THE WAR IN THE EAST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12551, 19 April 1904, Page 5

THE WAR IN THE EAST.

THE RECENT SEA FIGHT. ''■'.".■ a**i |ii ' iiml , "'"'"* ' ii,a * '■■■~ RUSSIAN WARSHIPS TRAPPED, »■"... . DECOYED BY THE ENEMY. CHASED BY JAPANESE BATTLESHIPS, GREAT RACE FOR THE HARBOUR- -.;» '% '.: >■' ..mi i"" 1 ■ ■ ' ANOTHER RUSSIAN ' DESTROYER SUNK, BOMBARDMENT OF PORT ARTHUR,

The latest news from the Far East is of a stirring character, showing renewed activity on the part of the Japanese. It seems that the engagement which resulted in the loss of the Russian battleship Petropavlovsk was the outcome of carefully plannedstrategy, by means of which the Russian squadron was trapped" and thrown into' confusion. In the precipitate retreat to Port Arthur the Petropavlovsk was blown up. The Japanese have succeeded in sinking another Russian torpedo-destroyer after an engagement which only lasted ten minutes. Owing to the approach of Iheßayanthe Japanese were unable to rescue tho drowning Russians. The attack on Port Arthur has been, renewed with great vigour, and. the Japanese claim to have silenced some new forts to the south of the stronghold. The Russians declare that two Japanese cruisers have been damaged. A large number of transports have been seen steaming in the direction of Port Arthur, and a message from St. Petersburg states that the Japanese attempted to laud but were repulsed. This messagej however, lacks confirmation.

By Telegraph Pre«» —Copyright.

THE REGENT RUSSIAN DISASTERS. •

ADDITIONAL DETAILS. FLEET DECOYED BY THE JAPANESE. , A GREAT CHASE. HOW THE PETROPAVLOVSK WAS LOST. (Received April ,18, 0.46 p.m.) London, April 18. Further particulars have been received regarding the recent engagement at Port Arthur, which resulted in the loss of the Russian battleship Petropavlovsk and other serious damage to the Russian fleet. It appears that Admiral Togo, the Japanese commander, observing that the Russian fleet was continually leaving and re-entering Port Arthur on the same course, evidently in order to avoid their own mines, took bearings and sent the Japanese destroyers' torpedo-boats at midnight on April 12 with instructions to set several counter mines along the clear channel.

The order was executed without any interference from the Russians, during heavy rain, the cloudy night interfering with the Russian searchlights. On the next morning Admiral Dewa, commanding the unarmoured cruisers Chitose, Yoshino, Kasagi, and Takasago, decoyed the Russians into the open sea fifteen miles to the south-east of Port Arthur.

The Russian cruiser Bayan commenced the action at nine o'clock, attacking Admiral Dewa's vessels at long range.

The Russian warships Novik, Askold, Diana, Petropavlovsk, Pobieda, Poltava, and others soon assisted in the attack.

Admiral Dewa kept tardily answering the Russian fire, and at the same time retiring.

Meanwhile the first Japanese squadron, under Admiral Togo, comprising the battleships Hatsuse, Mikasa, Shikishima, and Fuji, waited 30 miles off, concealed by the fog, until Admiral Dewa's wireless signal to advance was received.

They then dashed at full speed for the entrance to Port Arthur.

Recognising that they were trapped, probably through discerning the Japanese battleships on the horizon, the Russians precipitately retreated, being hotly chased by the Japanese squadron.

The Eussians succeeded in reaching the harbour entrance at half-past ten, when the Petropavlovsk was destroyed by striking one of the submarine mines laid by the Japanese.

The whole Russian squadron was thrown into confusion.

Another ship, probably the battleship Pobieda, alsc touched a mine, and was disabled.

The Russians fo* about an hour fired wildly, mostly hitting the water.

The Russians gradually managed to get back into the harbour. Admiral Dewa's squadron sustained no casualties.

The Russian's loss, apart from the damage done by the submarine mines, is considered to be slightAdmiral Togo's battleships failed to get within gun range of the retreating enemy. The Japanese state that the wreck of the Petropavlovsk lies south-east-of Golden Hill, about a mile outside the entrance of Port Arthur.

They ascribe much of the success of the mines to Commander Oda's ingenuity and bravery. He commands the Koryoraaru, :it torpedo depot-ship.

(Receives April 19, 12.53 a.m.)

London, April IS. The New York Herald states that the battleship Pobieda just managed to crawl into harbour, and was beached .'

Admiral Alcxeieff lias ordered the Port Arthur squadron to remain inside the harbour until Admiral SkrydlofT, who has been appointed to succeed Admiral Makaroff, arrives. A memorial service for those who perished in the Petropavlovsk was held aboard the ice-breaker Ermak, which was designed by Admiral Makaroff.

A TEN MINUTES' FIGHT.

RUSSIAN DESTROYER SUNK.

UNABLE TO RESCUE THE DROWNING. (Received April 18, 10.27 p.m.) London, April 18. . A Japanese destroyer flotilla, employed on a special mission, encountered at dawn on April 13, outside the south-east promontory of Port Arthur, a large Russian destroyer, and sank her in ten minutes. The flotilla then attacked another Russian destroyer off Liaotishau, but owing to the long range was unable to prevent her from re-entering the harbour.

Two Japanese sailors were wounded in the engagement.

The Japanese were unable to rescue the drowning Russians, as the Russian cruiser Banyan approached, but they soon repulsed the latter.

FLOATING MINES.

A SUCCESSFUL MISSION.

(Received April IS, 10.27 p.m.)

London, April 18.

Admiral Togo reports that during the night of April 14 a destroyer successfully executed a mission at the mouth of Port Arthur harbour.

Later on the Russian fleet detected three floating mines, and sunk them by gun fire.

ATTEMPT TO DYNAMITE A BRIDGE.

JAPANESE OFFICERS IN

DISGUISE.

London, April 17.

Two Japanese officers, attired as Tibetan Lamas, have been arrested while endeavouring to dynamite a railway bridge over the River Nonni on the Manchtirian railway.

Ever since the completion of the line it was common talk in the Far East that there was a. patient Japanese sitting ready to apply dynamite at every bridge 01 culvert. As a mattei of fact the railway is very carefully guarded throughout its length. There are blockhouses every throe o. four miles, besides _ stations at every 20 miles or so. The railway guard is a corps of picked men, 31,000 strong; the system is purely under military management, General Horvat having been brought, at the end of 1902, from the Trans-Caspian railway to take charge, and undci him is a strong brigade of railway (sapper) troops.

AT THE YALU.

THE OPPOSING FORCES.

London, April 17.

A message from Tokio states that there are twenty thousand Russians on the north bank of the Yalu River. The Japanese main force is at Wiju, at the mouth of the river. The Japanese troops are landing at Chulien, a distance of forty wiles from Wiju.

ADMIRAL MAKAROFF,

i,Keceirt.a April 18, 10.27 p.m.)

London, April 18. Commander Ogasawara, on behalf of the Japanese naval staff, has written a eulogy on Admiral Makaroff, who was drowned when the Petropavlovsk was blown up. His lamented death is referred to as a loss to the world's navies.