LATEST NEWS THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1696, 31 August 1904, Page 31

LATEST NEWS

THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR

EUROPEAN PORTION OF PORT ARTHUR IN FRAMES.. LONDON, August 27. The Japanese who are besieging Port 'Arthur captured No. & for.n.auuuud between Ishan and the new European quarter of the town. The Russians recaptured the fort, but it was again taken by the Japanese. The Japanese are using three bundled heavy guns belonging to me harbour defences of Kobe, Nagasaki, and Yokohama. The European quarter of Port Arthur is in flames. Advices received from Chefoo state that boys are in Russia's bring line. Official estimates at Tolcio place the Japanese casualties at Port Arthur since the outs-et at seven thousand five hundred. FALL OF PORT ARTHUR REPORTED. HEROIC FIGHTING. LONDoN, August 29. Several reports—wh.ch, however, lack confirmation—are current that the Japanese have captured Port Arthur. From news to hand, it appeara that the Japanese have penetrated to com lnandihg positions. The Russian warships are said to be scattered about the harbour, hoping by this means to avoid the shells from the enemy’s siege guns. The machine shops and dockyards are severely damaged. The marines have quitted the ships, for the purpose of working the land batteries. The battleship Pobieda is the only vessel mentioned as being in fighting condition. The “Daily Chronicle” reports that the Japanese are now within the main defences. Twenty thousand more Japanese have landed at Dalny, in readiness to go north or reinforce the besiegers at Port Arthur. Many instances of desperate assaults are recorded. One heroic band of Japanese, consisting of five hundred men, which undertook to storm No. 5 fort recently, was practically annihilated. The Japanese failed to cross any moat in the. vicinity of Port Arthur. ' The besiegers seized the hill behind Itfthan, and artificallv -aised its level by piling up sand-bags, whereon guns were placed. From this point the northernmost fort cu the eastern lino of defences was reduoed. It is expected that Port Arthur will be entered from the north. RIG BATTLE IN MANCHURIA. LONDON, August 27. The rainy season in Manchuria has ended. Sharp skirmishing has been resumed, Two divisions of Japanese infantry and ten batteries of artillery are operating against General Kouropatkin’s forces at Langtse Shan, twenty miles south-east of Liaoyang. General Kouropatkm reports that a series of artillery duels have taken place. Several Japanese batteries were silenced. The Russian General states that the Japanese infantry suffered serious losses. A despatch—which, however, is incomplete—discloses the fact that the Japanese are continuing their advance, and the Russians are withdrawing on their main positions. Indications point to the conclusion that General Kouropatkin had begun preparations with a view to covering his retreat, whereupon General Kuroki sought to drive a wedge into the Russian lines, hoping thereby to detach and defeat a portion of the enemy’s army. The Japanese troops are attacking the enemy at Liantinsen (south of Liaoyang). • The whole Russian front from the Taitse river southwards is engaged. LONDON, August 28. A despatch has been received from General Sakharoff stating that the Japanese on Friday last took the offensive along the,whole front of the Russian Manchurian army. ' In the early morning the Japanese oocupied the railway, their left flank extending towards the west to Hienchuantsa, Tolungchui, Hanchuanpu. The attach there ceased at noon, when the enemy concentrated into a force of one and a half divisions, with artillery. Before dawn the Japanese attacked the advanced guards of the Russian left flank at Anshantien, and the guards retired on the main position. “We repulsed the Japanese infantry on our right flank,says General Sakharoff, “and silenced a battery of twen-ty-four guns. “We repulsed further* attacks in the afternoon, taking the offensive and drove the Japanese towards the Natikan Valley. “The fighting in the eastern direction was a serious bayonet encounter.

“ The Russian losses for the day numbered 1450.” KUROKI IN MANCHURIA. LINE SEIZED BELOW MUKDEN. LONDON, August 29. It is reported at Tokio that General Kuroki has occupied a section of the railway southwards of Mukden, and at a point across General Kouropatkin’s Many fresh European troops have reinforced General ivouropatkin. This is reviving the spirit of the northern, army. The brunt of the recent fighting fell upon the Siberian regiments. 'The Japanese at Langtse Chan succeeded m Obtaining command of the Russ.an position, forcing back the centre and right wing, and compelling them to evacuate Anshantien. The Russian casualties numbered six hundred. Six guns were abandoned at Tsckan. The rapid advance of the Japanese brought the fighting line within ten miles east by south of Llaoyang. The Russians admit that the Japanese are able to defeat them in detail, but claim that a gradual retirement renders their position safer. It is explained that this admission refers only to the fighting in the mountains. JAPANESE DEAD MUTILATED. WOUNDED SLAUGHTERED. THE KAMSOHATKA AFFAIR. LONDON. August 27. Medical reports which have been published at Tokio state that a detachment of the Eleventh Siberian Rifles engaged in outpost duty on the 19iii instant mutilated Japanese dead and slaughtered Japanese wounded. Particulars of the attack on Japanese fishermen at Kanisehatka show that on the 9th instant Russians attacked a fishing craft Japanese on the Kompa river, Kamschatka. Tw.enty-three of the sailors were killed. A hundred and forty-nine escaped, with difficulty, to the Chishini Islands. THE BRITISH CRUISERS’ MISSION. TO INTERCEPT OR DICTATE OBEDIENCE. LONDON, August 26. The “'Standard’s” St. Petersburg correspondent says that after the baptism of the infant Prince Alexis, the Czar ordered the volunteer cruisers, through the Admiralty, to cease stopping neutral vessels. There is an uneasy feeling in St. Petersburg lest British merchantmen, knowing that the St. Petersburg’s and Smolensk’s commissions have been withdrawn, should refuse to stop, and perhaps be sunk before the cruisers are aware of the withdrawal. The Ural stopped and detained for an hour the steamer Pencalenik, bound for Malta with coal for the British Navv. LONDON, August 27'.' It is stated that the German steamer Val e-sia is coaling three Russian cruisers off Cape July, on the north-west coast of Africa. The Valesia left Barry, Wales, with 2609 tons of steam coal, for Las Palmas on the 10th inst. Latterly Germans have acquired seventy thousand tons of. similar coal, and it is now believed, inasmuch as it has been consigned to north-west Africa, that the coal is intended for. Russian cruisers. The Smolensk and the St. Petersburg have been acting from the Admiralty’s orders first issued, regardless of Count Lamsdorff’s counsel. The latter suggested that the British cruisers should act as messengers, hut it is believed Mr Balfour instructed them to insist on the Smolensk and St. Petersburg signifying obedience. LONDON-, August 28. The “ Daily Express ” states that the Russian warships have stopped, seized or sunk thirty-nine British, seven German, and eight other vessels. The Japanese warships have seized two British, seven German, and eight other vessels. The Russians liberated all the German vessels except the Teo. LONDON. August 29. 'The Admiralty and Foreign Affairs Commission, sitting at St. Petersburg, is preparing a list of conditional and absolute contraband to meet the views of Great Biitain and America. The Commission expects to have its work completed within a week. LONDON, August 27. The Russian battleship Orel became stranded on the river Neva. She afterwards proved leaky, and at the final trials was incapable of stirring. Sand interfered with and hindered the movement of the shaft. The condition of the vessel is said to be due to the work of Japanese agents. Admiral Rojestvensky’s efforts which have* been continued night and —to make the fleet seaworthy are discouraged by his administrative officers neglecting to cordially assist him. While cruising, the Baltic ifieet disclosed many defects in the old patched ships, and the new ones are little better.

The crews of the Askold and Grosovoi are to return to Russia on parole. The Chunohuses are showing fresh activity around Liaoyang since General Kouropatkin’s retreat from Tashichiao. The attitude of the Chinese south of Liochang shows a marked change for the worse. LONDON, August 28. The “ Daily Chronicle ” reports that M. Deloasse. French Minister of Foreign Affairs, has demanded the recall of a foreign attache at Paris for trying by bribery to obtain information regarding the defences of France and her colonies. Count ITisamatsu, in a statement regarding this report, admits having asked M. Lajoux, an ex-official, for information regarding the Russian forces, but -cT nies having made inquiries concerning the French forces in IndoChina. Count Hisamatsu adds that M. Lajoux is attempting to blackmail him. Major Targe, wire is attached to the French Ministry of War, declares that he altogether distrusts M. Lajoux. Twenty siege guns have Ben landed at Yinkow (at the mouth of the Liao river), and were conveyed to Tashichiao.