THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2661, 15 March 1905, Page 24

THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

THE BATTLE OF MUKDEX. THE RUSSIAN DEFEAT. RUSSIAN MORALE SHATTERED. SWIFT RUSHES BY OKU AND NOGI. THE RUSSIAN RETREAT. KOURAPATKIN WANTS TO RESIGN. MUKDEN OCCUPIED. DISLODGING THE RUSSIANS. THE RUSSIANS IN A BAD PLIGHT. LOW THE SUCCESS WAS- ACHIEVED. LARGE SUPPLIES SECURED. JAPANESE CAPURE 500 GUNS. RUSSIA LOSES 200 : 000 MEN. THE CZAR DEPRESSED. ST. PETERSBURG, March 10. The report that Mukden had fallen -was received "in Warsaw \rith delight. Tho newspapers desir-ed to publish extra editions, but were peremptorily forbidden. March 11. The disaster at Mukden is only beginning to dawn upon the population of St. Petersburg. No information has yet been published, General Kourapatkin' s messages being "cooked" The latest, dated (Friday, sa ys: — "The retteat of all our armies began last night. No fighting, but rifle and cannon fire kept up all night," General Kourapatkin's earlier private message asked for Rvissia's oldest city's prayeis for victory at Mukden. LONDON, March 7. The second line at Chan-tan was defended as obstinately as the first. Generals Oku and Nogi thereafter advanced rapidly, and in the face of enormous difficulties carried position after position, often at the point of the bayonet and against superior numbers. They pushed on to a point 15 miles north-west of Mukden on Saturday, and were still advancing. Except at Pa-tai-tse and Ma-chia-pu the Russian resistance was spiritless. Many threw away their arms and clothing. The Russian centre near the railway began retiring on Saturday night, the Japanese capturing some 6in howitzers and machine guns. The Russians claim that during their counter attacks at the Shaho they captured two machine guns and) 100 prisoners eastwards of Pudiloff Hill. General Kuroki's troops and the Russians, despite terrible hardships and the cold, display equal obstinacy and daring. In one instance the Russians reached the Japanese trenches", and the men bayoneted one another. The Japanese charged a battery to the top of a hill, and almost reached) the guns, the Russians skilfully saving them. The chief fighting on Monday was at Ta-shi-chiao. near the Imperial tombs, and was renewed to-day in the form of a fierce artillery duel, the positions to the east and south of Mukden, .especially Kan-da-li-san and Kao-tu-ling, being the scene of the bloodiest fighting. The Russians claim that they repulsed 32 night attacks in two days at Kan-da-li-&a,n, and that they annihilated) the Japanese Imperial Guards. General Kourapatkin is straining every nerve £o keep open his line of retreat to Fu-shan and Tie-ling. Generals Kuroki and Nodzu are holding the Russian left and centre, while General Nogi rolls up the right and gets in their rear. Advices from Mukden state that there are 2000 Japanese in front of Kao-tu-ling. It is announced at Tokio that possession of Mukden and the line of the Han-ho is already assured, and that the railway north of Mukden will be cut. Thirty thousand Japanese are entrenched five miles west ef Mukden, and others six miles south. The Russians are alarmed, andi have burned the Government buildings preparatory to a retreat. Civilian refugees are pouring into Tie-ling and Sin-inin-ting. The Japanese have occupied the telegraph office at Sin-min-ting. Fighting is heard far north of Mukden. Field-marshal Oyama's despatches imply that Geneial Kuroki is turning the Kao-tu-ling position. It is reported at Tokio that General Kourapatkin has alr.eady commenced a general retreat, and his now partially enveloped position is highly critical. General Bilderling, south of Mukden, is calling in the reserves. (Received March 8, at 7.32 a.m.) The Czar has promoted 160 naval cadets to be lieutenants half a year in advance. The British steamer Carlisle, bound for Vladivostock, was allowed to repair at Manila. She will probably be interned. Japanese warships are on tlie watch-.

March 0General Kourapatkin continues to leso-

luLely defend) Fu-shan. Field-marshal Oyama reports slow but favourable progress in the Man-chu-tun district. He also r.-ports the repulse of a Russian division near the Imperial tombs.

The Daily Telegraph's Tokio correspondent reports that Gen.eral Kourapatkin left a rear guard, consisting of 20,000

picked troops, and is retiring. Advices at Tokio state that the Russians' both wings were outflanked. The Morning Post says the issue depends on whether the Japanese flanking is numerically strong enough to retain a grip of the enemy. The Standard 'reports that 63 officers, 12 engineers, and 2000 seamen at Sevastopol have been ordered to join the remainder of the Baltic fleet at Libau. The long duration of the battle was foreseen. It is expected to continue for several days. General Kuroki is within two miles -.i the railway, and is vigorously bombarding Mukden. After two nights' close fighting witn hand grenades at Wi-tu-shan, east of Mukden, General Oku captured the two last villages in the angle formed by the railway and the Hun-ho. The Russians are fiercely resisting. It is believed that they are attempting to hold the railway at any cost until the main army retires. The present battle is remarkable for the general recourse to heavy ordnance and flanking movements of an unprecedented magnitude. Reuter's Agency in Mukden reports that the Japanese continued their encircling movement, one of their divisions being further extended in the direction of Tieling. -■= Meanwhile the Japanese maintained * steady attack on the south front. The Russians retain their centre stronghold, but on the south-west they are re treating to their second positions, and the right wing has been thrown back on the Russian settlement near Mukden. The Russians have been fighting for seven days on the defensive. Their resistance on the whole is undoubtedly weakening. A number of Japanese wounded wer<s brought into Mukden along the Sin-min-ting road. Russian accounts admit that their losses exceed those at Liao-yang, but they clarr> that the balance of the recent figtiting Is to their advantage. The Times' St. Petersburg correspou dent says that the Russians rely on the fact of the Japanese front extending for 100 miles, and conclude that, as at Liao yang, the enemy will be unable to strik: 1 anywhere decisive! y. General Kourapatkin this time lef usas to leave his position at a mere menace; on his communications. Some critics attribute General Kourapatkin's inability to crush a tired foe to frittering away bis cavalry on useless reconnaissances. Advices from Niu-chwang state tbat 1000 Russians are moving southwards on the east bank of the Liao to attack '•he Japanese rear. The London underwriters' losses on Vladivoptock war risks amount :o £1,360,000. The war insurances on +he steamers Eidswold, Oceana, and Norge, from Australia to Vladivostock, have cancelled, the underwriters losing £180,000. — [The Norge left the Bluff quite recently with a cargo of oats, et<\, clearing for Guam.] March 9. The Russians evacuated the whole line of the Sha-ho, firing quantities of supplies, and are in full retreat northwards. The Japanese infant iy are pressing them closely. Noteworthy engagements occurred southwest of Mukden. The Japanese, with 200 guns and 50.000 men, renewed their attacks every two hours. Generals Oku and Nogi made the swiftest advance of the campaign. Finding the enemy demoral-. ised, they did not allow them time to rally. The strong lines were defended half-heartedly, and many were abandoned without any show of resistance. The Russian right is disorganised. There are indications that many are almost in open revolt. One army corps opposed to General Nogi did not attempt to stop the advance. The confusion and haste of the Russian retirement is evidence that the Japanese rapid rushes in constant touch with the enemy disconcerted the plans of the retreat. The victory is greater than the casualties suggest, as the morale of the Russians is shattered. General Kourapatkin's headquarters are in a train 2 but his whereabouts are unknown. The Japanese ransacked the freight yard at the Mukden Railway Station, after a series of encounters with the Russians at close quarters. The Times' St. Petersburg conespondent reports that General Kourapatkin has informed the Czar that the enormous mass of Japanese north-west of Mukden necessitated an immediate retreat-. It is feared at St. Petersburg that the army may be compelled to cut its way through the Tie-ling Pass, exposed in a three days' march to the risk of annihilation. General Kourapatkin was reinforced a few days ago. The only hope now is that these fiesh troops may stave off a crushing defeat, checking General Oku, and enabling General Kourapatkin to remove his stores and guns.

The Russian losses in the 10 days' battle is officially given at 830 officers and 33,000 men.

Tho British collier^ Venus and Aphrodite, liound ior Vladivostock, were captured by the Japanese. The seizure of coal since the outset of the war totals 100,000 tons.

An official repoit from Tokio, dated Thursday, says : '" The retreat began yestei(Siy, and all the Japanese arms are vigoiously pursuing the en-emy."

FL-ld-marshal Oyama reports that the Jajmnese occupied Hu-ai-jen, 50 miles south-east of Shing-king.

I It is officially announced that the general { Russian retreat commenced early on Wednesday. The crowds in Tokio are celebrating the victory. Field-marshal Oyama reports that the Russians are defeated at all points, and ar.a in full retreat, with the Japanese pursuing. Eight thousand Russians were found dead in front of General Oku's lines alone, i The Japanese estimate that the united i total losses exceed 100,000 men. | The Japanese admit that their own losses I are 50,000. ■ The Japanese batteries of heavy guns to> the north and south of Mukden are harassing the retreat of the Russians. The centre is retreating in great confusion. The Japanese to the east are pressing the I retreat ers back on Mukdien. ' On Wednesday morning reports of a heavy cannonade were heard from the north-west. ' j The walls of th-e houses are shaking, and , an engagement is proceeding near the Imperial tombs. General Oku's left column had a fierce fight seven miles north of the Hun and five miles west of the railway with a force three times their superior in numbers. The casualties were 10,000. Fighting is proceeding at San-tai-tai, oa the railway, ten miles north of Mukden. Reuter's Tokio correspondent reports that the Japanese have cut the railwaynorth of Mukden. Field-marshal Oyama has forbidden masses of troops to enter Mukden, in order j to ensure respect to the Imperial tombs. j Tie Times says that important routes j from the north towards the Yalu converge j at Hu-ai-jen. i The same paper adds that, speakingj generally, and despite the immense groxmd I to be covered, the Japanese are successfully executing all the concerted movements which are essential to a strategical triumph. General Kourapatkin, reporting on the operations south and) east, mentions an extraordinary ruse of the Japanese infantry^ In some places, in the dim light, they turned their backs on the Russians, and retired before their own supports upon the Russian position. M. Presseuse is to interrogate M. Delcasse regarding Rozlidestv.ensky's prolonged stay in French waters. French financiers hesitate to launch a, I fx'esh Russian loan beyond 20 millions sterling. j The Temps's Antananarivo correspondent reports that Admiral Rozhdestvensky's fleet has left Madagascar for Jibutil. Russia is ordering half a million shrapnel shells. Eighty thousand have beea entrusted to a French contractor, who is obtaining the cases from Birmingham ani filling them in France. The Times' underwriting correspondent admits that the cancellation of the policies of three Australian steamers for Vladivostock was premature. March 10 It is reported) that General Nogi by forced marches of 25 miles a day, cooperating with General Oku's left, surrounded a great force of Russians near Tieling, and intercepted supplies for General Kourapatkin. General Nogi passed a Russian division, but paid it no attention ■ until the enveloping was completed. He • delivered a crashing attack on all sides. ! The Daily Telegraph's Tokio correspou- | dent declares on official authority that i 200,000 Russians are enveloped in a, 1 central position and surrounded. I Some of the Russians in Mukden are retreating by the northern highways. General Linevich's force is scatterei among the hills south of Fu-shan. General j Kamimura's six divisions of territorial troops are in the vicinity. Advices from Mukden state that the entire Russian south front is retiring. Field-marshal Oyama reports: — The whole district west of the i*ailway and „ southward of the Hun-ho is in Japanese 'hands. The Japanese, despite obstinate resistance, occupied by Si-eschi-tun, five miles north-west of Mukden, Pa-chi-as-tin, two miles north-east of Si-es-chi-tun, and also* San-tai-tsi. Our force destroyed the railway north of Mukden, the enemy since Wednesday frequently shelling our killed and wounded during transit on stretchers and carriages. Westward of Nung-kuan-tun, 12 mil^s south-west of Mukden, the j enemy continues an obstinate resistance -n places. General Kourapatkin's despatches deal with the repulse- of the Japanese at various parts. He claims to have inflicted heavy los&es. He mentions his falling back on entrenched positions. General Kourapatkin reports that he has withdrawn from the Sha-ho to positions on. the right bank of the Hun-ho. A Russian battleship, four cruisers, three transports, and four Gcrmin colliers laid off Zaffarine Islands for 24 hour*. They were ordered to proceed, but pleadV I damage. Some proceeded, anrl the rest remained threo days. All proceeded oast. * Admiral RozUdestvensky has started to

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meet Admiral Diebogatoff s division of the Baltic fleet at Jibutil. The Russian contract for the purchase ©I a number of the Hamburg-American liners has collapsed owing to inability t<s agree. Only two were purchased. Reuter's Tokio correspondent reports that the Japanese occupied Mukden today. General Kuroki has occupied Ti-ta. "General No'dzu, observing signs of wavering amongst General Bilderling's forces on ihe Sha-ho, eastward of the railway, began the attack on Tuesday night, and dislodged the Russians from their very strong .entrenchments. Generals Kaulbars and Bilderling are threatened with heavy loss if they attempt to follow the direct Mukden-Tie-ling road. The only other avenue of retreat is the "eastern road from Yeng-pan to Tie-ling, through the Wan-kia-kou Pass. It is stated in St. Petersburg that General Rennenkampf's cavalry has been jvithdrawn to the south-east to reinforca General Kaulbars, and not to the' west 'of Mukden. After the Japanese had. occupied the basin of the Hun-ho some terribly bloody fighting occurred on the left bank, especially for the possession of Diu-shun-tun, six miles west of Mukden. The Russians offered an obstinate resistance to the capture of Diu-shun-tun, because mortars can- bombard the city from that position. Reuter's Niu-chwang correspondent reports that circumstantial reports state that Mukden was practically captured on Thursday morning. Thousands of prisoners, many guns, and enormous quantities of stores were taken. St. Petersburg telegrams to the French newspapers report that the disaster to the Russian arms exceeds the most pessimistic forecasts. The Russians are terribly exhausted. Feeling throughout Russia is incensed against the Czar for continuing the war in opposition to Ministers' advice. Four of Admiral Rozhdestvensky's warships are reported virtually incapacitated, owing to their armament being too heavy. Coaling is exceedingly difficult. Russia has ordered the Antwerp firms to cease shipping meats, explosives, and ammunition to Admiral Rozhdisstvensky. A collier that arrived at Durban reports that the ships of the Baltic fleet are covered ■with seaweed, rendering it impossible for them to proceed. Advices, from Niu-ehwang state that the Japanese request the carriage of 450 tons of rice to Sin-ming-tin, and threaten, unless the^ demand is complied with 3 to seize the railway, explaining that heretofore there iiad been no interference with the constant shipment of wheat and coal for the itussians. The Japanese therefore dtmand impartial treatment. The British steamer King Arthur, captured leaving Port Arthur in December, •has been confiscated, the Sasebo Court, disallowing the written Russian statement tz the captain of the vessel that he seized the cargo confiscated by the Russians while bound for 2s T iu-chwang. March 11. Nearly all the heavy and many of the field guns were captured. General Kuroki is advancing north-west and forcing the Russians towards General 2sogi. Detached bodies trying to escape northeast are demoralised. There no prospect of provisions in the hills. Field-marshal Oyama, in confirming the occupation of Mukden and captures, says : " The enveloping movement completely attained its object. The fighting, which was of the fiercest description, continues at several points in the vicinity " of Fushun, which "was occupied on Thursday night. The Japanese are now . attacking .the enemy on the heights northward." General Oku, after determined resistance, captured S>u-ja-tan station and the jSTiam (Russian) depot on Thursday night. He seized enormous supplies, including six million cartridges. General Nogi's swift, resolute, and unexpected advance on Sin-min-ting and Mukden were the chief cause of the Japanese success. The Japanese afterwards drove a wedge througn the Russian centre on the Hun-ho, practically surrounding Mukden. The wedge reached Ham-pu, north-east of Mukden. The Russians, retiring north along the railway in confusion, were caught between the "wedge and the extreme Japanese left, north-west of Mukden. The 'Russians were heavily punished, the retreat becoming a rout, the Japanese shelling the fugitives. The Japanese Minister of War congratulated Field-marshal Oyama, who replied that the success was due to the Mikadc-'s virtues and the gallantry of the officers and men. The Times' St. Petersburg correspondent reports that the General Staff states that ■General Kaulbars, reinforced by several of Generals Linevitch's and Bilderling's corps, .Tfithstood General Oku's onslaught north of the Hun-ho. General Kourapatkin personally directed the battle, freely exposing "itimseli. Dembrovsky's corps were engaged all Wednesday night north of Fu•ling. They sustained terrible losses. The .Seventeenth Corps went to their support, and repulsed the Japanese. General {Kourapatkin hoped to extricate his army Xfnder cover of a duststorm, but General JOku, resuming the attack, drew the best [Russian troops to Sa-yai-tse and Wan-phen-tan, where terrible fighting followed. The Japanese succeeded in cutting the railway seven miles north of Mukden. They are also spelling the Mandarin road.

railway seven miles north of Mukden. < They are also spelling the Mandarin road.

March 12. It is stated in Tokio that the Japanese captured 100 guns and 50,000 prisoners. Russian killed and -wounded are estiWriSated at 100,000. Some of the Japanese arc> 15 miles from Tie-ling. Two Russian divisions westward of Mukden are considered lost. Field-marshal Oyama estimates that the Russian prisoners will exceed 30,000. The Japanese casualties so far are 41,000. The military and civilians in St. Petersburg are not aware of the disaster at Mukden, and are holding a we.ok's carnival festivities. I Reuter's Tie-ling correspondent says that ! the position of the Russians on Thursday ' seemed good, though critical. ! Fighting is imminent to the west of the railway between Mukden and Tie-ling. General Kourapatkin reported on Friday that his retreat was v.cry dangerous, and especially trying to the corps at,.a distance from the Mandarin road. The Japanese cannonaded the route of retreat to the east , and west near Ta-wan and Pu-ho, but, • thanks to the extraordinary efforts of their armies, the Russians are out of danger. The Russians are said to have decided to send half a million troops to Manchuria, hoping to transport supplies by water when i the rivers are navigable. It is understood in St. Petersburg that Admiral Rozhdestvensky is not returning, as his battleships are unable to pass the Suez Canal without unloading. J March 13. 1 The Japanese estimate that 300,000 ; Russian infantry, 26,000 cavalry, and 1368 ' guns participated in the battle. Field-marshal Oyama on Sunday evening reported that in connection with the operations on the Sha-ho alone the prisoners exceed 40,000. The Russian casualties are estimated at 90,000, including 26,500 left dead on the field and prisoners. The Japanese expect the prisoners and casualties represent 40 per cent, of the Russian forces. They expect a considerable force will rally at Tie-ling, though 1 they will be unable to withstand) a strong ] attack. { Japanese papers urge a vigorous prosecu- ! tion of the war, Leaving Russia to~ initiate ' peace. j The number of captured guns and tli? quantity of spoils are steadily increasing. At present these comprise 2 flags, 60 guns, 60,000 rifles, 150 ammunition waggons, j 1000 carts, 200,000 shells, 25,000,000 caftridges, 74,000 bushels grain, 46 miles 'of light railway, outfit for 2000 horses, 23 cartloads of maps, 1000 cartloads of clothing and accoutrements, 1,000,000 s rations of bread, 70,000 tons of fuel, 60 "tons of i hay, besides much miscellaneous property. j The Japanese cities are celebrating the victory quietly, and devoting the savings to war charities. The Government will intern the prisoners on the islands in the Inland Sea. The Japanese captured the British steamer Saxon Prince with contraband for j Vladivostock. i Details of the battle of Mukden show that the Russians' retirement from the Sha-ho to the north of the Hun-ho was orderly, though great piles of ammunition were abandoned. The rapidity of the pursuit rendered the strong defences north of the river untenable. The Japanese captured the bridge and the defences south of the river, compelling the Russians to destroy the railway bridge. The Japanese crossed the river just before the ice softened, bringing their guns and pontoons. The central army pierced the Russian line 10 miles east of Mukden, dividing;, the Russians into two forces. Then commenced a general closing of the Japanese on Mukden in all directions, General Oku's right occupying the city on Friday morning. Another column, pushing north from Pu-ho, 13 miles north of Mukden, engaged hand-to-hand a large column of retreaters, eventually surrounding and capturing them. During Thursday's dust storm the Japanese advanced their batteries nearer Mukden, and otherwise improved their position. During the height of the storm an uncanny stillness prevailed. The city and j streets were deserted, and the shops were shut. The Russians evacuated Mukden on Thursday night, leaving the lights burning in the houses to deceive the Japanese. The Russians marched by the road on the east side of the railway. At first the retirement was orderly, but the rapidity of the pursuit and the difficulty of advancing under the heavy fire on both flanks soon caused a stampede, and the wholesale abandonment of stores, guns, and waggons. At dusk on Friday the rearguard reached San-tai-tze, when they were thrown into great confusion by the sudden onslaught of the Japanese cavalry, who threw hand grenades. Around Mukden the Russian corpses were too numerous to inter. General Zerpitzky died of his wounds, and General Makhimoff was captured. An officer of the Russian General Staff informed a French newspaper that the Russian losses exceeded 100,000, 100 siege guns, and 300 field guns. General Kourapatkin, who was with the second army, states that there was no fighting on the night of the 10th. General Guershelman with the rearguard held his j>ositions at Chu-tai Station on Saturday morning. General Kourapatkin on Saturday evening reported :— " The Japanese on Saturday only attacked the Third Siberian Army Corps. The first army encheloned in front of the other armies, and continued the retreat on the positions appointed for all

the armies. The rearguard of the third army occupied on Saturday a position on the Mandarin road, 17 miles from Tie-ling, confronting a small force, chiefly Japanese cavalry. The Russians missing from roll call from February 28 to March 11 are : 1100 officers, 46,391 men." The Czar is greatly dejected. A Russian newspaper correspondent describes the retreat as a rout. Everywhere there was panic owing to the Japanese artillery. The whole country between Ta-wan, Pu-ho, and the railway is one great chaos, baggage trains all hampering and crowding each other, only intent on getting away. For' several hours the troops were in hopeless confusion. Clouds of diust made it extremely difficult to see even the direction of the road. Ultimately the panic diminished, and the troops then attempted to collect some of the abandoned waggons. The Times' St. Petersburg correspondent states that General liourapatkin has reached Tie-ling with the remnant of his army. H. 5 asks the Czar's permission to resign, alleging tho urgent need of physical and mental rest. Official despatches record the loss of 500 guns, 20 colours, and over 200,000 men. Though the worst is withheld the public is stupefied, as last week's despatches related only successes. Had General Kourapatkin ordered a retreat on the Bth, as lie first intended, he would have averted disaster. When he retreated on the 10th the Japanese swarmed from east and west, andi placed batteries commanding the line of retreat. By sacrificing his guns General Kourapatkin saved part of his forces, though the retreat was a sauve gui pent. The first fugitives reached Tie-ling within 30 hours. PARIS, March 12. The Temps, in th.c- course of an article comparing Russia to France in 1870, strongly appeals for peace, which, it says, though bitter, is essential. Russia's wounds, it adids, will be easily healed. SYDNEY, March 8. The Japanese Consul has received a cable reporting that repeated Russian counter attacks on Tita and Man-chu-tun on the 6th were repulsed, the Japanese occupying a height two miles south of Man-chu-tun, and in the direction of Pen-si-hu. They occupied the heights south of Pai-tzu-kou, driving the enemy towards San-chia-tchu. It also repoi'ts that in the direction of the Sha-ho a counter attack was repulsed. East of the railway an engagement is proceeding. West of the railway th.c Russians are offering a stout resistance on the right bank of the Hun-ho. A division of Russians and 70 guns were repulsed at Ta-chi-chio. March 9. The Consul is advised that Field-marshal Oyama reports that the Russians were defeated on all sides, and are in full retreat, with the Japanese pursuing them. The Japanese Consul lms been that the Japanese troops at Mukden have received strict instructions to preserve the sanctity of the city, whence rose the Chinese Imperial Dynasty, also the interests of the Chinese residents of the city. Mr John Hay learns from Tokio of a great Japanese victory before Mukden. The casualties on both sides were heavy. General Kuroki captured Man-shun-tan yesterday morning, and pursued the enemy northwards. March 13. The Japanese Consul is advised that --a Japanese detachment, which started from Pu-ho on the 18th inst., overtook a large column of the enemy retreating northwards. After a hand to hand struggle they enveloped the Russians and compelled' them to surrender.