THE WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12931, 29 July 1905, Page 5

THE WAR.

JAPANESE IN SIBERIA-

CAPTURE OF ALEXAN-

DROVSK.

PROBABLE EXPEDITION UP THE AMUR. : By Telegraph.— Association—Copyright. J:. London, July 27. The Japanese captured the town of Alexandrovsk in - the maritime province of Siberia on Tuesday. They met with but little resistance and sustained no casualties. It is believed that the Japanese intend to seize the mouth of the Amur River and to secure control of the waterways which have been largely used to supply General LinevitchVarmy. It is possible for gunboats to steam up the Amur and the Sungari to Harbin and thus to threaten General Linevitch's communications. (Received July 28, 11,58 p.m.) London, July 28. A Japanese naval ''detachment; on Monday captured Alkewa, after dislodging a' battalion of infantry and 100 volunteers, with eight field guns, from Luikoff Hill. • ' A detachment of Japanese infantry then captured Mugatai, and thus secured 40,000 tons of coal and some light railway material. , The Russians stubbornly defended the redoubts to the east of Alexandrovsk, but the town ultimately was captured intact, with 200 prisoners.

' _ Before they can make use of the Amur the Japanese have yet to capture Nicolaiesk, at the mouth of the Amur River. This place is defended by forts and two or three gnuboats. The port was bombarded a week ago. It was reported last year that the Japanese were building, gunboats suitable for an expedition up the Amur. It would be a great undertaking, _ for the distance to Harbin following the river is about 3000 miles.