THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2660, 8 March 1905, Page 65

THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

GREATEST BATTLE IN HISTORY.

THE RUSSIANS FORCED BACK.

7>IUKDEN ISOLATED.

BOMBARDMENT WITH 100 GUNS

BOTH SIDES LOSE HEAVILY,

DETAILS OF THE FIGHTING.

GENERAL NOGI'S DASH.

THE RUSSIAN RIGHT TURNED.

WHAT IS FEARED AT THE CAPITAL.

PURSUIT OF THE RUSSIANS.

THE ENGAGEMENT CONTINUES.

ST. PETERSBURG, February 28

Military experts in St. Petersburg predict an immediate attempt to rush Sin-tsin. tin and the despatch of a column towards Tie-ling to co-operate with the western force now cutting General Kourapatkin's communications. Others assert that Japan ■will capture Tsin-che-shan as preliminary to any advance on Bin-tsi-apu-tse, with the object of obtaining command of both roads to Fu-shan.

A Russian withdrawal across the Ta-ling Range is probable, owing to General Linevitch's -weakness.

General Kourapatkin on Sunday reported that the Japanese attack- on Bin-tsi-apu-tse ■was repulsed, but he is absolutely silent about General Kuroki's operations.

The three leading newspapers, including the Novoe Vremya, protest against the folly of prolonging the war, which had •Iready cost 200,000 men and £100,000,000.

LONDON, February 28.

French advices in St. Petersburg state that the Japanese are operating to prevent succoor reaching • It is reported tha_t 60,000 Japanese are marching on Vladivostock. The Russians in Mukden report that the Japanese are in possession .of Ta-ling and also the pass between Ta-ling and Kau-tie-lirf. The Japanese llin guns are shelling Mukden. TKere is a significant silenGe on the part of the Russian press over the North Sea Commission's findings. March 1. Officials at St. Petersburg fear that the Japanese capture of Tsin-che-shan and Wan-fa-ling will enable them to attack Ea-shan and Sin-tsin-tin, turning General Kourapatkin's left, and securing 'control of one of the routes from Mukden and Vladi* vostock. If Sin-tsin-tin is captiired it is expected General Kourapatkin will abandon his position on the Sha-ho.

March 1.

Two Russian corps are building elaborate defensive works opposite the Japanese extreme left. " A large Japanese f^rce is trying to outflank them. — Severe cavalry fighting is trequent. Tb.s railway bridge was destroyed between Tiering and! Kai-yuan.

In Saturday's fight at Tsin-che-shan, east of -Ben-si-ho, General Rennenkampf was the commander of the Russians. The Chinese say the Russians lost between 1000 and 2000. /

General Kourapatkin reports that 11 Japanese attacks on the village of Tan-sing-tung were repulsed, and 100 were lulled. The Russian losses number six.

Tie Japanese repulsed- a series of attacks fcetween the railway and the Hun-ho.

TBe garrison at Vladivostock is estimated in Tokio" to number 40,000 men.

Owing to the strikes in Russia and damage to the railways, no train has started for the front for a week.

March 2.

Early on Tuesday morning five* companies of infantry surrounded the Japanese outposts on the railway bridge at Shu-pang-tai, nortfiT of the Sha-ho. Fierce hand-to-hand fighting in the trenches for two hours followed. -The Russians retreated, leaving 60 dead. •

An attempt to break the Russian centre at Fyn-dia-pu on the 25th failed, owing to-the swift arrival of reinforcements, who, shouting "We have no more cartridges," lured the Japanese near them, and then volleyed, killing 120. The rest retreated. The Russians, on the 27th, captured liao-tua-tzu, near Sande-pu, inflicting great losses' with hand grenades. Artillery fighting continues along the ■whole front of 80 miles. The Russians state that the Japanese have been driven back from the Tan-si-lai-ling and Fu-si-ling Passes. The Japanese are hotly bombarding Pntiloff Hill with siege 'guns.

It was reported at St. Petersburg that the Japanese divisions which were advancing up the Liao had reached Kalama. The Russians are forcing the fighting pn the west and centre.

The Japanese are taking the offensive on the east flank.

. TEe bridge destroyed near Tie-ling vras 200 yards long.

French advices state that General Linevitch has been driven in, taking refuge fa the Russian centre. JL eguadron of Russian dragoons

deserted across the Austrian frontier in order to emigrate to the United States. March 3. Large quantities of provisions were captured at Tsin-che-shan.

The Japanese are pressing the Russians north from a position 13 miles north-east of Pen-si-hu.

The Japanese on the Sha-ho have occupied Sunnu-pao-tsu and Te-asclii-an-hutan. The Russians brought many fiold and heavy guns on both sides of the railway, and are now shelling the Japanese.

After an active artillery duel at Wi-to-san the Japanese on the hills crept to the plain and captured three villages close to the river, the scenes of many outpost engagements. Another column captured the town of Ho-ba-ies, 15 miles from Wi-to-san.

Four hundred Japanese cavalry raided Sin-min-ting, the headquarters of the contraband trade with the Russians. The crowd of Greek and German traders was dreadfully frightened, though unharmed. The Japanese withdrew to Pau-chia-tun, where an engagement is expected. Ten" thousand Japanese are reported to be close at hand.

Numbers of Japanese, disguised as Chinese, are watching the Rau-pan-tze railway, and are expected to seize it as soon as it ceases to be neutral.

Unconfirmed reports from Tokio state that the Japanese occupied Sag-ha-lin, in the North Pacific.

The Russian 'morale on the Sha-ho is seriously impaired. There are numerous voluntary surrenders amongst the Poles, Jews, and recently-arrived European troops.

News as to the internal situation in Russia has caused intense depression among General Kourapatkin's army.

It is reported at Tokio that the Japanese right wing has advanced 22 miles south of Bu-jik, inflicting 3000 casualties. The Japanese are supplied with 1000 grenades.

Chinese,- for bribes of 3000 roubles, betrayed four Japanese officers trying to destroy the railway north of Tie-ling. All the officers were executed.

The Japanese fear General "Kourapatkin will fight a rearguard action to cover his retreat.

Prince Murat was wounded in the fighting at Hai-ching. The Japanese left wing, driving back the Russian outposts, occupied a' line from Sansmun, two miles west of the Hun-ho, to the north-west of Fo-ka-li-ta, on the east bank of the Liao.

General Kourapatkin reports stubborn fighting at Kudiasa, and that the repeated Japanese attacks were repulsed, but he admits great losses.

The Japanese thrice determinedly assaulted the village of Übenukusa, and were twice repulsed, but a third bayonet charge succeeded, the Russians retreating to the next fortified crest.

The Japanese, after several repulses, drove back the Russians to their Gao-tu-lin position.

The failure to capture Man-chen-zu necessitated General Kuroki using Ben-tsi-apu-tse as a pivot. H« is pressing General Linevitclx at the Kau-tu-lin Pass and Madgi&iden. Kudiasa is within 15 niiles of Inu-shun.

General Rennenkampf was outflanked, and! precipately surrendered the pusses of the Ta-ling range.

Two of. General Kurokf s columns are now north-east of the Sha-ho positions, which the Japs have turned.

The Russians assert that the transfer of General Kourapatkin's headquarters to Inushun shows that he is prepared to make a countei' move.

The French papers anticipate grav.e consequences to the Russians if the railway bridge be destroyed before they get over the Sungari River.

General Ruroki occupies part of the first line of the Russian defences on the hills near the A series of fresh desperate engagements all along the front is reported. **

The Russian official account states that two vigorous attacks on the Putiloff works vrere repulsed, and that the Japanese lost" heavily.

Four Japanese divisions turning the Russian right -wing on the Liao River reached Sawin-pu, 11^ miles west of Mukden. The advance was then checked.

General Stoessel lunched with the Czar and Royal Family. He urged the appointment of a tribunal to investigate the surrender of Port Arthur. General Stoessel was decorated.

March 4.

General Kuroki's Pen-si-hu force captured positions on the eastern heights of Kautulin and Chan-kau. A strong Russian counter attack at night in the direction of the Sha-ho was repulsed.

General Oku sent a detachment to reconnoitre the outposts 500 yards north of Apatai. The trenches -were captured after a desperate bayonet charge against superior numbers.

General Oku's casualties on the night of the Ist and morning of the 2nd inst. wera 2000. and the Russian heavier.

The Russians were expelled from Chantau and Su-fang-tai, and) north-west of Chantau by a converging encircling movement on bath flanks. It was conducted with, great Japanese numerical superiority everywhere . and succeeded' in assuming a nlore and more decisive character along tile whole front, General K.oui-a.uatkm's

whole aimy being forced back upon its base.

Opinion in St. Peterbburg is frankly ne k binii<-tic.

Gt-T. lal Oku occupied nine miles of the Russian positions on the right bank of the Hun-ho, capturing Chantau and neighbouring villages on Wednesday after desperate bayoneting.

Gentaal Iv-uroki crossed the Sha-ho, despite determined resistance, and by means of night inarches gained great successes. He occupied on Thursday the Russians' first line of triple defences on ihe hills beyond th.c river.

St. Petersburg reports imply that Mukden is completely isolated, the Russians retreating to Tie-ling ; also the breakdown of the railway.

Gervu'til Koui'apatkin reports that a Russian detachment at Kudiaza on Thursday repulsed a Japanese attack, inflicting enormous losses. One company was annihilated.

General Oku on Wednesday opened a terrific bombardment with 100 enormous guns, greatly damaging the Russian defences and villages on both sides of the railway. The Russians Avere unable to reply. The Japanese left is 12 miles southwest of Mukden and the x'ight near Tamagushan, 15 miles south-east of the Russian and 30 miles due ea&t of Mukden.

It is estimated that 350,000 -Japanese and 300,000 Russians were engaged in one of the greatest battles in the history of the Avorld.

A private Harbin telegram received at St. Petersburg states that the Japanese on Thursday recaptured Patiloff — Novgorod Hills — after a terrific bombardment with llin mortars. Geneiat Rennenkanipf's cavalry division were almost annihilated.

The Russians abandoned all their positions on the Hun-ho in order to escape being surrounded.

March 5.

General Kourapatkin admits that the Japanese carried the entrenchments in fiont of Kao-tu-ling and the heights of their centre positions on the left flank,, but he adds that counter attacks dislodged the Japanese. General Kourapatkin reports that the front ranks of the Japanese who were attacking his right flanks at Kao-tu-ling were dressed in uniforms of the Chambarsky regiments, who are posted at Kao tv-ling

In consequence of the Japanese head quarters' silence, the officials in Tokio are doubtful whether a general action has commenced. They anticipate a severe battle at Chui-ping-tsi, where the defeated tioop3 from Tsin-chen-san rallied.

A later report states that Commander Jinsitun, in the Kan-do-li-san region, reports that 20 Japanese battalions attacking the left flank were repulsed, leaving masses of corpses. The enemy, Yip* says, made parapets of the dead bodies. Three attacks on Kao-tu-ling were repulsed after the Japanese were within ZOO paces of the Russian trenches.

The Japanese ofßcial reports .*tate that the Russians in the direction of Sing-kin attempted several counter attacks, but they were all repulsed.

Th,? engagements now proceeding at Pensi-hu and on the Sha-ho are developing favourably-

A quantity of provisions and foiage were captured at Sin-min-ting.

A signal Japanese victory was achieved across the Sun-ho, two divisions being defeated in detail, with great slaughter. Huge quantities of ammunition were captured.

Other advices state that one division trying to i-egain another and to reinforce Mukden was driven back on Tie-ling, with great loss.

The Japanese at Sanchiapu, eastwards of Chantan, began an attack on Chantan. The Japanese simultaneously advanced from the direction of the Liao, completely surprising the Russians, who forthwith made stupendous efforts to concentrate on Mukden and appease General Nogi. The Tatter's extraordinary rapid march astounded General Kourapat-kin. Several Japanese divisions appeared west of the Japanese corps, attacking from the southwest. The fighting on Saturday was within sight of Mukdten.

During an artillery duel westwards of Mukden yesterday the Japanese shells burst within four kilometres of the Chinese Imperial tombs.

Prisoners informed the Russians that only the Japanese Imperial Guaids division, formerly attached to Kuroki, participated.

Two other attacks were made on the centra, and maintained with a fierce while the Russian right and left were pressed back on the plain between Rutiloff Hill and the railway. Masked by the smoke of the guns the Russian artilleryfire redoubled in intensity, while projectiles from the Japanese siege guns burst along the line betw.een Putiloff and Linshipu. March 6.

Russians at Mukden claim that the right flank was ordered to withdraw after the Ohantan fight. Some fighting occurred a few miles north-east of Chantan. They claim that they captured) some machine guns and some of General Xogi's Port Arthur soldier.-, also thwt they destroyed an entire Japan^.^ legiment at Chantan with shtapnel. and burned forage and the villages north of the Hun-ho. They admit their own losses weie extensive.

Geneial Oku on Thuisday evening occupied the second line o? Russian defences

on the RusMPn right, wo miles north of the fii«t line. He also gam* d tlv? v. est bank of the Hun-ho, four miles noith oi Cluntan, completely turning the Russian l'glit ilank. The fiie u:moralised th< 1 Russians, who retreated in disoid.-r. hotly puisued by night.

It is feared at St. Petersburg that the Russians abandoned the heavy guns at the tSha-ho, retreating after sustaining and inflicting losses totalling on both sides 100,000. There are persistent reports that the Japanese stormed ftha-ho-pu, andha\e taken 1000 prisoners.

Field-marshal Oyama reports that General Oku, piercing the defences stretching from Chan-tan to Sit-fan^-ti, continued fiercely to pursue, and reached a line extending from Wo-chia-pii. 15 milet. southwest of Mukden, to Ta-tic-pau. The enemy s casualties were heavy. The Japanese spoils were great, and include 10,000 bags of flour and 50,000 bales of bran cake ,ii Wan-chan-pu, and a clothing depot at Tp-han-tai.

The defeated troops from Tsin-chen-sa*i reached Sam-lung-hu. They were reinforced, and the combined forces, numbering 30,000, were driven towards Mun-cbun-tun. Feild-marshal Oyama telegraphed on Saturday that the enemy had been pushed into their base at Ti-ta, IE miles south-east of Fu-shan and Mun-chun-tun, 15 miles south of Fu-shan. The engagement continues in the direction of the Rha-ho. The Russian right extends from'Su-ku-di-apu, 14 miles from Mukden, guarding the line of retreat.

Field-marshal Oyama reports that the Japanese in the Pen-si-hu region pressed the enemy on the main defences, capturing the high lands north of Hu-t,ung-mu-pan-tse and Tan-gia-tung. Later they repelled a counter attack. Subsequently a battalion of the enemy at Fen-kia-pu attempted to penetrate to Shang-wa-fang, but were repulsed.

General Kourapatkin reports the repulse of 13 Japanese night attacks on Kan-do-li-san. General Schatiloff and Colonel Gnrko were wounded.

March 2

PARIS.

There is growing anxiety in France iespecting Russia's prospect of being able to continue the war.

TOKIO, March 3.

A domestic issue of a ten millions sterling loan was covered twice over. The Imperial household took half a million and the associated bunkers six millions. SYDNEY, March 1.

A cable to the Japanese Consul states : —

'" On Februaiy 3 our detachment attacked tL" enemy at Ching-ho-cheng t 30 miles east of Pen-si-ho. A strong snowstorm, the steep ground, and melting ice were a great hindrance to our movements, but by noon our first line managed to press closely to the enemy's position, and made a fierce attack. The enemy consisted of 16 battalions and 20 guns. Holding a strong position, with several rows of defensive works, they offered a stout resistance. At daybreak on February 24 our attacks were renewed. Grenade fighting ensued, and by evening Ching-ho-cheng fell into our hands. The enemy retired northwards, burning the town. One hundred and fifty dead were left on the field. We captured three machine guns, a number of rifles, and a great quantity of ammunition. The enemy's losses are believed to be considerable. There is no case of frostbite in our army."