fire dispersed their reserves and the assault was repulsed. A Russian officer and 70 men were killed, and eight officers and 400 wounded. The bombardment contin""ued uninterruptedly. A message on the anniversary of the Czar's accession stated that all assaults and attacks had been repulsed. The Roztoropni brought a despatch announcing that Gen. Stoessel was slightly wounded in the recent unsuccessful Japanese attack. Capt. Xomberg, a pilot, who was a passenger by the Roztoropni, states that the fighting at Port Arthur has been continuous since the 26th ult. The Japanese trenches are closest to those of the Russians at Erlungshan, Keekwanshan, and other north-east forts. Sharp-shooters occupying the rifle pits have conversed and frequently arranged individual truces in order to borrow cigarettes or stretch their cramped limbs. The Japanese are energetically building trenches and mounting guns. Japanese shells sunk all the Eastern China Railway Co.'s steamers except the Amur. The hospital ship Angara sank in shallow water, but the patients are -still aboard, and quite comfortable. The shell lire against the harbour is remarkably accurate. A silk-clad Chinese in a sampan (boat) was seen after each shell, placing a handkerchief to his nose or in his pocket, thus signalling to the Japanese how to fire. lie was caught and hanged as a spy. A-"rrospital ship was last week too near the battleships, and the Japanese dropped shells around her. The hint was taken, and she was removed out of danger of large shell (ire, which was then resumed. . Bezabrazoff, interviewed at Moscow, said it was very likely that the llaltic fleet would be attacked in the Indian Ocean. The Roztoropni's speed enabled her to escape the Japanese destroyers. The commander of the Chinese cruiser Haiyang, morally sustained by the presence of the U.S. Admiral and his secretary, indicated to Capt. Pelim that he must disarm. The captain bowed frigidly, and did not invite the officers into his cabin, though a blizzard was blowing. The appearance of the sailors did not indicate hardships at Port Arthur, and a quarter of beef was ostentatiously displayed on deck. Three Japanese destroyers remained outside. They disappeared for a lime, but reap.pcared. The Consul sent a cutter and informed the nearest destroyei (the Kasunii) of the Roztoropni's fate, this being the first intimation the destroyers received. The Kasumi sent an ethergram to the flagship, whereupon all returned to Port Arthur. Advices from Chefu state that the sinking of the Roztoropni has relieved the Japanese of an embarrassing position. A repetition of the Rechitelni incident would have aroused indignation, while failure to enter Chefu would have been an admission that the Japanese action re the Rerhitclni was wrong. The Japanese Consul declares that the Russians wasted the ship, as they did not want to repeat the Rechitelni incident. Xov. 18. Advices from Mukden state that the Japanese torpedoer flotilla at Port Arthur has been ordered to an unknown destination after obtaining a full supply of ccal. It is supposed it has gone to nuvt the llaltic fleet. The blockade of Port Arthur has lately been much renvxed, and the ingress and egress of merchantmen is not difficult. Tart of Togo's ileei has been sent to Japan, and remans in readiness to meet the Baltic fleet. Bonnet Burleigh states that the Russians at Port Artriur daringly sortie every night in lunds of ">O, throwing grenades into tin Japanese trenches and storming outvorks with the bayonet. The daily mortality is 70, while the Japanese loss is greater.'

Togo has received orders to lose no ships, and that all are to I*/ kept out of range of the land baltvries. The siege devolves on the army. The Japanese have carried only a few advanced field works and lunettes. Their tunnels against the ouiworks at East Kcekwan. Erlungshan, and the forts at metro hill are progressing. The huge inner fortifications at Bori and Keckwan are untouched. Even the outer fort at I'anlung is intact. The Japanese through a blunder brought 30ft ladders for 30ft wide moats, and the supports were unable to advance. The defence has greatly changed, and its exact character is unknown to the Japanese. Stoessel's silence about, events is interpreted in Tokio to mean that his unpublished despatch will disdisclose a shortage of food and ammunition. Russian prisoners narrate increasing hunger. It is asserted that Russian commanders are divided on the question of continuing the defence. -An unconfirmed St. Petersburg message, published in Rome, says the Czar, and Council of Grand Dukes, Generals, and Admirals have authorised (Jen. Stoessel to destroy the forts, docks, magazines, aud vessels and retire with 5000 men to Liaotishan. Mr Fowler, American Consul-Gene-ra lat Chiefu, yesterday telegraphed to Mr Hay that the situation at X J ort Arthur was extremely critical. The Standard states that there was a heavy bombardment and hard fighting at rort Arthur on the 12th. The Japanese are making; slow progress, and recent losses have been heavy. The Daily Mail states that the .Japanese numerous losses in the attack on Erlungshan were owing to an enfilading (ire and the reappearance of a strong force from an adjacent fort after false reports of a Russian retirement. Ijirgo reinforcements and heavy guns from Harbin arc arriving at Shulio. lteservlsts' riots in Russia have created a deep and painful impression at Mukden.

Bennet Burleigh, from Tientsin, states that the Japanese have suddenly advanced, and are now within 12 miles of Mukden, where the sound of their machine guns can be heard. Kuroki is attacking from the east. The Intel-national Committee at Shanghai is equipping a hospital ship for Port Arthur. The destroyer Roztoropni's crew in arms proceeded to the Consulate, and the Chinese are now protecting then:. The 'Petit Journal's Chefu correspondent states that the Roztoropni brought the Perseviet's chief officers. The Roztoropni's crew is interned aboard the Haiying. Gen. Gripenberg, commander of the Second Manehurian Army, has left Valnia for the front. Gen. Kaulbai'o commands the Third. Gen. Kuropatkiii reports that a detachment of Chasseurs ambuscaded and endeavoured to capture 32 Japanese Dragoons at Liushinpu, when the latter dismounted, and the resistance became so desperate that half the Dragoons were killed, and the rest wounded except three, who were j captured. The Japanese concentrated their ] fire on the arsenal, reported explod- j ed, 200 shells being thrown before it was destroved. I Nov. 20. j A Japanese attack on Lonely Hill, Port Arthur, was repulsed. ! The Berliner Tageblatt's Tokio cor- I respondent states that the slow bombardment of the north fort of Port ! Arthur is attributed to the superior- I ity of the Russian 28 and .SO conti- , metre naval guns, which have been ! conveyed to the forts. Renter's agency reports that Gen. Stoessel telegraphed to the Czar that he would be able to hold the | town for several months. The DailyMail's St. Petersburg correspondent states that the General added that | he would he able to hold on if supplied with munitions and stores. Russia has. ordered them to be supplied at any cost. Two hundred Russian reserve officers who when summoned pleaded exemption on (tie ground of sickness. being found lit, have been compelled to serve. The masses of the people hope that a big battle will end hostilities, scarcely hoping for wins. Rumours are current that- after a furious attack on the ITih the Japanese occupied underground chambers in important positions round Port Arthur. The artillery duel on the I Nth at Shaho was of considerable magnitude, particularly with the lUissian right. The Russians expect a general attack. Kouropatkin reports that he had been spending the Kith and 17th visiting liussian positions at Shaho. Warm clothing and food are plentiful, and the troops are full of courage. There is little sickness. Hundreds of Polish reservists are crossing the German frontiers weekly. One district, instead of 400. mustered eight, and . another, instead of -10, none. The large proportion of doctors serving at the front has forced the Government to permit lady doctors to act as house surgeons in Odessa hospitals : 27 per cent, of Riga doctors have gone to Manchuria. Kouropatkin lias asked that a large number of ollieers of the liussian ImiK'i-ial Guards he sent to Manchuria. ... The 'New York Herald's' correspondent reports that German bankers. evidently officially inspired, demand in connection with Russian loan projects a guarantee of freedom for Gorman enterprise, especially in Turkey.