BATTLE OF SPYWANTUN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12653, 6 September 1904, Page 5

BATTLE OF S PYWANTUN.

RUSSIAN LOSS., 3000. , - , London, September 4. General Sakharoff reports that the Russians on Friday assaulted the heights at Spywantun and, after a desperate fight, captured the whole chain. \ It was then discovered that the Japanese were in great force in a position extending from Yentai to the Taitse River. During the retreat, he says, General StaklebergV First Siberian Army Corps extricated General Orloff's detachment, which was threatened with annihilation after an unsuccessful attack on the Japanese flank. General Orloff was seriously wounded. The loss of the Russians in the battle was 3000. (Received September I, 10.44 p.m.) London, September 5. An unofficial message ascribes the losses of the detachment under General Orloff to panic caused by the unexpected fire of Japanese concealed in tall grass just as the force was retreating. The above report does not agree with that of General Kuropatkin published yesterday. The latter said the Japanese on Thursday night captured most of the Russian positions at Spywantun, and on Friday night drove the Russians back on Liao-yang and the First Siberian Corps to the westward.

REJOICINGS IN TOKIO, London, September 4. Immense crowds are parading the streets of Tokio and celebrating the capture of Liao-yang. As they move along they constantly shout "Banzai!"

RUSSIAN WOUNDED NEGLECTED, LACK OF MEDICAL NECESSARIES. London, September 4. The Russian newspapers publish reports from the front describing,, with horrible details, what are said to be the needless sufferings of the sick and wounded. There is a lack, these reports say, of medical necessaries, and even clothes for the patients are not available.

KUROPATKIN-S GENERALSHIP, RUSSIAN CONFIDENCE SHAKEN. (Received September 6, 10,44 p.m.) London, September 5. Eeuter's correspondent at St. Petersburg says that the evacuation of Lisuo-yang ha 3 greatly shaken confidence in the ability of General Kuropatkin. The military authorities, however, consider he did the utmost in the circumstances. The fortifications of Mukden cannot, it is stated, be compared with those of-Liao-yang, and the place is not likely to be seriously defended.