RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVII, Issue 8491, 26 May 1904, Page 2

RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR

[By Electric Telegraph.—Copybight.] (Per Press Association.) Received May 25, at 9.56 p.m. London, May 25. The leading newspapers of Britain and America are emphatic in denouncing tha reckless sowing' of the ocean- with floating mines, which they characterise as a savage disregard of neutral rights. Sir W. H. Walrond, speaking at Hemyock, urged the necessity for prompt action to stop the indiscriminate use of mines. The American naval attaches in various capitals have been instructed to report upon th« danger to neutral shipping from mines floating on the Manchurian coast, and the information will be submitted to the Naval Board, whose report will be presented to President Roosevelt, and representations, if necessary, will be made to the belligerents. The ice- on Lake Baikal is breaking up. The Orel incident is attributed to malefactors. General Kuroki reports that a section of the infantry encountered 200 Cossacks eight miles north-east of ICwantien. The Cossacks fled north-east, leaving 20 dead. Received May 26, at 0.59 a.m. London, May 25. TKe Times' correspondent at Feng-hoang-cheng, writing on the 13th, says : "The army will remain here for 20 days, pending developments on the part of the army landed at Pitsuwo. The Daily Telegraph's St. Petersburg correspondent states that military experts estimate that there are 200,000 Japanese west of the Yalu. Generals Kuroki's and Oko's forces are being strengthened daily. Received May 26, at 8.37 a.m. London, 'May 25. It is reported at Mukden that Cossacks have captured several' transport columns, thus hampering General Kuroki; The Japanese are closing Yongampho to mercantile traffic. This is supposed to be a prelude to landing part of a third army at the Yalu. ■ The Japanese treat the captured Russian spies as prisoners, and do not shoot them. The intricate nature of the minefields prevented the occupation of Dalny. The fleet are unable to adequately co-operate. General Stoessel has seized all the banks* cash at Port Arthur. A Chefoo telegTam reports that heavy firing was heard near Port Arthur, indicat--ing a land attack, since the Japanese fleet are not there. 1 . The Assistant-President of the Canadian • Pacific railway is confident that the light, badly-constructed Manchurian railway will ! be unable: to victual half a million Russians. Received May at 7.55 a.m. ■ London', May 25. Fourteen, vessels of the Black Sea fleet, , including several battleiships, are mobilising in readiness for service. General Kuropatkin's despatches with reference to skirmishes prove that the Japanese are gradually pushing inland. Professor Wooisey, of Yale College, a leading authority on the subject, declares that mines anchored or scattered beyond tie ; territorial limit foirim an indiscriminate attack npon neiitKtls by the belligerents, and that such sowing of mines is illegal.