THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1680, 11 May 1904, Page 21

THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

♦ THE PASSAGE OP THE YALU. FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE FIGHTING. LONDON, May 2. Russian official despatches regarding the recent fighting on tine Yam river report that the Japanese opened a terrific artillery fire oil the positions at Twientohen and Potienintzy at 4 o’clock on Monday morning. The overwhelming superiority of the enemy’s artillery and the heavy losses convinced General Sassulitoh that it , v/as impossible to hold TVientohen and Schalghedzy. Consequently, he ra treated in good order to tlie second position at Potienintzy and Tcliingiu. General Ivuroki reports that thirty thousand Russians heicl a four-mile po-

sition at the front* F« 'three-quarters of an hour there was severe fighting before the heights from KiuH.enofieng to Makou and Kushouku were edGeneral Kumki-imports that the Russians made two stands on Sunday, their strength including, ail the third division of two s regiments, and the sixth division, a cavalry brigade, with forty quickfirers and eight machine guns. The whereabouts of Baron Oko’s second Japan-oss army, also* the third army,- is unknown. The Japanese casualties on Sunday amounted to seven hundred, and the Russian upwards of; eight hundred. Generals Sassuhteh Kashoalinski we-'.a wounded. The Japanese kapturod twenty-eight quickfirers* nmnetrous rifles, twenty officers and many men. ® The Russians were forced-to abandon Antung, which they burned and then retreated to Fenghwangcheng. The Japanese now control the estuary of the Yalu "river. LONDON, May 3. When the Russians were driven on. Sunday to the hills extending from Kiuliencheng to YoshorC', they made a second stand on the bills north-west of Kfulieaicheng, but at 2 o’clock in the afternoon they retreated, and by 6 o'clock the Japanese held a line extending from Antung, in a north-westerly direction, to Lauguru, and thence running in a north’.-westerly direction to Lishukau.

At Hamatan the Imperial Guards enveloped the Russians on three, sides. After fighting at close range, they captured three guns and much ammunition.

A captured'. Russian ‘ officer states that the effect of the Japanese artillery fire on Saturday was enormous. Shells, he says, wounded Generals S’assulitoh and Kashtal inski. >

General Kuroki telegraphs that the Imperial Princes ancl the Japanese offi-cers-and men are in . excel lent spirits. Mi lit airy critics refer to the seriousness of Sunday’s rapid defqat of thirty 'thousand Russian troops, holding a position which they had strengthened for several months. Paris papers, commenting upon the' engagement, betray alarm for Russia. The Berlin press minimises the Japanese success, and alleges that General 'Kouropatkin never intended to defend the Yaln. At dawn om Sunday the Japanese front extended twenty miles, the left being near Antung, and. the right opposite Maka, but separated by the Ai-ho river. “The Times'’’ declares that the engagement was an epoch-making feat of anus. St. Petersburg, is still without officia/1 news of the final result of the engagement, though alarming reports are current.

An Italian telegram states tHiat the Russians lost two thousand. The soldiers became panic-stricken owing to the Japanese sharpshooters: killing many officers.

Fierce' fighting'for twenty-five minuteis preceded the. abandonment of Antung. Generali Kouropatkin, in a despatch to the Czar, expresses satisfaction that the Japanese crossed the 1 Yalu river, thus lengthening fihedrlines of communication while the Russians are nearer their base. A meniber of.’ the: Russigm Generali Staff : states' that, the' Yaiu engagements were merely skirmishes; and that General Kouropatkin will not accept a serious battle until the middle of May, when he will have half ; a million men-at his disposal. .

Captain Frederick Tudor, Commissioner, has. challenged the Russian

statements regarding the fighting on the Yalu river. He attributes the Japanese success to the:quantity of their artillery and. special naval: guns. LONDON-, May 4. In connection with the* surrender of

Russian troops on Sunday, it is stated that the Russians did not raise the white flag till, after two batteries had lost, most of their men and horses and< the breech-closing apparatus of the guns had. been broken. General Kuroki considers the Russians were entirely?routed; beaause after th© fight many came in and‘ surrendered.

The total number of Japanese killed and: wounded! is ■ stated to be as' follows: —Guards, 132 ;; second' division, 350; ' v ; ws division, 316—total, 798.

Reports have been received at St. Petersburg. of a striking episode during the fighting on the Yalu. A Russian regiment, without artillery, attacked two half-divisions of Japanese. The Russians, headed by a chaplain bearing ,a cross, fought like lions. They bore down masses of the enemy, but were eventually overwhelmed, and almost annihilated. The scene resembled a shambles. The Russian General, Sassulioh, in his report of the engagement on the Yaliu river—which ended in the Japanese capturing Kiuliencheng on Sunday and the Russians' retreating to Feng-hwang- ! cheng (about forty miles to the north- ; west) : —says that the Twelfth and Twen-ty-second Regiments, with the Second and Third Batteries of the Sixth Brigade of Artillery, were engaged at Kitui.oncheng on Sunday. Tne battle began with a heavy cannonade from the .' »v iju siege guns and from field batteries on the islands upon the Russian right flank. After a lull the firing was directed with extraordinary violence on the left flank on the main position at Kiuliencheng and Potientsky, assisted by bodies of Japanese across the Ai'ho ! river-

The situation of the defenders became moat difficult, especially at Pobient- - sky, which was bombarded on the front and both flanks. Thirty Japanese guns were pitted' against one battery at ! Potientsky, and the latter was soon - silenced. The Japanese mountain battery then fired on the infantry, itself 1 Sustaining few losses until the withdrawal of the infantry compelled them I to take tip a fresh position. Despite the Russian fire, the Japanese made continual attacks, and the bodies of their dead lay in heaps at the , fords of the river. Simultaneously with the attack on Potientsky, another was made on the left flank, compelling the ! abandonment of the Russian trenches. At Kiuliencheng the reserves several times reinforced the first line, enabling it for a long time to maintain the position. Finally, all the supports were brought into the firing line, but owing to the distance from the main reserves, it was impossible to reach the advance force in time.

The Russians retired from the principal position in the rear at Kiuliencheng, followed i>y a concentrated fire from the Japanese troops, who hesitated to abandon the crest of the hill and face the Russian batteries. The Japanese dug fresh trenches and opened a heavy artillery fire on the new Russian position, and began to turn the Russian left flank towards Echingou. Two battalions of the Eleventh Regiment, with a battery belonging to the reserve, took up a fresh position at Laounhou, enabling the advanced line, which suffered heavily, to retire. When the flanks of the Eleventh Regiment were turned, the Russians several times tried to use their bayonets, but the Japanese declined a hand-to-hand conflict and recoiled.

A chaplain bearing a cross led the Russians, and was twice struck by bullets. By threatening bayonet charges the regiment at length were able to retire, and the arrival of a battalion of the Tenth Regiment enabled all to beat a retreat. The losses in the Eleventh and Twelfth Regiments’ are unknown, but are believed to be veiy great. One colonel and two lieutenant-colonels of the Eleventh Regiment were killed. The Twelfth Regiment lost nine company commanders, who were either killed or wounded. The second and third batteries of the Sixth Brigade abandoned thei'r guns, when thqy lost the greater number of their men and horses, b.ut first of all rendered the guns useless. S:ix guns of the third battery were also disabled and abandoned.

Up to the present eight liumdrqd wounded, including fourteen officers, have been brought to Feng-hwang-cheng Hospital. Their eventual transport elsewhere is assured. The Japanese cavalry appeared southeast of Feng-hwang-oheng, but did not approach, after seeing two companies with two guns.

The transport of the wounded by Chinese bearers was very difficult. Most of them arrived at the fort, assisted by their comrades, within a day of the battle. - The troops are ready for fresh engagements. The Japanese losses at the passage of the Aiho were very heavy. The men engaged estimate that at least three or four thousand Japanese were killed, chiefly at Kiuilien cheng, and during the conflict with the Eleventh Regiment. Mr Maxwell,, correspondent, of the London “Standard,” describing the fight on the Yalu river, says before the battle the position exactly resembled Tugt-la. The Russians had every advantage. . _ The Japanese claim that has ides twenty-eight. quickfirers they captured twenty field-piece®. Russian prisoners testify that- the new Arisaku* guns decimated them.

LONDON, May 5, General Kashtalinsky, commander of one of the Russian divisions on the Yalu,. has reported that some painful, but glorious, circumstances surround the fighting on Sunday. The Twelfth Regiment, assisted by machine guns, arrested the Japanese advance until noon, when, after routing

tile Twenty-second Regiment, the Japanese began to turn the Russian left flank.

The Twelfth Regiment, with the Third Battery and! quickfirers, were ordered 1 to retire, being covered by the Eleventh Regiment. The Japanese forces, however, advanced so close that the Third Battery was unable to retire, and lost its colonel.

A fresh company, with quickfirers, then tried to rescue the battery, but lost half its men and horses. It was then tried to extricate the guns by hand, under a cross-fire by quickfirers, which fired thirty-five thousand bullets. 1 ■

The Twelfth Regiment out its way out, and saved the colours.

The Second Battery of the Sixth Brigade, failing.to rejoin reserves by a mountain road, lost half its horses, and returned to its origin ail position, where it received the Japanese attack. The Eleventh Regiment held its ground for another two hours, with heavy losses, and then farced a passage with the bayonet, saving the colours. It lost a colonel, forty officers and two thousand men.

It is reported at St. Petersburg that General Kouropatkin, Ooimmander-in-Cbieif, has ■ severely censured General Saissufich, who commanded one of tlhe Russian divisions defeated at Kiulianclieng, for not retiring earlier. General Kouropatkin had given orders that the commanders were not to take unduo risks’.

The Russians, before burning Antung, expelled fifteen thousand inhabitants at the point of the bayonet. The injury received by General Sassulicli c&uring the fight along, the Yalu River is merely a-graze, but General Kashitalinsky’s wound is serious. The Japanese captiared immense quantities of railway material, which, it is supposed, was intended for a branch of the Manchurian railway to the Yalu river. The Japanese consider that Russian strategy lacked offensive initiative. Search parties have found many Russians hiding in the bush. LONDON, May 6.

' Continental military critics —especially those in Paris—strongly condemn the bad generalship of the Russians. Japanese writers declare that the Russians neglected obvious strategic advantages. . BERLIN, May 4.

The German newspapers consign the account of Japanese success on the Yalu river to their back pages, and advise their readers to await authentic details. as the news conies from British sources.

It is reported that General SassuJicih fell into an ambuscade, owing to the Japanese intercepting General Kou.ropatkin’s telegram. SYDNEY, May 3.

The Consul-General of Japan has received the following cable message from M. Konwira, the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs: — The following is the report from General Kuroki:—

In order to prepare for the laying of bridges, detachments of the Imperial Guards and the second division attacked the enemy on the islands in the lalu river, and occupied them on the 26th (Tuesday). Our casualties were nine members of the Imperial Guards slightly and sixteen seriously woundqd, while there were none iu the second division.

The enemy retreated towardb Kiuliencheng, carrying many dead and. wounded, according to a Russian cavalryman who was taken prisoner. The 22nd, 23rd and 27th infantry regiments, together with the Eastern Siberian sharpshooters, formed the van, Lieutenant Senyolofi commanding the Mounted Scouts of the 22nd regiment. Corpses of the enemy which were found buried at Wiju numbered ninety-five. From noon of the 26th till the next day the enemy fired intermittently up on Wiju, but were, unanswered. On the same day (Wednesday) two gunboats, two torpedo-boats and two steamers, which were detached from the squadron and placed under the command of Rear Admiral Bosoya, proceeded up the Yalu, exchanging shots with the-enemy. The enemy were silenced, while the detachment suffered no damage. On the 28th (Thursday) two infantry companies of the Imperial Guards reconnoitred at Hushan, and one section was detached as far as Litzuyuen, whence the enemy fled, leaving five dead. The enemy fired at a long range from the neighbourhood of Kiuliencheng upon Wiju without much effect upon, our preparation works. On the 29th (Friday) the twelfth division commenced bridging at Sukuchin, and completed the work in the early morning of the next day, and the army crossed. From 10.40 a.m. till noon the enemy carried on severe firing from all sides, but they were soon silenced, our losses being five officers slightly Wounded and two non-commis-sioned officers killed and twentytwo men wounded. At 8 p.m. on the 30th (Saturday) the bridge over the main stream was completed, and the army, having crossed the river, advanced upon Kushan. On the 30th a detachment from the squadron advanced below Antungsien and fought at close range with 400 in-

fantry and cavalry, but after an. hour the enemy retreated, with no casualties on cmr s.de. At daybreak on the Ist May (.Sunday) we commenced cannonading and silenced the enemy's artillery on the hiil north-west of Yashukon,

and at 7-30 a.m. all the divisions ad-

vanced for attack and took possession of tlie height's, notwithstanding the stout resistance offered by the Russians. The second part of the second and third divisions and the Imperial Guards advanced on three roadls, driving the enemy before them. At 8 p.m. we captured the line from Antungsaeu to Liushukon. The Imperial Guards surrounded the enemy on three sides, and after several fights captured twenty guns with horses and carriages. Over twenty officers and many men were made prisoners. The general reserve corps advanced upon the Liao-yang road. The enemy was composed of the wliele of-the third division, the 22nd and 24tn regiments of the 6th infantry .division, sharpshooters and General Mischenko’s cavalry brigade. They fled towards Fenghwangcheng. Our heavy field-guns proved very effective. A Russian officer who was taken sor.er says that two* commanders the army corps and division were wounded.

SYDNEY, May ( The following . further report frtrm General Kuroki, who commands the Japanese forces operating on the Yalu, has been cabled by the authorities to M. Iwasake, the Japanese Consul here: — “'On the afternoon of the Ist inst. (last Sunday) the enemy offered stubborn resistance during the pursuit in their retreat after the capture of Kiuliencheng, which resulted in the addition of three hundred. to our casualties. “The Russians fought bravely at the last, but finally two companies of artillery, after lasing most of their men and horses, raised the white flag and surrendered. “Officer’s taken prisoners assert that in the division commanded by General Ivasihtalinski the commanders of the eleventh and twelfth regiments of infantry and the commanders of the artillery battalion and the sharpshooters’ brigade were killed. “The killed and wounded ail so include many other superior officers. “Many refugees subsequenty returned and surrendered. “The total number of prisoners is thirty officers and three hundred subofficers and men.” LONDON, May 3. Guns, stores and necessary re-arma-ment for the Russian army have been despatched. A first contingent of volunteer’s has also left St. Petersburg foir the front. Intense patriotism is being displayed. Dense fogs frustrated the Japanese r.avai movement at Vladivostoek.

A large Japanese fleet is off Takushan (south-west of the mouth of ■ the Yalu river). Admiral Ivamimura reports that bia fleet twice passed near Russian cruisers between Vladivostock and Gensan (on the eastern coast of Korea, 330 miles from Vladivostock) without either of the squadrons being aware of each other’s proximity, owing to fog. Admiral Kamimura rescued three boats belonging to the transport Kinshi Maru (recently torpedoed and sunk by the Russian®). It has been impossible to renew the attack upon Vladivostook since day in consequence of an impenetrable fog. . The cruiser Naniwa discovered and destroyed a number of Russian mines along the coast. The Japanese transport Hagmouro Maru is overdue at Gensan (Eastern Korea). It is feared she may have met a similar fate to that of the Kinshi Maru. Early on the 28th mst. (last Thursday) the Japanese, screened by a string of blazing rafts, laid mimes near the wreck of the Potropavlovsk. Russian seairohlights, however, revealed the operations, the Japanese launch retired, and the mines were destroyed. The Japanese for soyeral nights sent; ethergraims, intended to' fall into Russian hands, purporting to arrange simultaneous land assaults on Port Arthur. General Kouropatkin, Russian Corn* mander-in-Ohief , requests tlhat good® traffic on the trans-Siberian railway bo stopped, and more troops and transport® be sent immediately. Russian reports from Tientsin state that Admiral Togo, commander of the Japanese fleet, again unsuccessfully attempted to bottle up Port Arthur. Fugitives who have reached Chefoo report that the Russians are preparing t 0 evacuate Dalny (Port Arthur). The soldiers on the Japanese transport Kinshu Maru, which was sunk by Russian torpedo-boats, burned their documents, and reihoved their shoulderstraps to prevent the Russians ascertaining the name of their regiment. ; French and Russian stocks are affected, also the prospects of the Russian, loan.

The Japanese do not object to Mr Davidson, the American. Consul, commencing his Consular duties at Antung, in Manchuria, a few miles south of Kiuliemcheng, captured by the Japanese on Sunday,

IiQiNJXMNj, May 4. The Chefoo eorrespon 4entr of the ‘‘Doily Chronicle” states that the Jarpaaese landed at Yinhow, at the head of the Gulf; of Liab-tung, <m Sunday and. captured Newchwang on Monday evening, the Russian forces falling back to protect the railway. . ; Admiral Alexieff, Russian Viceroy, jreponts that on Monday night eight fireships, carrying - quick-firing gran's, made a determined attempt to block the. harbouir entrance at Port Arthur. All the vessels were sunk by forts, mines or. torpedoes. Several Japanese were killed. Thirty were rescued from the sinking ships. Admiral AlexiefF abates that two> Japanese torpedo boats, which were escorting the fireships, were destroyed. The “ Daily Express ” assorts that the Russian Treasury has assigned fifteen millions sterling for the piurcuase of cruisers and submarines from France and Germany. It is officially announced that the officers of the Japanese transport Kinsihu Mam, which was sunk by Russian torpedo ’boats, committed suicide in their cabins, while the soldiers mutually bayoneted one another. The prisoners taken by the Russian cruiser Rossia were only sailors and coolies. The guns belonging to the disabled warships at Port Arthur have been landed and used to strengthen the batteries.

Reports received at Tokio state that Borne of the eight fireships completely block the fairway. LA massage in yesterday’s “Times” stated that eight Japanese fire-ships, carrying quick-firers, attempted to block the harhoutr entrance at Port Arthur,but were sunk by Russian forts, torpedoes and mines. It was also claimed by the Russians that two Japanese torpedoboats were destroyed.] V LONDON, May 5. The -Russians testify to the unparalleled bravery of the. Japanese naval cadets aboard the fire-ships. When the ships were sinking many of the cadets ran aloft and fired their revolvers before plunging, into the sea. - None were saved. Mr Rennet Burleigh, correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph,” telegraphing from Tokio on WedUesday afternoon, Btatas that on Tuesday afternoon, during a dense fog, the Japanese- sank nine merchantmen at the entrance to the harbour at Point, Arthur, absolutely ' sealing up the Russian fleet. In effecting this operation the Japanese vessels steamed into the entrance at . full speed. The officers who had twice made previous attempts to achieve this object were granted permission to conduct a third enterprise. It is not at present known what the casualties were. A French banking syndicate has taken a first Russian loan of sixteen millions sterling, with the option of a further sixteen millions previous to next January. It is unlikely that the loan will be issued to the public. Russia has demanded from China, permission to station forces outside Shaln-hai-kwa,n (where the Great Wall junctions with the Pekin-Newohwang railway). China has not yet replied! to this demand. The report that Japalnese troops landed at Yinhow on Sunday, and captured Newohwang (at the head of the Gulf of Liao-tung) on Monday, is not confirmed. The Russian ironclad Kharbry stopped the mail express boat Osiris in the Mediterranean for two hours while the mails were sorted, but the Japanese mails, Vhioh were lying at the bottom of the mail-room, were- untouched. The Nippon Yusen Kaisha Company's steam or s reopen the services to Australia and elsewhere. The line ceased running at the outbreak of the war. Coal from Cardiff to Japan is now covered at 7s 6d per cent., whereas it was 10 guineas per cent, three months ago. War risks on grain from Vancouver to Vladivostok are 40 guineas pea’ cent. No quotations are made for , Port Arthur. A Japanese loan at 6 per cent, for £10,000,000 is being underwritten in London and N® York at 93 on security of the Customs. The British Government has seized a destroyer completing construction at a Tynei shipbuilding yaifd on suspicion - ftbat it was intended for one of the belv ligereaits. LONDON, May 6. Contracts for the supply of coal to the Baltic fleet have been cancelled. It had been intend to store supplies ,at Bizerta (Tunis}, Jiboutil (Somaliland) and Saigon (Cochin-China)— all French Unofficial telegrams received at St. Petersburg announce that the Russians have abandoned Feng-hwang-cheng, and are retreating north to Liao-yang, hotly pursue,"! bv Japanese. Continu- : pus fighting is 1 sported. 4 The roads in Manchuria are terribly Boft, and 1 are ba,d foa’ wheeled transport. ■Vehicles can only proceed at the rate of five miles a day. Attempts to build a railway through • the mountains to tlbe Yalu have been only partly successful. General Kouropatkin has applied for • two thousand additional beds for the hospitals at the front.

. Admiral Alexieff, by the Czar’s command, has left Port Arthur to rejoin the active army. Admiral Viigert is to command the fleet temporarily. M. Pavioff, formerly Russian Minister in Korea, has gone to Pekin to atesist in pressing China to allow Russia to administer the railways from Kanpantse to Sinunin-ting (west of Mukden) and Yinliow (near, Newell wang). China has sent tliree thousand additional troops to Shan-hai-lcwan (on the railway line from Pekin to New.dhwang), at which place Russia demanded from China permission .to> place forces.

It is now stated that twelve two-thousand-ton fireships were utilised in the work of blocking Port Arthur. A telegram from Port Arthur states that a Japanese fleet is lying behind Liao-ti-shan (the southern extremity of Port Arthur), and that transports have reached Pi-tsz-wo (on the eastern side of the Liao-tung Peninsula, about seventy miles from Port Arthur), with the object of landing troops. The Japanese landed there in 1894, during the progress of the war with China.

This position threatens both Newchwang (about eighty miles to the north-west) and Port Arthur. To-day’s “Jiji Shimpo,” a newspaper published at Tokio, states that the fleet is conducting prearranged operations, and it is believed is landing a second army near Newchwang after “bottling up” Port Arthur. Less authentic telegrams assert that a fleet with fifty transports has been seem near Kin chan Bay (about thirty miles from Port Arthur, on the western side of the peninsula). Captain Arirna, commander of the explosive vessels, lecturing at Tokio,. said Admiral Togo’s fleet, knowing the position of the Japanese mines, watched for the disaster to the Petropavlovsk and saw three explosions, which ware attributed respectively, to the mine, magazine and boilers. LONDON, May 6. -

General Ivuroki reports that during the Russian retreat two thousand Russians mistook a detachment of two hundred for Japanese, and attacked them with fury, killing ten and wounding seventy. A capfurod Russian officer declared that only six battalions of infantry and two batteries of artillery retreated in order. The others fled in utter confusion.

The Grand Duke Boris has left Port Arthur.

It is announced that the Russian loan of £40,000,000 sterling i:2 being floated in Pair is.

Paris and Continental correspondents attribute Germany’s complacency towards Russia partly to ulterior ambitions in the Far East. LONDON. May 7.

Mr L. O. Griscom, American Minister at Tokio, telegraphs that the investment of Port Arthur has begun.

The railway is already practically closed.

Advices which have been received at St. Peters bang state that it is believed the harbour at Port Arthur is “ bottled up” as far as large warships are concerned.

It is added that one vessel passes with difficulty. The Russians claim that Port Arthur is provisioned for a year. Late advices show that a portion of General Oko’s .army was convoyed to a. base on the Liao-tung peninsula (at the southern extremity of winch Port Arthur is situated). Tein thousand Japanese troops have landed at Pi-tsz-wo. (on the eastern side of the peninsula, about seventy miles from Port Arthur) and others at Kinchau Bay (on the west era coast of Liaotung, and some thirty miles from Port Arthur).

The narrow neck of land' near Kinchau Bay has been occupied. Piers aro being erected at Pi-tsz-wo to facilitate the landing of troops. It is recognised at St.. Petersburg that the landing of General Oko’s troops renders it difficult for General Kouropatkin, the Russian Commander-in-Ohief, to concentrate a formidable force against General Kuroki, who commands the Japanese army which cently crossed the Yalu river, and captured Kiulieucheng. Admiral Hosoya reports that early on the morning of the sth (Thursday) the Japanese troops, after shelling, dispersed the Russian patrols, and landed a party of sailors. ~~~~ '

The Seventh Division waded ashore breast deep for a thousand yards, and hoisted the Japanese flag on the Tange Hills on the peninsula without firing a shot.

All the troops then waded ashore. It is officially reported at Tokio that the Japanese troops have begun to land in the Liaotung Peninsula.. Information regarding the locality and number of troops is withheld. Reuter’s Chefoo correspondent states that trustworthy Japanese advices have been received that a landing has been effected opposite the Elliot Islands. Six Japanese cruisers continuously watch Port Arthur. \ *

Commander Stossel, addressing the Russian garrison, referred to Port Arthur as being threatened on the land side. Ho added that Russia’s bulwarks in th© Far East would be defend-

e(l till troops arrived to relieve them. He expressed his firm confidence in the endurance of the defenders.

. A telegram received at St. Petersburg states that the Japanese are masters of nearly the whole of Liao-tung peninsula.

They have destroyed the railway to Port Adams (twenty-five miles north of Kinchau) and blown up a bridge. A feeling of -depression exists in St. Petersburg. General Pfeng, Admiral AlexiefFs chief.of staff, telegraphs that a hundred Japanese, stationed eastward of the at a point south of Pulantion, fired volleys into a train which was proceeding northwards from Port Arthur. The train contained many passengers, including two hundred sick persons. The latter were in ambulance carriages, which were flying the Red Cross flag. Two of the sick were wounded in the legs. The train succeeded in reaching Pulantion. It was recently reported that the Russians had sunk two small transports, the Nakamura Mar.u and the Haguioura Maru. It has now been discovered, however, that only one vessel was sunk. ARTILLERY”IN THE WAR. JAPANESE AND RUSSIAN GUNS. In view of the present hostilities m the Far East, it may not bei uninteresting to give some particulars respecting the “ Arisaca gain,” which has been mentioned in recent cablegrams, and to compare the artillery used by the Russians and Japanese at the seat of war. We are indebted to' Mr George Robertson, of the Government Insurance Deipartnnemt, for the following information on the subject', which he has translated from “ L’Eiclio dee Mines et de la Metallurgy ”:—■ “ The Japanese field artillery consists of guns manufactured at the Krupp works from Japanese plans. Ninetynine batteries, of ten guns each, have been delivered to Japan. The guns are furnished with a kind of spade, fixed to 'the extremity of the carriage.i and this is intended to* minimise the effect of the recoil. The edge of the spade, to which a lever is attached,, rests on the ground, and is pressed into the soil by the recoil, while at the other end of the spade there is a strong spiral spring, which is fixed to the gun-carriage itself. The pressure of the spring replaces the gun in the position which it occupied prior to the recoil. But the most recently-invented portion of these guns is the mechanism of the breech. Not only does it automatically reject the cartridge case, but when the breech ,s closed, it keeps the firing-pin, in such a position that the loaded gun may he moved from place to place without any fear of its being accidentally fired through the shaking of the gun-carriage. One of the great advantages of this system is that-, should the gun miss fire, the trigger will act again without being attended to by the gunner. A great number of accidents-happen in connection 1141111 artillery firing when the breech is prematurely opened after the gun misses fire; sometimes the charge goes off suddenly, and the guinner is cither badly by the disoharnor is struck by the gun as it recoils. To each gun-carriage is attached a chest containing thirty-six shells. The diameter of each is about three inches, and the gun is officially known as the “Arisaca gun” after its .inventor. - The Japanese also have some mountain guns on the same pattern, and thieiy were manufacture d at the Oreusot works. They will no doubt be of great service in the Korean passes. “Towards the end of 1901 Russia ordered 1200 Emgelliardt guns, which were to he used exclusively for the defence of Siberia and Manchuria, These guns are mounted on a carriage furnished with a special glycerine break and elastic buffer, and by means of these the gun is replaced in position after firing each shot; the effects of the recoil are therefore largely minimised. The diameter of the projectile is three inches, and its weight is 15 pounds. The mountain artillery used by the Russian army is composed of twelve batteries, of six Krupp guns each, and these guns can he taken to pieces and carried on mule back. On ordinary occasions five mules are required for each gun, but in case of necessity three mules will suffice. The guns fire a shell weighing 12 pounds. According to the ukase ordering the manufacture of these guns, they . were intended ‘to protect the Imperial railway in Manchuria from the attacks of robber bands.’ “The Russians have also a certain number of four and five inch howitzers, which will probably be used in defending the banks of the Yalu. The shells of these guns weigh 20 and 50 pounds respectively. An English firm also supplied Russia with 175 mitrailleuses, while 60 more of these quick-firers came from a German firm. They are on a two-wheeled carriage and the gunner is protected by a shield. In reality these guns do not differ much from the ordinary Maxim, and they fire the Russian cartridge at the rate of 600 a minute. A bicycle saddle for the gunner is attached to the tubular part of the gun-carriage. These guns, which are easily taken to pieces, can be carried by men, or on mule back. The weight of the gun is only 50 pounds. Besides these the Russians have 30 automatic mitrailleuses, on a Maxim model, which

fire a shot, weighing about a pound and a quarter, at the rate of 200 a minute.”