THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13136, 21 November 1904, Page 5

THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

THE SIEGE OP PORT ARTHUR.' THE PROGRESS' OF THE JAPANESE. EEPOETED CAPTURE OF UNDEBGROUNI) CHAMBERS, AN ADVANCE ON MUKDEN. THE FEELING OF THE MASSES IN RUSSIA, END THE WAR i R0 MATTER WHO WINS, Press Association—By Telejrapb—Copyright.

A DESPERATE RESISTANCE. DETERMINED NOT TO BE CAPTURD. LONDON, November 18. r (Received Nov. 19, at 7.55 a.m.) [ General Kourapatkin reports that- a detachment. of chasseurs, after ambuscading, , endeavoured to capture 32 Japanese , dragoons at Liu-shin-pu. The latter dismounted, and their resistance was so desperate that half the dragoons were killed and the rest wounded, with the exception of three who were captured. A JAPANESE ADVANCE. WITHIN TWELVE MILES 01? 1 MUKDEN. r LONDON, November 18. ' (Received Nov. 19, at 8.57 a.m.) - Mr Burleigh vires from Tientsin that 1 tlio Japanese suddenly advanced, and are now within 12 miles of Mukden, where the sound of their machine guns can be heard. General Kuroki is attacking the enemy to the eastward of the city. RUSSIAN REINFORCEMENTS. t DEPRESSED BY RESERVIST RIOTS. LONDON, November 18. (Received Nov. 19, at 8.57 a.m.') Large reinforcements and heavy guns from Harbin are arriving at Sha-ho. The reservists' .j'iots in Russia have created a deep.and painful impression at Mnkdon. f . AN UNPOPULAR WAR. r ; SCARCELY CARE WHO WINS, j LONDON, November 20. (Received Nov. 21, at 0.50 a.m.) Two hundred Russian reserve officers, when summoned, pleaded exemption from servico owing to sickness. They were found to be fit, and were compelled to serve. Masses of the people hope a big battle will end hostilities, scarcely caring -who .wins. THE RUSSIAN COMMANDERS, j. LONDON, November 18. ' (l'.eccivedi Nov. 19, at 7.59 a.m.) General Gripenborg, the commander of the Second Manelnirian army, has left j Valna for the front. General Kaulbars commands the Third army. THE ESCAPED TORPEDOER, s THE CHEW INTERNED. LONDON, November 18. e (Received Nov. 19, at 8.57 a.m.) The crew of the Raztoropni, which escaped from Port Arthur ami reached Clii-fu, carrying their anus, proceeded to the Consulate. Tho Chinese are now protecting tfiom. 8 The Paris Petit Journal's Clii-fu corret spondent states that the Eazloropni 3 brought the Peresviet's principal officers. The Raztoropnrs crew have been in- . tenied aboard the Hai-ying.

THE BLOCKADE RELAXED. REPAIRING THE JAPANESE FLEET. LONDON, November 18. (Received Nov. 19, at 7.59 a.m.) The blockade of Port Arthur has lately been much relaxed, and the ingress and egress of merchantmen, is not difficult. Part of Admiral Togo's fleet has been sent to Japan for repairs in readiness to meet the Baltic fleet. THE SITUATION CRITICAL. , AN AMERICAN CONSUL'S REPORT. LONDON, November 18. (Reoeived Nov. 19, at 8.51 a.m.) Mr Fowler, the American Consul-general at Chi-fn, telegraphed yesterday to Mr Hay, the United States Secretary of State, that the situation in Port Arthur is extremely critical. The outer forts sro in possession of the Japanese. THE RECENT FIGHTING. SLOW PROGRESS BY JAPANESE, LONDON, November 18. (Received Nov. 19, at 8.21 a.m.) The Standard says that a heavy bombardment and hard lighting took place at Port Arthur on the 12th inst. The Japanese have made slow progress, and their recent have been heavy. The Daily Mail says that the numerous losses of the Japanese in their attack on Er-lung-shan were owing to an enfilading lire and the reappearance of a strong force from the adjacent forts after false reports of the Russian retirement. The Daily Telegraph says that the outer forts mentioned by Mr Fowler are probably Kr-hmg-shan and An-tsz-shan, lie considering Liao-tie-shan and Tiger's Tail as inner defences. AN ARSENAL EXPLODED. HEAVY MORTALITY ON BOTH SIDES. TALES OF INCREASING HUNGER, LONDON, November 18. (Received Nov. 19, at 8.36 a.m.) Reports from Tokio state that Japanese shells exploded another Russian arsenal in Port Arthur. Mr Btnnet Burleigh states that the Russians in Port Arthur make daring sorties nightly. They are in binds of 50, and throw grenades into the Japanese trenches, besides storming the outworks with bayonets. 'I'hc Russian mortality is put down at 70 daily, while the Japanese loss is greater. Admiral Togo has received orders to lose none of his ships, consequently all are kept out of the range of the land batteries. The siege thus devolves on the army. The Japanese have so far carried only a few advanced field works and lunettes. Their tunnels against the outworks on the east of Kec-kwan and Er-lung-shan anrii adjacent forts on a 203-metre-high hill are progressing, hut the lingo inner fortifications of Burdi and Kee-kwan are still'"untouched. liven the outer fort of Pan-lung is not taken. The Japanese made a blunder and brought 30ft ladders for 50ft-wide moats. The supports are therefore unable to advance. The defence has greatly changed, and its exact character is not known to the Japanese. General Stoessel's silence about events since then is interpreted in Tokio to mean that his unpublished despatch discloses a shortage of food and ammunition. Russian prisoners narrate tales of increasing hunger. It is asserted that the Russian commanders are divided on the question of continuing the defence. (Received Nov. 19, at 12.25 p.m.) The Japanese concentrated their fire on the arseual, 200 shells being thrown before it was destroyed.. AN UNCONFIRMED REPORT. MAKING THE LAST STAND. LONDON, November 18. (Received Nov. 19, at 8.51 a.m.) Ail unconfirmed St. Petersburg message published at Rome says that 1 lie Czar and a. council of Grand Dukes, generals, and admirals authorised General Stoessel to destroy the forts, dock, magazine, and vessels, and to retire with 5000 men to Fort Liao-tie-shan. GENERAL STOESSEL'S TELEGRAM. ABLE TO HOLD OUT FOR- SEVERAL MONTHS. Renter's Agency reports that General Stoessel telegraphed to the Czar that he was able to hold the town of Port Arthur for several months. The Daily Mail's St. Petersburg correspondent states that General Stoessel added that he was able to hold Port Arthur if supplied with . munitions and stores. Russia lias ordered them to be supplied at any cost. AN ATTACK REPULSED. SUPERIORITY OF NAVAL GUNS. LONDON, November 19. (Received Nov. 20, at 9.26 a.m.) The Japanese attack on Lonely Hill was repulsed. ) The Berliner Tageblatt's Tokio correspondent states that the slow progress of the bombardment on the north front of Port Arthur is attributed to the superiority of the Russian 28 and 30-centimetre naval guns, which have been conveyed to the forte." IMPORTANT POSITIONS CAPTURED. A REPORT FROM SHANGHAI. SHANGHAI, November 20. (Received Nov. 21,, at 0.50 a.m.) Rumours are current that after a furious attack on the 17th the Japanese occupied the underground chambers of important, positions at Port Arthur. = EQUIPPING A HOSPITAL SHIP, LONDON, November 18. (Received Nov. 19, at 7.55 ji.m.) The .International Committee at Shanghai are'equipping a hospital ship for Port Arthur,. ' '."r ' ' ■