THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13199, 4 February 1905, Page 7

THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

. LOSSES IN THE RECENT ... FIGHT. ;v ■ RUSSIAN REGIMENTS , decimated! PEOVISIOMKG THE ItUSSIAN '. AItMY. ' Anxiety in St. Petersburg. Press Association—By Telegraph— Copyright. EFFECT OF THE RECENT FIGHT; LONDON, February 2. (Received Feb. 3, at 8.32 a.m.) The Japanese seizure of important outpost positions on Kourapatkin's right renders it necessary for him to alter the entire disposition of the Russian Array. ' THE RECENT CASUALTIES. REPORTS BY RUSSIAN PRISONERS. LONDON, February 3. (Received Feb, 4 at 10.4 p.m.) Field-marshal Oyama reports that the Japanese casualties in the recent fighting totalled .7000, Prisoners state that four Russian regiments of infantry were nearly annihilated, many companies being reduced to 20 or 30. • ■ : • CIRCULATING BAD NEWS. THE RUSSIANS DISCOURAGED, LONDON, February 2, (Received Feb. 3, at 8.32 a.m.) The Japanese, through Gliineso merchants, are circulating accounts of the events which occurred at St. Petersbury on the 22nd through the Russian forces, who are much discouraged. VICTUALLING THE TROOPS. RUSSIANS GETTING ANXIOUS. LONDON, February 3. (Received Feb. 3, at 10.4 p.m.) Anxiety is felt, at St. Petersburg; respecting the provisioning of General Kourapatkin's avmy during April and May ;> when the whole of Manchuria's resources' will be exhausted.JAPANESE MEDICAL STATISTICS. A LOW RATE OP MORTALITY. LONDON, February 2. Roceived Feb. 3, at 8.29 a.m.) The Japanese medical and surgical statistics indicate an astonishingly low rate of mortality in General Oku's army. Between May and December, 24.642 men were treated for disease, of whom 18,578 recovered, 465 died, and 6609 were sent to .Japan. These figures are unequalled in the history of warfare. For the same period 210 of Oku's officers and 4917 men were killed, and 743 officers and 20,337 men Wounded. Sixteen per cent, of the wounded died. THE SURRENDER OP PORT ARTHUR. FREMANTLE, February-3. (Received Feb, 3, at 10.40 a.m.) The Ortona's files give some interesting accounts of the final scene at Port Arthur. General Stoessel sent, under a flag of truce, a message stating that ■he considered further resistance useless, and asking General Nogi to appoint Commissioners to meet. A conference took place in a little Chinese hamlet called Suessi, two miles from Port Arthur. General Ijichi and Colonel Reiss deliberated in the compound, whore there was a tiny thatched cottage. Three times the parlemelitaires Separated and Went to their respective tents before the document was ready for despatch to General Stoessel. The conference was a long one, but there was no parade of formality beyond the posting o£ a single sentry near the entrance of the compound, A strange stillness reigned along the belligerent lines, broken by an occasional detonation, telling _of the destruction of the fleet in the harbour. Finally, when dusk set' in, Stoessel sighed the document and telegraphed to inform his Imperial master of the course he had been forced to take. The conference broke up after the envoys from both sides had dined together. The final success was not quickly realised by/the Japs, and for a while nothing seemed to interfere with the usual routine. The feeling was one of relief rathor than of exultation, but when a telephone messago informed tho investing army that their task was accomplished this almost weird self-control in- a measure relaxed, and "banzais" echoed from the camp. Benxal lights flared on the captured ridges and lit np the night, while bivouac- fires for the first time were allowed to blazo up, there being no need for concealment of their positions. Many Russian soldiers came out of the fortress and joined the Japanese at their camp fires, and exchanged vodka for sake.