THE WAR.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5474, 31 December 1904, Page 5

THE WAR.

NOGI’S SIEGE. GENERAL ATTACK ON PORT ARTHUR. BESIEGERS CLOSING IN. BRAVE DEFENCE OF THE RUSSIANS. (Received December 30, 10.30 p-m.) LONDON, December 30. A general attack on Port Arthur was commenced on Christmas Day (last Sunday), and brought the besiegers’ lines nearer Liaotishan. Chinese who left Port Arthur last Wednesday report that Russian forces greatly inferior to their assailants defended the outermost trenches for three days, arid only retired when the Japanese artillery was able to enfilade them. The besiegers, fearing mines, did not venture within two-thirds of a mile of the trenches. The Japanese at Dalny report that the Japanese forces have captured Yangthuban Hill, enabling them to harass the land communications between. Liaotishan, Itszshan, and Antszeshan. GREAT ASSAULT ON WEDNESDAY. CAPTURE OF ERLUNGSHAN FORTS. A STOUT RESISTANCE. LONDON, December 29. ■ Reuter’s Tokio correspondent states that the Japanese occupied the entire Erlungshan forts (north of Port Arthur) yesterday. An official message states that at 10 o’clock on Wednesday the left and centre columns of the attacking army blew up a parapet in front of Erlungshan, carrying the parapet by assault and constructing defensive works under cover of the heavy guns. Later the Japanese troops assaulted and captured tint interior of the fort. Eventually, after a stout resistance, they captured the whole of the forts by midnight. ATTACK diTETSESHAN. FURTHER JAPANESE SUCCESSES. LONDON, December 29. Etseshan Fort (north-west of Port Arthur) contains the remnant of the Metre Hill Russian garrison of artillerymen, with fifteen guns. There are four stockades in front and two in the rear. ' The Japanese fire destroyed five guns and disabled a thousand men. OFFICERS KILLED AND WOUNDED. LONDON, December 29. , A further list of the 'casualties among Japanese officers shows that eighteen were killed and eighty-six wounded, presumably at Port Arthur. ' A FURTHER LIST. (Received December 30, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 30. A further list of Japanese losses at Port Arthur shows that 49 officers, from colonels downwards, have been killed, and 48 wounded. EAR-PROTECTORS. LONDON, December 29. A crusade against rats in. 1902 has enabled the Japanese to distribute amongst the troops in Manchuria hundreds of" thousands of small fur earprotectors. THE BALTIC FLEET. NEWSPAPERS RECOMMEND ITS RECALL. ROZHDESTVENSKY DOOMED. ST. PETERSBURG, December 29. The Russian service journals strongly recommend the recall of the Baltic fleet unless it is able to wait for the third fleet. Captain Clado, on© of the officers of the Baltic fleet who has been detained to give evidence before the International Commission, declares that Admiral Rozhdestvensky’s fleet is doomed unless the third squadron is despatched immediately. JAPANESE ON THE SEA. WAUSHIPS~NEAR java. (Received December 30, 11.55 p.m.) LONDON, December 30. Japanese warships have passed Anjer, on the west coast of Java. RUSSIA’S REFUGED WARSHIPS. LONDON, December 29. China is exercising renewed vigilance to prevent the Russian warships Askold and Grosovoi, which were disarmed at Shanghai, attempting to escape. INTERNED OFFICERS. (Received December 30, 11.55 p.m.) LONDON, December 30. ' Two Russian naval officers who wore interned in China have been indentified aboard the steamer Negretia, recently captured by the Japanese.