THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1675, 6 April 1904, Page 21

THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

DETAILS OF THE GHONG-JTJ BATTLE.

A RUSSIAN ACCOUNT.

LONDON, March 29. •i'lla “Daily Telegraph,” commenting /on the statement that Russian soldiers at Newchwang had hauled -down the British and! American flags from private buildings, says that, strictly speaking, under international law redress should be sought through China, but the Marquis of Lansdowpe (British Foreign Minister) and the Hon John Hay (American Secretary for State) are unlikely to do so. The Moscow correspondent of the “Telegraph,” apropos of another subject, says that the Russians take it for grant*ed that M. Lessar, the Russian Envoy at Pekin, will compel China to show her hand, and that war between China and Russia will soon ‘he inevitable. The “ Standard ” states that .at General Kouropatkin’s request four more army corps from Warsaw. Vilna and Kieff are going to the front. The agents of British and' American firms at St. Petersburg report that many threats have been made that, unless the hostile tonr\of the British and American press its modified, commercial orders for Wool, cotton and metal goods will be diverted to Persia and Germany. The St. Petersburg newspaper “ Novosti,” while acknenviedg l ng that Britain maintains an absolutely oorrect attitude over the Avar, advocates an Anglo-Frencli-Russian alliance for ensuring universal peace. It considers that outstanding difficulties could easily be arranged. The Tokio correspondent of “The Times ” reports that Japan has made preparation.? for a two-years’ struggle. Three British battleships and six cruisers have sailed from Hongkong northwards. The “Daily Mail ” states that the Japanese are taking soundings in Tsi.ukwangta.u harbour, on the Avast side of the Gulf of Liaotung, and that the Chinese officials have been authorised to place the Shanhaikwan raihvay at Japan’s disposal. A Japanese attempt to.float high explosives into Port Arthur upon, innocentlooking bits of Ayreckage ha® been frustrated. A junk which has arrived at Wei-hai-AA'ei states that eleven Russian seaAA'orthy ships Avere manoeuATing yesterday in the vicinity of the Japanese fleet. The Tokio correspondents state that tAvo hundred transports are conveying coal and troops to a secret flying base, 120 miles from Port Arthur. LONDON. March 30. This! Wei-hai-AVai correspondent of “ The Times ” reports that it is estimated that the food supplies at Port Arthur AA'ill suffice for months. The garrison does not exceed ten.'thousand persons exclusive of the navy. General Konropaitkin’s message regarding the Chong-ju fight states that

as six companies of Russians were approaching Chong-ju, the Japanese, f rom behind the walls, opened fire upoiy the scouts, whereupon two Russian squadrons, dismounting, occupied the heights at a distance of GOD yards. A company of Japanese infantry and a squadron of cavalry lay in ambush in Chong-ju. _ „ Three companies reinforced the Russians, but notwithstanding the crossfire and the fact that the Russians were

commanding the position, the Japanese gallantly held on, and only after a fierce half-hour’s fighting took refuge in the houses. They hoisted the Red Gross

flags at two points. Tavo squadrons of Japanese entered the town at full gallop along tho Kasan road, and the third retired in the face of repeated volleys. Reinforcements saved the Japanese forces in Chong-ju from being crushed. The Japanese losses weire heavy. The Cossacks continued their fire for an hour, and then withdrew in perfect order. , Three Russian officers were severely wounded. Three men were killed, and twelve wounded. The Kobe correspondent of the “Daily Mail” supplies Admiral Xogo’b report of Sunday’s attempt to bo title up Port Artlruf.

"When the four stearners, laden with stones and explosives, were within three knots of the harbour mouth, the forte and torpedo destroyers opened a terrific fire. The vessels, with their escorts, however,

continued to advance. The. steamer Chiyo Mam anohored, blew up, and foundered towards Golden Hill.

The Fukui Mara went further, intending to anchor, hut was torpedoed on the starboard side and sank. The Yakiho Maru anchored to left of the Fukui Mara, and sank herself. The Koneyama Ma,r*u passed between <he Ohiyo Mara and the.Fukui Maru in the centre of the. channel, and was torpedoed andsunk. "The attempt was valiantly executed by the same volunteers as before, sunder ; * storm of shot and shell. Unfortunately, the space between the Yakiho '.Mara and the Konejyama Maitu allows (the passage of vessels. Sergeant. Sugino was not seen after descending into the hold to fire explo-

sives with the object of sinking one of the steamers, a torpedo striking her at that moment. Commapder Hirose returned to the steamer in the hope of rescuing Sugino, and remained till the ay a Ler Avas level with the deck. When trying to return in a boat a shell bleAv him to pieces. The torpedo boats Aotaka and Baubame went a knot into the entrance to the harbour, and had a fierce engagement with the Russian destroyer's. The Japanese losses Avere thirteen killed and eight wounded. The torpedo boats Aotaka and Ba>ubame got inside the harbour and engaged a destroyer, which retreated after her boiler iiad been hit. The Japanese observed another Russian ship heloAV Golden Hill, completely disabled. SYDNEY, March 31. A copy of Admiral Togo’s report of the attempt, to bottle up Port Arthur has been received by the Japanese Consul. The report mentions that the vessels were old merchantmen. The Koneyama Ma.ru, after passing between two other sinking vessels, co'l--1-ied with the stern of a Russian torpedo boat destroyer. A torpedo then struck her, and the.force of the explosion carried her on to the beach. LONDON, March 30. A Seoul telegram reports that fortyfive Japanese transports landed a large force and sixty guns at Ohiu-nam-pho (western Korea) yesterday. There are noAV 125.000 Japanese troops in Korea. The Japanese report that one officer and one sergeant were killed, and two officers and ten privates wounded in the fighting at Chongju. LONDON, March 31. Advices received at St. Petei-sbnrg state that 25,000 Cossacks from the Ussuri district (north of Vladivostock) divided. One half, going a/long the Tuinen river, reached the Yalu river at a point westAvard cf Ain (in the north of Korea., some 240 miles from the mouth of the Yalu). The other detachment proceeded to Puk-eheng (on the eastern coast of Korea), after scouts had discovered that Japanese forces were at Chong-ping (about eighty miles further south). Five hundred disbanded Korean soldiers near Pingyang are becoming riotous.

There is much distress amongst the Korean people. The “Daily Express’ 1 ’ reports that Admiral Togo has requistioned twentyeight useless steamers and stripped them except of their navigating machinery. They are to be sent in batches of six 'to block the entrance to the inner harbour at Port Arthur.

Fogs are prevalent on the Yeillow Sea. These are considered a factor in impending Japanese movements. 'The Shanghai ootrrespa-ndent cf .the, “ Standard ’Estates that private advices from Japan notify that the Mikado is to proceed shortly to Korea with the militarv hea.dirmarters stair. Russia intimates that in view of Japanose proceedings in Korea, she its unable to regard Korean ports as neutral. The British and American, flags have bee'n re-hoisted on the buildings belonging to Britishers and Americans at Newohwang. and the Russians have apologised for having hauled them doAA’n.. The Russians have seized the Chinese arsenal at Kirin (south of Harping, in . Manchuria), where they are manufacturing ammunition. - T'he Russians propose to raise a force of Mongolian troops, fifty thousand strong, 'to patrol the raihvay. The Russian fleet sank the Japanese coasting steamer Henjei off the Miaotao Islands on Sunday, and captured the passengers and erev, r . Foreign press correspondents at Tokio are restive lunder their forced inactivity. They are watched by detectives incessantly. It is reported at Liverpool that an English firm is shipping a hundred thousand tons of coal, ostensibly for a Chinese port, but really for Japan. A huge whale drifted into Possiet Bay, on the coast of the mainland south of Vladivostock, and Avas killed through coming into contact with a submarine mine. LONDON, April 1. Russia intends to arm her volunteer fleet now at Odessa, in the Black Sea,. W:lien ready, she will take them qut- . side the Dardanelles, and use them for the conveyance of reinforcements in the Far, East, and later convert them into commerce destroyers. L Tho Chinese and Japanese authorities being satisfied that the disarmament of the Mandjur, the Russian gunboat which has been for some time at Shanghai, is complete, the Japanese cruiser which has been watching her lias been withdrawn. In commemoration of the jubilee of the treaty, of commercial alliance between Japan and America, negotiated by Commodore Parry, on behalf of America, Americans and Japanese at Tokio have organised a. war charity called: the Parry Memorial Relief Fund. Seventy-five thousand yen (£7500) was immediately subscribed. LONDON, April 2. The WeihaiAvei correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” states that a Japanese torpedo boat torpedoed the . Japanese steamer Sanee Mara, which was tewing a junk with provisions from Chefoo to Port Arthur. Twenty-five persons perished.

Admiral Togo revisited Port Arthur, and found, as a result of Sunday’s operations -on the neck of the narrowest channel, that the entrance to the inner harbour is impracticable to the largerRussia.n ships. The Avar correspondents are to leave Japan for the front next Wednesday. [lt AA-as stated a month ago that fiftythree foreign newspaper correspondents were to be allowed to accompany the Japanese forces, including twenty-nine English and seventeen American. Count Katsura, the Japanese Premier, then said the correspondents Avould not be permitted to proceed to the front until the first heavy land battle had been fought.] Admiral Makaroff, the Russian naval commander at Port Arthur, telegraphs to his Kronstadt friends that he sleeps without undressing, so as to be in readiness for any emergency. Tho statement of Admiral Yamamoto, the Minister cf Marine, in the Japanese Diet, that Admiral Togo’s plan of battle at Port Arthur Avars far from realised, is interpreted at St. Petersburg as a, desire to catch the Russians napping. Tho Russian cruiser Aurora, now at Ferrol, on the north-western coast cf Spain, is proceeding to Cherbourg, the naval station on the wc-st coast of F ranee. The Russian cruiser Dmitri Donekoi coaled at Cartagena. Japanese at Chong-ju (Western Korea) advanced to Yeng-chen, half-wav to Wdju (on the southern bank of the Yalu river), skirmished, and drove the Russians northwards. Ten thousand Russians, Avith. sixty cannon,are at NeAVcliAvang (in the northeast of the Gulf of Liaotung, and at the mouth of the Liao river). They are mining the river, and Avill .shortly close the port. LONDON, April 3. The German liner Furst Bismarck has been indirectly sold to Russia for two hundred thousand pounds. [The Furst Bismarck is a steed twin screw steamer of 8430 tons gross register, built in 1890 at Stettin. Her length is 504 ft 4in, beam 57ft Gin, depth 34ft lin.] Tavo thousand Cossacks and infantry are entrenched at the south gate of Wiju. SYDNEY, April 1. Tho Japanese Consul here lias received a cable message from the Minister of Foreign Affairs stating that an extraordinary session of the Diet carried the War Budget Avith out dissent, also a Bill granting the Government authority to raise loans to the extent of two hundred and eighty million yen for the prosecution of the Avar. Tho increased taxation was cheerfully assented to, though it represents sixtytAvo million yen annually.

Tho diet also unanimously,- .and amidst intense enthusiasm, carried a resolution that in tho opinion of the House the Imperial declaration of Avar is just and honourable, and solely prompted by his Imperial Majesty’s desire for the peace of "tho Orient. Tho. resolution further declared: —• “There is no subject cf his Majesty but AA’ill exert himself to the utmost in the nation’s cause. The Diet, in accordance Avith the nation’s sincere sense cf patriotism, has provided the necessary means for obtaining revenue, so that there may be no deficiency in the Avar fund. Noh-Avith-standing the great amount of success already achieved by the navy, the House realises the Avar is but in its infancy, and the time seems still far dis> tant Avhen complete victory shall permanently restore ' the peace of the Orient, This resolution is passed as a definite and clear expression of the national willingness to assist the Government, and the House desires to urge Ministers of State to firmly uphold the Imperial policy and take timeiiy measures to meet any contingencies that mav arise.”

Tho Sydney Japanese Consul has re ceiA'cd the following cablegram from tha Japanese Government: — “ On Monday last our cavalry and infantry had an engagement Avith ' tha Russians oiitside the south gate at Chong-ju. “ After having dispersed tho oomy, our forces occupied the city. The ffli&uiy —calculated at about six hundred —retired in the direction of Wiju.

“In cavalry, Lieutenant Kano and four men were killed, and Lieutenant Kuropaiva and eleven others wounded. There Avere no casualties m the infantry.

“ Resides two Russian Corpses on the field, seven or eight were found in the city. The Russians did well in conveying 'their dead away. Blood-stained bandages Avere found in many places. It is estimatedpbhe chemy suffered casualties at least in the same degree as our forces.”

ST. PETERSBURG, March 30. The Baltic shipyards have completed five submarine boats, and others are being built at the Neva yaryte, to accompany the Baltic fleet to the Far East in, June.

OUR WAR LETTER.

ENTHUSIASM AT TOKIO

THE NEW CRUISERS FROM THE ARGENTINE. .

A TALE OF RUSSIAN TREACHERY.

(From Our Special War Correspondent.) TOKIO, JAPAN, Feb. 20. Still Avithin the Aveird precincts of semi-Avesternised city of long distances, the correspondents of the Avorld’s newspapers fret and fume. Inordinately held captive by the red tape of Government procrastination, they beguile the leadenfooted hours, leaking Avith longing yes and disappointed hearts, Korea-wards. Appeals and protests, supplications., storms of vituperation are alike ineffective in moving the powers controlling tho War Office. Old campaigners like Mr Bennet Burleigh and Mr Melton Prior have employed every subtie trick that years of war have taught them, but Avjtk all their masterly cunning they have been unable, even for a moment, to beat down the barrier of silence and in differ envo with Avhich the Japanese authorities confronted them.

During the past day or lavo there ha« been little need for the hours to drag v however, for Tokio and Yokohama, in particular, have been in a state of excitement bordering on the hysterical. It is a hard job to get the Japs Avroked up to such a high pitch), but the arrival of the neAV cruisers Nisshin and Kasuga., recently pur* chased from the Argentine Government, seems to have done it without an effort, The people have completely under gore € metamorphosis during the past few days, and from the undemonstrative crowd tvh® saAV their troops leaving for the Avar wit !•«, out a murmur, they have have been trail•;«. formed into a cheering, hallooing band, whose equal could scarcely be found 'ix the Arhole of Europe. The very air has been vibrating with banzais* since tha crewis fii'st arrived here, and if it has done nothing else it has been the mean 3 of relieving the Avriter of the hallucination that the Japanese could not cheer. Tho arrival of the Javo cruisers at this par. ticular time, of coarse, means a great deii to the nation, and, recognising it, tne people are prepared to do the greatest homage in their poAver to those Avho took such great risks in navigating the ships.

JAPANESE AS HERQAVORSHIPPE k 3. At Yokohama, on the 18th, the officers were feted and presented with medal* and mementoes, and thousands of dollars were spent in decorations and other things necessary to make the welcome fitting. The Park was one blaze of colour, British, Nippon and Italian flags mingling their folds and being significantly emblematic of the feeling 1 of friendship existing between the nations. At Tokio the reception \\as even warmer, and the Mayor of the city, Mr Ozaki, entertained hundreds of guests at a garden party in Hibiva Park, and later on at dinner at the Imperial Hotel. At the park, Japanese decorative arc waa shown in a striking manner. Great green artistic arches of welcome were run up at the entrance and in the centre; huge flagpoles acted as the bearers of streams of bright bunting and beautiful lanterns Marquees, enlivened by the Unioa Jack and the Japanese and Italian national flags, stood in various places, and in one, in the centre of the ground, the crews were told how much the-Japanese appro-

ciated their devotion to duty, and how much they wished to show that appreciation. Thunderous applause greeted every European who entered the park yesterday, and each one vva? the centre of a wild crush, which the police coil'd not possibly prevent. At dinner at night, the Occidental grip on the nation was made even more manifest, for there a company of some hundreds of gentlemen, half European and half Japanese, were seated together. The hall wherein this meeting of the East and \v est took place was decorated just as are the halls of England or Australia on similar occasions', and among the ornamentation was just such a conceit as would strike any British decorator preparing for a similar function. It was the representation of the two cruisers in greenery at one end of the hall. The bows stood out almost life size, and great gnus, fashioned from verdant ferns, protruded from green grass port-holes, and bulwarks. davits and anchor chains were all there in proper order. The whole idea was so 1 excellently worked out and so European in its nature that it attracted general admiration. THE NEW SHIP'S A DOUBTFUL BARGAIN.

So far I have, unfortunately, been unable to see the new cruisers, or to secure

any photographs of them. They are, -it, present, down at Yokosuka, the naval '/headquarters. There they are being rap-, idly prepared for action. Such work, it is calculated, will take half the month, and then the Nisshin will be attached to fho Maizimi station, and the Kasuga to the Iture station. Whether Japan has such a bargain in the new ships as she imagines, however, is questionable. They were sold by the Argentine Government with considerable puffing, and at their speed trials put up twency-one knots per hour, a satisfactory performance to all intents and purposes. A speed trial though is somewhat’ different from actual service at sea, and it was during the voyage just over that the capabilities- of the vessels were thoroughly put to the test with the imminence of war. When they left Genoa, and with the presence in their wake of a young squadron of Russian ships of war, it was necessary for them to get evey knot of the -guaranteed ‘,’l Eer hour out of them. The engineers, owever, found the task utterly impossible. Strive as they might, they could not iteiach the trial test figures, and the greatest average that they could get from the engines was fifteen knots per nour. When it was found that even in an emergency the cruisers could not get up any great speed, Captain Paynter, of the Kasuga, and Captain Lea, of the Nisshin, decided to change their course. They came to Japan in. a round-about-way, and missed any Russian boats that might have been keeping a lookout for them between Formosa and Nagasaki. RUSSIA'S PLANS.

According to all reports the Russian forces have advanced well in bp Korea, having crossed Yalu and traversed as far south as Chongju, on the west coast of the peninsula, Some have even reached Hwang-ju, further south, and have succeeded in destroying telegraphic communication between that place and Chongju. On the other hand, it is stated that Russia, unprepared as she is for a big struggle', will-rendeavour to avert exhaustion, which must surely follow strenupus initial resistance, by adopting tactics similar to those which wpn for her success against the Napoleonic advance on Moscow. Some declare that sh© is quite prepared to leave Port Arthur and Vladivostock deserted, and perhaps in ruins, - retreating , northwards and resting until such time as she could afford to launch her forces against what she regards as the insignificant, pigmy soldiers of Nippon. The success of such a scheme, however, would be doubtful, for the army of Japan is not like the tired army of Napoleon, and, furthermore, her soldiers are hardy enough to endure all the suows that the Siberian skies feel disposed to heap upon them. They are, in addition, sufficiently skilled in strategy to take full advantage of every opportunity offered them to fortify themselves, and since Russia recognises that she is not likely to give them an opportunity of becoming firmly entrenched. PORT ARTHUR EXPECTED TO FALL EASILY.

It is well known that there are designs tip on .Port Arthur, and it is expected that that place will fall very easily. Visitors recently arrived from there have told me that avhilst the fortresses look formidable, they contain many dummy guns and many of the serviceable guns are unmounted, and that generally the stories of the great strength of the fortress have been fashioned on fiction, and not on fact. No doubt the Japanese will, when they are ready, make a combined attack by land and sea, and if they do, the Russians will he given just as mujJi employment to defend themselves as they will care to have. Once having swept the whole of the southern portion of' Manchuria clear of Russians, Japan will continue the campaign northwards, and her progress in that direction wall just upon the character of the Russian defences, and the number of men ready to hold thorn. GREAT LOYALTY OF THE JAPANESE. Generally the war fund is rising with leajfe and bounds, and opportunity has been given for inspiring a display of that fine sense of loyalty which seems to permeate the Japanese nation. From the Palace of the Emperor to the hovel of the poorest subject the most cherished of personal treasures are being handed to the banks for war purposes, and there is a sacrifice of valuables now being made, the equal of which has probably not been seen in any other part of 1 the world before. The idea of realising upon bullion, gold coins and curios was mooted by a prominent banker of Tokio, who yielded the collection of years to the mercilessness of the melting-pot, and his example was promptly emulated by the Emperor himself and by many of the noblest families in the land. This free offering of costly charms isi a glorious thing to see, and is but'another evidence of the dis-tance.-non-combatants are prepared,to go to help their nation to .victory. From ©very trade and urofession volunteers are

passing forward to take up arms and swelling the ranks of soldiery. This bodes well for the honour and glory of Japan, and whilst the best the nation has is offering she need fear no foe. THE SINKING OF THE NAKONOURA MARU. February 24. —Just as the mail closes an opportunity is given to secure some interesting details of the sinking of the Japanese steamer Nakonoura Maru, by the Russian Vladisvostock squadron, on the 11th inst. The survivors of the ship have just reached here, and I have been able to obtain an account of the method used by Russia to wreak revenge on Japan for the attacks at Chemulpho and Port Arthur. The Russian assault on the defenceless steamer is almost on all fours ivith other atrocities of which she has from time to time been guilty, and it is sufficient to show that whereas she has not been ashamed to open fire on the harmless trader, the story is worth giving, as showing the mean tactics to which Russia will stoop in such a great war in which she is now engaged. In a previous letter I mentioned that the Vladivostock squadron and sallied forth in search of what it might devour, and that it had sunk a steamer. The name of the vessel was not then known, but since that time it lias transpired, and the story of the captain will speak for itself, without any purple trimmings being necessary. THE CAPTAIN'S STORY. The Nakonoura Marti, he says, left Sakata, in the north of Japan, for Otaru, on the. 10th inst. at 10 a .in., carrjung, besides cargo, four passengers, two men and two women. At 6.30 o'clock next morning she founds herself five knots off the Nyudoski Lighthouse, and at 10 o'clock reached a point 10 knots distant from Cape Henashi. At about half-past 11 four warships were descried some four knots off the pert side. At that time a thick fog covered the surrounding sea-, a strong south-easterly wind was blowing, and the waves ran high, so that the- newcomers could not be/ identified. The nearest port of refuge was 12 knots distant. which fact rendered void all hope of escape from the Russian warships'. Assuming them to be such, all the trew were gathered upon the upper deck and the vessel boldly took a course onward. She thus drew nearer the'warships until’ at length it became clear that they were actually Russian. Abating speed die Nakonoura Mara kept sailing on, when on© of the Muscovite warships fired a blank charge. A.t the same time slio successively signalled to the Japanese steamer to “ com© parallel with ra-si; we will not fire. Leave your ship within fifteen minutes." The captain of the Nakonoura Maru immediately ordered the boats to be /offered, at tlio same time signalling a request for relief, if such could be rendered. The Russian vessel which had then passed the Japanese steamer, veered so as to face her, .and signalled a reply: “We are going to rescue you." . A TREACHEROUS I ACT. This signal given, all the Russian warships opened fire on the helpless steamer, which they surrounded. Boats were lowered from the port side of the Nakonoura Maru, and the passengers and half of the crew rowed out in them, but the sea being very rough, the vessel was veered so as to bring the starboard side I jcward, thus facilitating the lowering of the boats from that side. During this process the ship was struck by several shells, by which Tsuneymon Murata and a noth or sailor were hit, and falling into the sea were drowned. The .rest, far from being able to rescue their comrades, barely succeeded in getting - into the boats. The personal effects of the individuals were necessarily lost. The boats/ leaving the sinking ship behind them were going to make for shore when the armoured cruisers Rossia and Gromoboi steamed forward and fired on the little craft trorn both sides, flight being 1 thus rendered impossible. All the boats turned round and rowed up to the Russian warships, from which ropes and rope-ladders were let down. All sailors and passengers were thus taken aboard the Russian warships, and, as a result of the examination of their personal belongings which followed, were all relieved of money, watches «nd whatever valuables they had with them. An hour later the Nakonoura Maru foundered stern downwards. The steamer Zensho Maru appeared to the crew of the unfortunate vessel to be placed in a similar situation, but they could not know what had become of her. As to the treatment of the rescued Japanese, four passengers were given on© cabin, while the captain and crew, thirty-seven in number, were placed in three separate cabins, all of which were locked and' sentinelled, and nobody was allowed out except on unavoidable occasions. LOCKED IN A PRISON-LIKE ROOM. They were given brown bread to eat and tea to drink. About 2 o’clock in the afternoon of the same day. the 10th inst., the Russian warship sailed away from he scene of the disaster, first taking a west-north-west course, and afterwards south-west-south. The squadron continued -’ts cruise till the 14th inst. at 4 p.m., when it returned to Vladivostock. Th© next day, after breakfast, all the Japanese were given overcoats and shoes, and were ordered to land at 10 a.m. On land, they —forty-one in all—were put promiscuously into a prison-like room and locked up. They were even left "without tiffin, and were made unbearably sick by the offensive odour that filled the room. Unexpectedly, however, at a little past 2 in the afternoon, an official came and summoned all the inmate®, and informed them that they would be sent back to Nagasaki by the German steamer Stolberg, leaving Vladivostock at 3 p.m. Th© steamer, however, postponed her departure, owing to the darkness, and it was only on the 19th inst., at 10 a.m., that she left for Japan.