THE RUSSO-JAPANESEWAR

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1715, 11 January 1905, Page 31

THE RUSSO-JAPANESEWAR

THE SHATTERED GARRISON. RUSSIANS MARCH OUT. LONDON, January 7. The Japanese have taken possession of all the Port Arthur forts. Eighty-six Russian officers have been liberated on parole. Eighty-two officers, preferring captivity, accompanied 5000 Russian regulars, who marched, out of Port Arthur and proceeded to Dalny. A Japanese force has entered Port Arthur for the purpose of keeping order. Non-combatants are given the option of remaining. T LONDON, January 7. Japanese sailors are clearing the harbour of mines and removing the sunken Japanese hulks from the entrance. LONDON, January 7. General Nogi and General Stoessel had a conference, lasting two houi's, at the village of Shuishi. The “ Daily Express ” states that General Nogi expressed admiration for General Stoesselts charger, whereupon the Russian Commander instantly begged the Japanese leader to accept itGeneral Nogi declined to receive the horse as a personal gift, but gladly accepted it on behalf of the army, assuring General Stoessel that it would always be regarded as one of their proudest possessions. LONDON, January G. There are indications that only parts of the battleships above the waterline at Port Arthur have been destroyed. There are no signs of interior explosions. Russian officers declare that of the casualties requiring treatment at Port Arthur at least eight thousand are Japanese. DELIVERY OF PRIS O NER S COMPLETED. SYDNEY, January 9. Mr K. Iwasaki, the Japanese Consul here, lias received advice from the authorities at Tokio that Admiral Togo raised the blockade of Port Arthur last S’a-tu rday. At present, however, only vessels in the service of the Japanese Government are allowed to enter Port Arthur. General Nogi, reporting to the Japanese authorities last Sunday, states that the delivery of prisoners under the terms of capitulation is completed. Tlie numbers are 873 officers and 23,000 men, of whom 441 officers and 229 orderlies have been given parole. Generals Eonk, Smirnoff, and Gorbatvosky, and Admiral Will naan preferred to be sent to Japan. General Stoessel is to on tlie homeward journey on the 10th. hast. (Tuesday). The blockade of the Liaotung penincular has been raised by the Japanese. A small garrison remains at Port Arthur, a naval station being established there. LONDON, January 8. The ‘‘Daily Mail” states that the Czar, tlowardis Christmas, informed General Stoessel that the North Sea outrage had delayed-the Baltic fleet, which would be unable to reach Port Arthur before the end of February.' He, therefore, relieved General Stoessel from the latter’s promise to hold the city to the death, and directed him to use his judgment. Port Arthur is full of typhus and other contagious diseases. General Nogi’s figures show that five Russian regiments, which at. the beginning of the siege had 12,000 men, still have 20G officers and 5451 men. THE NORTHERN CAMPAIGN. LONDON, January 7. Tlie Russian batteries on the Shalio were silent for two days following the fall of Port Arthur, but thereafter many heavy guns bombarded the Japanese positions almost incessantly. There are, however, no indications of either side taking tlie offensive. . General Sakharoff reports that Russian patrols damaged an embankment ten miles north of Taicheng, derailing an engine. The military critic of “Tlie Tides’’ declares there is no immediate prospect of important movements on the Shaho, upless they are necessitated by the desire to distract attention from tlie internal situation in Russia.

It is estimated that General Kouropatkin’s force does not exceed a Quarter of a million, including fifty thousand reinforcements who have arrived since the Battle of Shallo last October.

LON I) ON, Ja n u ary 7. The .Japanese are bridging the Yalu, linking the Korean and Chinese railways, and strengthening General Kuroki, who commands the extreme right wing of the Japanese army in Manchuria.

A new field railway has been established southwards of the Japanese lines on the Shako,

LONDON, January 9General Kcuropatkin reports that the Japanese attempted a night surprise on the centre front, but were repulsed. ON THE WATER. LONDON, January G. French advices state- that Admiral Foelkersam, who is in command of a division of the Baltic fleet, is off Tamatave (a maritime town on the east coast of Madagascar). He telegraphs that two cruisers of the squadron are useless, owing to a breakdown of the machinery. The French newspaper “Matin” implies that the authorities at Madagascar are less alive to the necessity of observing strict neutrality than the French Government. Some of the German colliers following the Baltic fleet have experienced mishaps. Russia is trying to obtain coal and facilities to repair the fleet at Madagascar, also maps of routes and anchorages in the Indian Ocean. It is semi-officially stated that the Baltic fleet remains - outside French territorial waters. LONDON, January 7. Lloyd’s Agency reports being unable to detect any evidence of Russia arranging to obtain coal and provisions for the Baltic fleet at Diego Saures (Madagascar). Russia, it is stated, lias cancelled orders for two large shiploads of arms and ammunition from Libau (on the Baltic Sea) to the* East Indian Archipelago and Saigon (French Cochin China). The Japanese are fortifying Quelpart Island (about midway between Japan and the south-western coast of Korea). LONDON, January G. Russia has protested to the Chinese Government against Chinese detachments participating in tlie fighting in the Taling Pass, also against Japan using tlie. Miaotao Islands (at the entrance of the Gulf of Pechili) as a naval base. The Vienna correspondent of “The Times” reports that the Kaiser, on the eve of the war, urged the Czar to reflect before rejecting the Japanese terms, adding that from his point of view, and from his exact information regarding the strength of the respective forces, he feared the result. Tlie Czar, according to “The Times” correspondent, replied that all measures had been taken to assure a victory. LONDON. January 6. _ Premiums are being offered at Lloyd’s equivalent to two to one against the war terminating by May. The Japanese Prize Court has condemned the steamer Nigretia, which was recently captured hv the. Japanese, to he confiscated, because the captain and lieutenant of tlie Russian destroyer Ratstoropny, which took refuge at Chef-00, were aboard trying to escape. LONDON, January 7. The Council of Ministers, sitting at St. Petersburg, decided that any suggestions for peace would he incompatible with the dignity of Russia.