THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1717, 25 January 1905, Page 22

THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

THE BALTIC FLEET. TO CRUISE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN. JAPANESE CRUISERS TO BE AVOIDED. LONDON, January 17. The commander of a Portuguese gunboat forbade the Baltic fleet to coal at Tiger Bay, Angola. The Russians thereupon retired. The French Foreign Office states that the Baltic fleet is not anchored in the territorial waters of Madagascar. French correspondents at St. Petersburg state that the Czar has finally determined not to recall the Baltic LONDON, January 19. The Hamburg-American liner Bengalia, which was engaged carrying coal for the Baltic fleet, was wrecked on the eoast of Madagascar. LONDON, January 19. Vice-Admiral Botrovsky’s squadron has reached Jibutil (a French port on the Gulf of Aden). LONDON, January 21. Admiral Rozhdestvensky, who is in command of the Baltic fleet, will cruise in the Indian Ocean. lie has been ordered to avoid the East Indian Archipelago and Japanese cruisers. ‘‘The Times” says that trustworthy information shows that Admiral Rozhdestvensky is to remain in the Indian Ocean for at least three months. The newspaper urges the Admiralty to protect the Chagos Islands. PARIS, January 18. The St. Petersburg correspondent of “Le Matin” reports that Admiral Rozhdestvensky and Real’-Admiral FoelkerBam’s divisions of the Baltic fleet have functioned off Madagascar, and intend sailing without awaiting the arrival of the supplementary squadron under Admiral Botrovsky. JAPANESE WARSHIPS. LONDON, January 22. Four Japanese warships are forty miles north of Penang, one of the British Straits Settlements, at the northern extremity of the Strait of Malacca. AFFAIRS AT PORT. ARTHUR. LONDON, January 16. “The Times” correspondent at Port Arthur states that the new town shows few signs of bombardment. Many of the Russian officers, he says, proved useless during the siege, and applied for leave when the attacks were proceeding, leaving the sergeants to command. Tie naval officers, according to the same correspondent, were also useless during the siege, as they were generally in a state of drunkenness. Admiral Makaroff’s death demoralised the navy, rendering it markedly apathetic. Some of the commanders of the forts at a conference held before the capitulation voted in favour of further resistance, but were overruled by General Stoessel. When the decision to capitulate became known, the soldiers looted a store containing 5600 bottles of vodka, and a terrible orgie followed. Troops sent to quell the disturbance joined the revellers. The correspondent adds that three months’ food supply remained, hut the only meat available was horses and mules. LONDON, January 17. Reuter’s correspondent with General Nogi declares that the surrender of Port Arthur was unnecessary. Genevral Stoessel had 31,000 effectives. LONDON, January 18. The Port Arthur correspondent of “The Times” reports that the battleships Poltava and Peresviet, and the cruisers Pallada and Bayan may be refloated, though at great expense. The battleship Retvizan is in a hopeless condition, and the Pobieda is doubtful. All the turret guns of the latter were blown up before the surrender, but some of the secondary armament is intact. Correspondents at Port Arthur concur in stating that the surrender of the fortress was disgracefully premature. It was capable of resisting for months. The troops were indignant. They threw their rifles and ammunition into the harbour, looted the warehouses, and refused to obey their officers. Disgraceful scenes ensued. LONDON, January 19. Large quantities of champagne and vodka were discovered at Port Arthur. During the closing days of the siege a chicken was sold at 245, an egg at 6s, and a pear at 2s. Five hundred and forty guns were found in good condition. LONDON, January 21. The Japanese contemplate damming the entrance to Port Arthur and pumping the harbour in order to salve the Russian warships. JAPANESE MEMORIAL SERVICE. “THE GLORIOUS DEAD.” LONDON, January 16. Hundreds of fishermen have been

sent to Port Arthur to help dear the mines.

A Japanese naval officer reports that the condition of the Russian warships at Port Arthur is better than was expected. • General Nogi, who conducted the attack against Port Arthur, held a pathetic memorial service at Port Arthur in honour of the dead who swore to have death or victory. He said he had received the Imperial thanks, but he did not desire to monopolise the glory, and he invited the dead to share it. GENERAL STOESSEL’S STORY. LONDON, January 18. General Stoessel, interviewed by the correspondent of the “Daily Express,” said that until October he had great hopes that the Baltic fleet would relieve Port Arthur. The Council of War unanimously agreed to the surrender. Other officers declared that Admiral Alexieff was a coward for quitting Port Arthur, and that Prince Ukhtomski was a coward for returning all the regimental and naval flags, which had been conveyed to Chefoo. None of the Russian warships were scuttled—all were sunk by the 203 Metre Hill guns. General Kondrabhenko was the soul of the defence. . Frightful excesses were committed after the surrender, and the officers’ lives were imperilled. Ultimately the men were starved into submission. Before the J apanese entry only enough ammunition was left to resist one more general assault. MISTOHENKO’S RAIDERS. LONDON, January 16. French advices from St. Petersburg state that it is thought possible that the raids of General Mistcbenko in Chinese territory will cause the Powers to intervene and impose peace. The Russians claim that they ambushed a regiment at Tassadiafu, inflicting heavy loss, and compelling a precipitate retreat. LONDON, Januar y 17. General Mistchenko’s raiders have regained the Russian lines. They sustained throe hundred casualties. General Kouropatkin claims that the raiders captured a convoy of five hundred carts, besides burning a quantity of stores at Yingkow, t-lie port of Newchwang. NEW YORK, January 18. The New York “Herald’s” Tientsin correspondent reports that Russia threatens to invade northern China if China continues to discriminate against Russian contraband in favour of the Japanese. LONDON, January 17. Reuter’s Agency reports that the latest events, including the protest regarding China’s neutrality and the unfounded allegations as to Japanese designs on Indo-China, are interpreted at Tokio to mean that Russia is trying to involve other Powers, with a view to escaping from a disastrous campaign. The “Daily Telegraph’s” St. Petersburg correspondent reports that Germany is arranging for Russia, France, and Germany acting together to heat down Japan’s peace terms. LONDON, January 18. The Chinese authorities give a general denial to Russia’s charges of breaches of neutrality. Colonel John Hay, American Secretary of State, has invited the Powers to assist in inducing the belligerents to respect the agreement limiting the field of operations. LONDON, January 19. The United States regards the reported Russian invasion of Kashgar and the alleged intention of the Baltic fleet to seize a. Chinese port as ominous. It is reported that Admiral Dewey, Oommander-in-Chief of the Navy, has advised President Roosevelt to send two additional battleships to the Far East. Colonel John Hay, Secretary of State, has reminded Russia that she is expected to abide by the engagements entered into at the beginning of the war. A Japanese staff officer states that Chinese regular’s accompanied General Mistchenko’s column on its recent raid. LONDON, January 20. In response to Russia’s attempt to array the Powers against China, Colonel Hay, American Secretary of State, solicits them to renew their adhesion to the American Note on China’s administrative entity, and urges them to use their influence to compel the belligerents to respect neutrality rights. China’s reply asserts the correctness of the Chinese Government’s attitude, despite individual lapses, which are excused by Russia’s wrongdoing. Japan’s reply is expected to assert other breaches of neutrality besides China’s, and to claim full liberty of action if a suitable opportunity occurs. Colonel Hay, understanding that some of the Powers contemplated territorial aggression in China at the end of the war, has secured positive assurances that no Power will make attempts on China’s integrity. LONDON, January 17. The cost of raising the last Russian loan was nearly two and a half millions sterling.

The Japanese heavy guns sent to Marshal Oyama have arrived at the front.

[When Port Arthur fell. General Nogi despatched the heavy siege guns to the fighting line in Manchuria. It was believed to be the object of General Mistchenko in his recent raid to intercept the guns. 3 LONDON, January 17.

The first exchange of Russian and Japanese officers who had been taken prisoners has been arranged. LONDON, January 17.

The Dutch steamer Wilhelmina, carrying Cardiff coal to Vladivostock, has been captured in the Straits of Tsushima (between Korea and Japan). LONDON, January 18. Russia has expressed regret that the press accused Great Britain of allowing the Japanese to establish a naval base at Labuan, off the coast of North Borneo. The underwriters fear that the Japanese may capture in the Straits of Tsushima fifty British steamers as they approach Vladivostock. They are insured for two millions. ST. PETERSBURG, January 18. General Kouropatkin reports that a strong detachment of Japanese infantry, cavalry, and artillery on the 14th inst. (last Saturday) outflanked a column of Russian cavalry which was about to retire northward. The Russian Commander states that a battle ensued. The Russian guns inflicted heavy losses at a range of a thousand paces, and then retired in good order. The casualties numbered five officers and fifty men. Russian sources are responsible for tbe story that gases from Japanese mines, which exploded during the attack on Sungshushan, collected in an underground passage and fired a magazine. This was the cause of the explosion which entombed three hundred Russian soldiers during the final assault. The majority of them were afterwards dug out by the Japanese. LONDON, January 19. The Japanese captured the British steamer Rawtry in the Straits of Tsu Shima. She was carrying provisions and shipbuilding material to Vladivostok. Advices from Mukden state that forty thousand Japanese troops from Port Arthur have reinforced Marshal Oyama. The Manchurian residents have fled to the mountains, fearing that a battle is imminent. Japan is building a first-class armoured cruiser at Kure. The British steamer seized was the Oakley, not the Rawtry as formerly cabled. She was bound from Cardiff to Vladivostok with 5900 tons of coal. LONDON, January 20. Colonel Gadke, the German war correspondent in Manchuria, writing to the London “Standard,” considers that by the end of January General Kouropatkin will have at his disposal 340 battalions, against 268 Japanese. He thinks General Kouropatkin may try to turn the Japanese right flank and cut them off from Korea. He adds that the Japanese jubilations and talk of peace are quite premature. Colonel Gadke thinks that General Kouropatkirds aim in trying to cut the Japanese off from Korea will be to drive them to Takushan or the Liaotung peninsula. The Mikado has sent nine cartloads of presents to his armies in the field. The Japanese Prize Courts have condemned the British steamers Rorely and Lettington, which were captured while carrying coal to Vladivostock. War risks have now been advanced to seventy guineas, owing to recent captures by the Japanese. ST. PETERSBURG, January 18. Two hundred and fifty of General StoeseeFs officers have sailed for Europe. TOKIO, January 17. The Mikado, in his speech at the opening of the Japanese Diet, stated that the Japanese armies were steadily making progress, and it was hoped the ultimate objects would be attained.