RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2626, 13 July 1904, Page 66

RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

THE SIEGE OF PORT ARTHUR.

THE JAPANESE CLOSING IN.

THE OCCUPATION OF KAI-PING.

A SIMULTANEOUS ADVANCE.

ALL IMPORTANT DEFILES CAP-

TURED.

ST. PETERSBURG, July 5.

The convicts in the Don district have petitioned the Czar to pardon them on condition that they volunteer for the front.

July 8. The transpoi't Oriel, fitted as a hospital ship, has left Odessa. Mr lLruger has sent £50 to the Russian fund for the wounded. LONDON, July 4.

Mr Bennett Burleigh, the Daily Telegraph's correspondent, reports that the besiegers of Port Arthur hold Chan-ling-tze, the mountain key of the position. July 5.

There are indications that the Japanese have abandoned their advance via Ta-ling, preferring to mass their forces to their right. General Kuroki, with two divisions, including the Imperial Guard, is 20 miles eastward of Liao-yang, and has occupied commanding positions

The Japanese dominate the Russians at Shimuchong.

The Times states that the Russians are threatened with a wash-out of the railway and a disaster of unparalleled magnitude. If the mountain tracks are practicable, as they usually are at this time of the year, the Japanese may surround them by holding Keller fast at Liao-yang, and pinning the Russians between Hai-cheng and Kai-ping by detached groups. The rain has put a stop to all operations. General Kourapatkin has returned to Hai-cheng.

Reuters Liao-yang correspondent states that the report that the Russians had reoccupied the Ta-ling Pass is premature. Neither side effectively occupies it, owing to the deep mud rendering the transport of guns impossible.

.rhe two armies bivouacked on each side of the pass.

Lieutenant Burnkoff escaped from Niuchwang on Saturday.

The Russians have abandoned three strong lines of entrenchments on the hills commanding the entrance to Muo-tien-ling.

On the 30th the Japanese fully occupied the pass unopposed.

Three days of downpour has converted the whole country into a bog.

When Admiral Kamimura's torpedoers •were within five miles of the Vladivostock squadron Admiral Bezabrazoff concentrated all his searchlights on the attacking vessels; then, suddenly extinguishing them, disappeared in the darkness, the rain and fog assisting his movements.

The Russian denials of losses on the 23rd of June amaze the Japanese officers, who are confident that they saw a ship resembling the Peresviet struck by a torpedo and afterwards sink.

The Japanese occupy their original positions at Ta-ling Pass.

It is officially reported at Tokio that six scouts were killed at Chang-tsu-chow on the loth in a hand-to-hand fight with 15 Russians. The latter bayoneted the eyes and mouths of the corpses, cut their chests, and picked their pockets. Details are added similar to the incident north-east of Sang-yue-cheng on the 27th.

The Russians report that the Japanese at Kai-ping, retired to the line, eight miles and a-half north-east of Sang-yue-cheng. There is a division of Japanese at Sang-yue-cheng, and about 50,000 Japanese at Sin-yen.

Mr Bennett Burleigh reports that the Japanese are landing 100 Sin guns for the biege of Port Arthur. In respons-e to General Kourapatkin's request, a large number of heavy artillery guns have been withdrawn from the fortresses on the Baltic and elsewhere and sent to the front.

General Kuroki reports that two battalions of Russians attacked the Muo-tien-ling Pass at dawn on Monday, during a dense fog. They were thrice repulsed, and pursued for three miles. They left 30 dead and 50 wounded on the field. Fifteen Japanese were killed and 30 wounded.

General Oko, reporting to headquarters, replies in detail to the alleged Japanese atrocities at Wang-fang-tien prior to the battle of Tele-szc. He declares them to be entirely unfounded. Moreover, he possesses proof that the wounded Russians highly appreciate the humane treatment of their comrades, anu cites cases of Russians cruelly treating Japanese prisoners. The General intends reporting every such Instance, as he feels that the Japanese are not fighting a civilised army.

Japan has promised Great Britain to do her utmo.st to prevent raids by Japanese* sealing vessels on the Kamselialka coa-.t and the islands off the Rus-

sian coast that are leased to a Russian company. She, However, points out that all tKe skins are mauaiactured in London.

It is reported that Admiral Skrydloff was aboard the destroyer under Lieutenant Burnkcff that was trying to reach Port Arthur.

July 6,

Detachments of General Kuroki's army occupied Feri-«hui-ling, which is the principal strategic position on the road between Sai-ma-tsi and Liao-yang. Riusian prisoners are being captured daily.

The Japanese army extends from Muo-tien-ling to Shao, Muo-tien-lina, and Shin-kai-liug Passes. The Russians, from Northern Fen-fehui-ling retreated to San-kia-tsze, and thence to Anping, joining the force retiring from Tieh-shin-tien.

Au unofficial telegram states that the Japanese vanguard has reached the Mukden road.

The Russians officially report hea\y reconnoitring skirmishes north, northwest, and south-west of Muo-tien-ling on Monday. There were 200 Russian casualties.

The Japanese have fortified Ta-ling Pass.

.Later details of the fighting at Muo-tien-ling show that tliers was a stubborn hand-to-hand conflict, the bayonets being freely used.

The Japanese were the first force to attack, and ultimately compelled the Russians to retire from Lamg-tze Pass.

Many officers (including three colonels and General Leschitsky, the commander) were wounded.

The Russian surgeons and Chaplain Remszoff displayed remarkable devotion, attending to the wounded under a violent fire, and personally removing the injured.

Everything indicates that the Russians will be gradually confined along the railway.

Two steamers of the Russian volunteer fleet (the St. Petersburg and Sevastopol) traversed the Bo.sphorns from the Black Sea. The Sevastopol flew the Red Cross flag below the commercial flag. Her hull is painted white. She is apparently destined for a hospital ship. Stores were embarked at Constantinople.

The Japanese stopped three torpedo destroyers which tried to cccorapany the Lieutenant Burnkoff from Niuchwang. Ten officers and 100 men embarked before the Lieutenant Burnkoff left Niuchwang on Saturday for her unknown destination.

A high Russian naval officer states that Admiral Withoeft will probably make a sortie from Port Arthur, try to sink some of the Japanese fleet, and then make a dash for a neutral harbour, either Wei-hai-w>3i or Kiao-chau. Ho will then surrender to the neutral Power, and thus preserve his fleet.

Admiral Withoeft reports that Admiral Togo is using the battleship Captain Pratt and the armoured cruiser Chacabuco, recently purchased from Chili.

[The Captain Pratt is a small battleship of 6900 tons, and 18.3 knots speed, built at La Seyne in 1890, at a cost of £391,000. Her principal armament consists of six 9.4 in Canet guns and eight 4.7 q.f. guns, also of Canet pattern.]

July 7. The Russian volunteer fleet steamer Smolensk passed the Bosphorus.

A majority of the wounds sustained by the Japanese at Muo-tien-ling on the 4th were from the bayonet. The Russians surrounded the outposts. The latter fought until relieved. Nineteen Japanese were killed and 38 wounded. The Russian losses were chiefly during the pursuit.

The Daily Telegraph's correspondent at Liao-yang reports that a great battle is proceeding 25 miles from here.

The Japanese are continuing to advance, intending to cut off Mukden.

Marshal Marquis Oyama and his colleagues have started for the front.

The Lieutenant Burnkoff has arrived safely at Port Arthur.

One hundred survivors from the Hatsuse have arrived at Chinampo. Many are scarred with frightful burns and bheli fragment wounds. They proceed to the naval base to join the torpedo flotilla. All aro frantically anxious to return to battle.

Under a ukase 447,302 Russians liable to service during the present year have been warned to gradually mobilise.

Chinese refugees report that Port Arthur workshops are busily employed cutting up all brass pipiug for cartridges. The column advancing from the Japanese left experienced slight resistance on Tuesday and Wednesday in the clenk to the left of the Muo-tien-ling Pa^s.

The Russians have denuded the country of food, grain, and cattle.

The Japanese cruiser Kaimon struck a mine in Ta-lien-v. an Bay on the sth inst., ami sank.

The Vladivostock squadron captured the steamer Cheltenham, laden with sleepers from Otura for Fusan. She is insured for £-10,000 against risks of

capture.

The ukase issued by the Czar mobilises all Russian naval reserves excepting (.hose in Orenburg and Finland for the Baltic fleet.

July 8

The official report from Tokio states that thre** officers and 19 men disappeared with the Jvajxuoiit

Commander Takahashi, of the Kaimon, ordered the crew into the boats, but declined to leave the bridge himself - It is presumed he was drowned. The accident occurred during a, dense fog.

Chinese refugees report that Port Arthur is completely hemmed in on the land side. The Japanese have occupied all the commanding hills within a radius of seven miles.

Advices from Chi-fu state that the Japanese are massing on the east coast of the peninsula, intending to march to a marine camp commanding the principal pa c s over the hills behind Port Arthur, whose defenders are estimated at 20,000. The Japanese occupied the same camp a week prior to capturing Port Arthur in 189 J.

A force of 5000, with cannon, landed 20 miles from Purt Arthur on Tuesday.

General Sakharoff stales that two Japanese companies of infantry and two squadrons of cavalry are 60 kilometres south-east of Mukden.

The Times' Tokio correspondent reports that the Japaneh^ have captured all the most important defiles on die two Liao-yang roads. Surprise is expressed at the feeble defence of theso positions, which are essential to the safety of General Kourapatkin's commuuications.

Russian official reports arc published showing that the Russians pressed forward and occupied Sen-gue-cheng station, but found the town too .strongly held, besides there being large additional Japanese forces in the vicinity. This is interpreted to mean that the Japanese arc attracting the Russians southwards with a view to intercepting them.

Russians report that there are rumours of a, Boxer movement in the Mukden province.

Mr Allen, the American Minister at Seoul, telegraphs that cholera has made its appearance at Autung.

A steamer from St. Petersburg, with a crew of 241, laden with coal, has entered the Suez Canal. Its destination is Vladivostock.

The Governor of Warsaw a<=ked permission to proclaim Poland in a state of siege as the only means 01 preventing a revolutionary outbreak.

Several Finnish notabilities, including the father of Schauniaun, who assassinated General Bobrikoff, have been, arrested and sent to St. Petersburg in connection with the inquiry into General BobrikofPs assassination.

A Chinese refugee asserts that the Japanese, by utilising tiie by-paths on the sth, occupied the slopes of the Takushan Mountain, the summit of which is three mile* from Port Arthur, rendering the marine camp untenable by the Russians against attack. Another Japanese division is now advancing. The Russian fort >o. 10, on the main line of defence, was captured on the 6th inst.

On Monday the Japanese secured the Lung-hwang-tung heights, six miles to the eastward of Port Arthur.

According to the Chinese, 100 Russians were killed and 40 wounded, while there were 50 casualties among the coolies sent to fetch in the killed.

Guns Avill shortly be mounted on Wolf Mountain, from which the Japanese will be able to shell Porb Arthur.

General Kourapatkin reports that the Japanese have landed a force of all arms at Tas-chwang, 30 miles west of Takushan, on the Liao-tung Peninsula.

Admiral Skrydloff reports that on the sth insfc. his torpedo flotilla bombarded Gensan, setting fire to the barracks. He also claims that Admiral Bezabrazoff subsequently sank two Japanese torpedoers.

The Daily Express's Chi-fu correspondent reports that the Japanese possess several dominating positions at Port Arthur, and everything is ready for the final assault by 20,000 selected veterans.

General Sakharoff states that the Japanese on the 6th commenced a simultaneous advance along the whole front, from the sea to the valley of the River Christan, outflanking and compelling the Russian po^ts to retire all along the line. Stubborn resistance was offered at several points.

Columns uumbering a divi&ion of infantry, two regiments of cavalry, and GO guns are mai'ching along tho railway and east of tho line towards Seu-yue-ching. On the 7tu a vast camp was discovered in the environs of Liao-hctzza.

Apparently the rains have ceased

A Vladivostock despatch, dealing with the recent naval operations, states that Admiral Togo was stationed in the Korean Straits with a force thrice as strong as Admiral B^zabrazoff's. He concealed a strong flotilla of torpedoers at Tsushima, with directions to at any cost delay the Russians until the battleships arrived. When the Russians detecied the superiority of the enemy they rapidly retreated northwards, the Japanese firing shells, which fell a mile short. When tue torpedoers attacked at first it .seemed as if the Russians had been badly trapped, since the torpedoers were excellently placed for cutting them off, but tho attack was too extended, enabling the Russians to slip through the cordon while the Japanese were trying to combine for a united dash.

July 10

Renter's Tokio correspondent states that after severe fighting General Oku occupied Kai-ping. Other reports slate £liaj; he drove out 20^000 Russians.

1 A Belgian steamer has reached Vladivostock with 100 Krupp guns. General S.ikiiharoff reports a <-lo\V Russian retreat. On Thursday the Japanese cavalry, on the right flank of ; the genera] advance, compelled his with- : dravval towards Kai-ping, whither two Japanese infantry division'- and a brigade , oi' cavalry were advancing on Friday 1 last. July 11. After three clays' operations, General Oku occupied Kai-ping at dawn on tho 9th in^t., when the Russian*- retiied to Shan-lunan Pa^, a little north of the town. Subsequently they weie driven from three other positions, finally concentrating at Detch. General Sakaluiroff estimates the casualties at 100 (including Count Nyrodt, chief of the j staff). General Kuroki reports that on '.he night of the 9th in<=t. a Japanese detachment expelled 300 Russian cavalry and occupied Kin-ehang, 23 mile-, north of Sai-natse. Thirteen hundred Co=,sacks on the sth attacked a Japanese detachment north of Feng-chu-ling. They were repulsed, and retired north. Four Japanese were killed. European and Chinese refugees agree that a Japanese division, aided by the fleet, is making .strenuous efforts to secure a position east of Port Arthur, commanding the town and naval basin. A Russian refugee asserts that the Russians on the 7th surrounded ana captured the Japanese battery on Taku-shan ' Mountain. Private hou-es in Port Arthur have , been turned into hospitals, and wounded are arriving all day. During a storm on Friday night torpedoers approached Port Arthur, and J discovered and attacked the cruiser j Askold. The result is unknown. I Zalmsky states that four torpedoers ■ tried to force the entrance. Two were 1 sunk and a third injured. The t'omth escaped. J The Daily Mail's Tokio correspondent ' states that the Japanese on the 4th captured Lung-wing-tung, the first post between Dalny and Port Arthur. General Sakaharoft reports that the Japanese cavalry are lowly advancing by the shore road to Ying-kow. The Standard states L.at it is announced at St. Petersburg that 30,000 Japanese have occupied the heights at Poi-t Arthur, enabling them to seriousiy damage the fortifications unless they are ■ dislodged. The Russians intend making ; a sally. i i Chinese junkmen report that on the j sth over 800 Russian dead, including two officers of high rank, were brought to Port Arthur by Chinese coolie^. They I assert that tho Japanese are within sis 1 miles of the town, and have captured ! another Eastern fort. Rains have converted the streets and squares of Liao-yang into lakes. I PARIS, July 11. I The St. Petersburg correspondent of ' the Matin asserts that both sides- lost heavily at Kai-ping. i BERLIN, July 5. j j The German newspapers ridicule the idea of Japan yielding ground, and assert that Kuroki is quietly working north, ' intending to debouch 011 the plain between Liao-yang and Mukden. ! July 8. I ( M. De Witte, the Russian. ex-Minister

of Finance, is vi-iti»ig here, ostensibly to hasten the conclusion of a commercial treaty. His object is, interpreted in some German circles a 5a 5 an attempt to ue~otiatc a loan. j ° PEKING, July 5. The general commanding the Chinese soldiers who recently killed Lewis Etzel, the Tientsin correspondent of the Daily : Telegraph, has been sentenced to five years' imprisonment and fined £5000 for compensation to the relatives. I July 8. • The British squadron ot Wei-hai-wei unexpectedly left there. It is reported that Admiral Xoel A\a= instructed to leave the Gulf of Pechili, and that hi? ships are now anchored in Yang-chiug Bay. The cloop-of-trar Espiegle, under a , mistaken intcrpietation of the British j Consul's message, anchored in the Niuchwang River, but returns to Ching- . wang, as the Ru<-<-ian-> objected .to her presence. The sloop, ppndina her departure, took anchoraop in the mouth of 1 thp river. The Russian*, oppose her re- ! entry. i SYDNEY, July 8. ! The Japanese Consul has received tha _ following cable : — "Admiral Togo reports ! that the coast defender Kaimon, while on a special minion, during a thick fog struck a Russian mine and sunk. Three officers (including Commander Takahashi) and 19 non-commissioned officers , and men are missing. The rest were saved."