RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2666, 19 April 1905, Page 26

RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

WHAT JAPAN WILL DEMAND.

RUSSIA DRIVEN OUT OF THE FAR

EAST.

THE RUSSIAN RETREATERS.

THE BALTIC FLEET.

A NEEDLESS SCARE

ROZHDESTVENSKY STILL MOVING.

A JAPANESE WARNING.

ROZHDESTVENSKY'S LAST CABLE,

MOVEMENTS OF THE FLEET.

THE JAPANESE ADVANCE.

MARCHING ON KIRIN.

OUTFLANKING THE RUSSIANS. ST. PETERSBURG, April 15. Only the first half of the Eussiail internal loan has been issued lately. Subscriptions falling short, bankers covered the deficit, and' are now unloading. Th>e> second half will shortly be floated. ° April 16. The Nbvoa Vremya characterises H.M.S. Iphigenia's reporting the whereabouts of Admiral Rozhdestvensky as spying in the interests of benevolent neutrality. LONDON, April 11. The Czar has sent a messenger with aii autograph letter to General Linevitch. It is believed to contain instructions relating to the issue of the war. Japan is preparing to reinforce Marshall Oyama until he commands an army of 1,000,000 men. By the autumn lie will have 700,000 men in the fighting line. The Daily Mail's Singapore correspondent asserts positively tnafc seven Russian battteships passed Singapore on Saturday. He further declares that the Japanese Consul confirms this statement, after going in his launch close enough to identify eacn ship ; also, that the naval authorities at Singapore had reported to the Admiral at Hongkong the pa-ssage of seven battleships. It is surmised that part proceeded to Muntok to meet the colliers. It is believed that the Japanese are off Cape St. James, awaiting the other Russian colliers. Reports from Jibutil state that Admiral DubogatofFs squadron is proceeding to Diego Garcia to meet colliers. Six Dutch warships have left Batavia for Pulotugo, near Singapore. The German steamer Strtive, bound from Saigon for Manila, sighted on Sunday two Japanese cruisers heading for Singapore. While the Baltic fleet was at Nossib& many of the men deserted. There were eight executions for insubordination. French St. Petersburg advices state that Admiral Rozhdestvensky intends to reach Saigon for repairs, and there await Admiral Dubogatoff. The Russian Admiralty

battle near Saigon, as it will enable the

fleet to take refuge in case of need. Russia is opening a credit account, repayable in five years, for additions to the navy, including 15 scouts, 50 destroyers, and 100 torpedoers.

April 12.

Mr Griscorn, United States Minister at Tokio, reports that Kelung and Formosa are closed to foreign trade. This is supposed to indicate that these ar-e Admiral Togo's base.

Four large steamers, supposed to be Russian colliers, passed Singapore yesterday.

The Hague advi«es that a Dutch squadron has proceeded to Anambra to preserve neutrality. The Russian ships are still anchored 10 miles north-west of Anambra.

Though some reports state that Admiral Dubogatoff is off Socotra with the third squadron, from the Baltic, according to a St. Petersburg telegram he is expected to join Admiral Rozhdestvensky in 10 days.

Japanese warships aie cruising along the Cochin-China coast to prevent the Russians provisioning and coaling.

The French gunooats Acheron and Styx are leaving SaigDn to protect the neutrality of French waters.

The cruiser Descartes and five torpedoers are off Cape St. James.

The Japanese are scouting in the direction of Anambab.

Lloyd'& Singapore agent states that tlie Russian fleet included seven battleships.

The Russian Admiralty expresses delight that the fleet is undivided, and hopes that Admiral Rozhdestvensky will keep moving in oider to avoid the torpedoers. Nevertheless, there is fatiil much conflict of opinion whether the battleships are with the main fleet.

The Daily Telegraph's Singapore correspondent soys that he is positive that the Sissoi Vehky was the only battleship that passed on Saturday

A Bata\ia telegraui asserts that no Russian ships are at Muntok.

Lloyd's Avar rates on neutral steamers bound to Japan have risen 10s per cent. April 13. Chin etc spits report a lar^o J^p.iiicse force m.iicliu!? on Vluc'ivo'-totk. Thirty thousand of < inner il Nodi's column are trjui^ to cut til. Rui^iau couiuianii Aiious.

hopes for a

In the fight in Tsin-sia-tun on the 3rd the Japanese repulsed the cavalry, killing Prince Massalski and wounding 36 Cossacks.

The k-utlej and Iphegenia have arrived at Singapore. The Sutlej reports passing the Baltic fleet, including seven battleships, at daybreak on Tuesday, 550 miles north-east of Singapore, steaming northwards. The Japanese captured the Norwegian steamer Henry Bolskow, supposed to be a Russian collier.

All of Admiral Togo's battleships have been rearmed with heavy guns

The Russians at Vladivostock are experimenting with six submarines. The Japanese are able to oppose against the Baltic fleet five battleships aggregating 60,000 tons and eight armoured cruisers aggregating 73,686 tons, carrying 20 12in, one lOin, and 30 Bin guns, to seven Russian battleships aggregating 87,344 tons, two armoured cruisers aggregating 14,727 tons, carrying 24 12in, four lOin, and eight Bin guns.

The Nutra, which arrived at Singapore, sighted the Russian fleet of 42 vessels 100 miles south-east of Cape St. James. The Times' St. Petersburg correspondent 6ays that it is deplorable, but true, that many Russians are against welcoming a defeat of Admiral Togo,-because such an event would imply the defeat of all hopes of reform." The Sasebo Prize Court rejected the steamer Oyakleo's appeal.

April 14,

Many additional batteries and redoubts tave been erected at Vladivostock. Enoranous stores are being accumulated.

It is reported that the garrison will be increased to 100,000, with 500 guns. The Japanese are strongly entrenching at Tsu-Kn-shu.

Captain Klado declares that divers scraped the bottoms of the ships of the Baltic fleet at Madagascar. Their speed is undiminished.

The Times' Paris correspondent says the 'Baltic fleet intends to coal somewhere southeast of Formosa and then dash for VladiTostock.

The Baltic fleet is apparently proceeding north by the shortest route, leaving Admiral Nebogatoff ■to follow as a reserve. It is believed the Japanese cruisers Chitose and Kasagi have been in touch with the Russians for some time.

'J.he Russian Admiralty thinks the first engagement will be near Formosa. The Times says it is probable the Baltic fleet will steam east of the Pescadores, in order to avoid torpedoers. Count Oknma, interviewed at Tokio, said Hussia must be deprived of all strategical advantages in the Far THast, and not allowed to keep fleets on the Chinese or Japanese coasts. Port .Arthur, Vladivostock, and Saghalien must be annexed.

It is reported that before leaving Anam•foas the Baltic ilset, imagining that the Japanese were approaching, opened) a useless bombardment, causing rumours of a

naval engagement.

April 15.

The Russian retreaters from Kai Yuen have reached Kirin, leaving a rearguard of 8000 at I-tsu-chan, Hak-lu-su, and Su-li-:pan.

The Russians from Chang-tu and Fa-ku-men are rallying a# Chang-chung, but 13,000 remain at Feng-hua and 3000 at Pa-mien-cheng to check the Japanese adTance.

It is officially reported at Tokio that the Japanese on the Fu-shan - Hai-lung road, after defeating a Russian regiment of infantry and six sotnias of cavalry with four guns at Erh-hulo, eight miles north-east of Ying-pan, occupied Tsang-shik, 20 miles north-west of Ying-pan. The Russians fought eveiy step, retreating to Hai-lung, where there is a rearguard of 12,000.

Four German colliers anchored at Cape St. James have resailed. Japanese destroyers are making ready to sally. The Russian hospital ship Orel remained 36 hours at Saigon. She took food," medicine, and 900 tons coal. Captain Klado has been severely reprimanded for criticising the Admiralty. Count Lamsdorfi has tardily expressed to Sweden Russia's keen regret at the Baltic fleet firing upon the ATdebaran in passing over the Dogger Bank. April 16. Admiral Rozhdestvenßky's voyage with the Baltic fleet to the north-east continues. Japanese newspapers declare -that should the Balic fleet stay at an Indo-Chinese port Japan will be compelled to regard it as a Russian naval base. France, China, and Holland have been warned) that breaches of neutrality are tolerable west of Singapore but unendurable eastwards. Admiral Rozhdestvensky overhauled the P. and O. Company's steamer Poona between Saigon and) Singapore, and allowed lier to proceed on her voyage. A St. Petersburg telegram to the Echo <!e Paris reports that Admiral llozhdestvensky's last cable read : " I shall not telegraph again before the battle. If I am beaten, Togo will tell you ; if victorious, I will announce it."

General Linevitch reports that a body of Cossacks on the 10th discovered a force of Japanese in the Hun-ho Valley, and that the ■Russians turned their position on two sides. Th*s Japanese fled westward. Many colliers are arriving at Hongkong awaiting orders which will be opened at (Amoy. The Russians are aiming to establish a base at ihe Pescadores Islands for their coaling and final preparations. The Matins St. Petersburg correspondent Xeports that Admiral Rozhdestveusky in-

tends awaiting the arrival of Admiral Dubogatoff s squadron before meeting Admiral Togo.

The steamer Teiamnchas has arrived at Hongkong. She reports that she heard firing 150 miles northward of Natuna Islands on Wednesday. The North German Lloyd's steamer Pxinz Heinrich has arrived at Singapore. The captain states that he sighted at noon on Friday 18 of Admiral Rozhdsstvensky's vessels at Kamonan's Bay, Annam. He ?ays possibly more warships were inside the harbour.

The steamer Marmoras reports that she sighted five Russian battleships Sdeg S., 92deg. E. on the 3rd. Coupled with other reports, this shows that the vessels steered due east to avoid shipping, then vrent through the Straits of Malacca. Advices from Saigon on Saturday state that it is believed that Admiral Eozhdestvensky intends to revictual on the coast of Saigon. Field Marshal Oyama' reports that the Japanese from Shin-king are driving the enemy northwards. On Friday they occupied Yin-ching, 35 miles north of Shinking. Detachm-ents of the same force, eocperating with cavalry, occupied Pa-chia-Izu, 14 miles north-east of Hei-s-heh-mu. A regiment of Russian infantry, six sotnias of cavalry, and a battery, near Pa-ohia-^zu, retreated in confusion through, Pc-ling Pass northwards.

Advices received from Kung-chu-ling ■state that a large Japanese force is heading for Kirin beyond the reach of the Russian outposts. A large force of Chunchuses is proceeding north beyond' the reach of the Russian right. The Japanese are driving the villagers into the Russian lines, causing great con-

fusion.

PARIS, Apiil 16

The Petit Parisien reports that the Bogatyr, Rossia and Gromoboi have been repaired, and ai'e ready to leave VladrvosWASHINGTON, April 14.

The cruiser Raleigh has started for Cuyas, in the Philippines. Washington officials hint that the commander has obtained information of the contemplated cotirse of' the Baltic fleet. «