RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10300, 7 March 1905, Page 3

RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

JAPANESE SUCCESSES ALL ALONG THE LINE.

BRILLIANT STRATEGIC MOVEMENT.

RUSSIAN TROOPS DEMORALISED

PREPARATIONS TO ABANDON MUKDEN.

THE NAVAL OPERATIONS

JAPANESE SQUADRONS SIGHTED

(Press Asm.— By Telegraph.— Copyright.i LONDON, March 6. Russians at Mukdfen claim to have ordered the right flank to withdraw after Chantan. Fighting occurred a few miles north-east of Chantan. They claim to have captured some machine guns, and some of General Nogi's Port Arthur soldiers ; also to have destroyed an entire Japanese regiment, at Chantan with shrapnel. They Durned forage at villages north of the Hunho. They admit their losses were extensive. Japanese at Sanchiapu, eastward of Chantan, began au attack on Chantan. The Japanese simultaneously advanced! from the" direction of Liao, completely surprising the Russians, who forthwith made stupendous efforts to concentrate at Mukden to oppose General Nogi. The latter's extraordinary rapid march astounded General Kuropatkin. Several Japanese divisions appeared to the west, andl Japanese corps were attacking from the south-west. The fighting on Saturday was within eight of Mukden. During the artillery duel westwards of Mukden yesterday, tlie Japanese shells burst within 14 kilometres of the Chinese Imperial tombs. Prisoners informed! Russians that only the Japanese Imperial Guards division, formerly attached' to General Kuroki, participated-. No other attacks were made. The centre maintained) a fierce demonstration, while the Russian right and left were pressed back on the plain between Putiloff Hill and the railway. Masked by the smoke of the guns the Russian, artillery fire redoubled m activity, -while projectiles from the Japanese siege guns burst m a long line between Putiloff and Linohipu. Field Marshal Oyama reports : Genera? Oku, piercing the defences stretching from Chantan to Sufangti, continued to fiercely pursue, and! reached the line extending from Wochiapu, 15 miles southwest of Mukden, to Tatsepau. The enemy's casualties were heavy. Our spoils were great, andi include 18,000 bags of flour, 50,000 bales of bean cake ut Wanchanpu, and' the clothing depot at Tabantai. Defeatedi troops from Tsinchensan reached' Samlunglua, where they were reinforced, -andl the combined forces, numbering 30,000, were driven towards Manchuntun. Field Marshal Oyama telegraphed on Sautrday : Tlie enemy has been pushed into the base at Tita, 15 miles south-east of Fushan, and Munchuntun, 15 miles south, of Fushan. The engagement continues m the direction of Shaho. The Russian right extends to Sukudiapu, 14 miles from Mukden, guarding the line of retreat. General Oku on Thursdiiy evening reoccupied the second line of defences on t'lie Russian right, two miles north of the first line. He also gained the west bank of the Hunho, four miles north of Chantan, completely turning the Russian right flank. The fire demoralised the Russians, who retreated' m disorder, hotly pursued until night. It is feared at St. Petersburg that the Russians abandoned) tlie heavy guns at Shaho, retreating after sustaining and inflicting losses totaldinc on both sides 100,000. There are persistent rumors that the Japanese stormed) -Shaho-pu., and have taken, 1000 prisoners. Marshal Oyama .reports that the Japanese m Pens-iho region pressed the enemy on the main defences, capturing the highlands north of Husungmupantse and Tan ziatung.' Tlie latter repelled a, counterattack. Subsequently battalions of the enemy at Fenkiapu attempFed to penetrate Shangwafang, but were repulsed. General Kuropatkin, reports the repulse of thirteen Japanese night attacks on Kandolisan. General Schateloff and Colonel Ghorki were wounded. (Received March 7, 8.29 a.m.) LONDON, March 6. Reuter's Mukden correspondent says that the turning of the Russian righD at a complete :right angle resting on Linshinpu is considered the most remarkable strategic movement of the war. The Japanese infantry brilliantly crbssed the Shaho on Tliursday night, winning a front two miles across by crawling up bare stoney hills like leeches. General * Kuroki, after a fierce fight, captured the second line of defence of the Russians. - The latter maintain their main defences eastwards of the railway along the Shaho. A battle is now proceeding with General Nogi west and north-west of Mukden. The Russians have not tasted food for two days. General Nogi m three days transformed tlie entire position. It is apparent that the Japanese made a feint east, attracting the bulk of General Kuropatkin's reserves. Meanwhile General Nogi <jrassed' the Hunho southward of the Russian position, seized Simminting, and is operating on the plains west, ward of Mukden, where there was no neutral line of defence. General Oyama reports that westwards of the radlway the Japanese are continuing fierce attacks. They occupied Fuchiuying, five miles west of Shahopu and Laishenpau, or Hianshanpu, three mile* northward of Fuchinying, thence Buhupau, five miles further north-west. The eaiemy were drislodged at Laintuan. Reuter's Agency reports that two hundred Russian scouts eastward of Nhichwang, moving north, have reported to Niuchwang tliat the Russians are burning Mukden station, stores, preparatory lo retreat.. Their right is represented as panic-stricken. Reuter's agent with General Kuroki reports a victory beyond the Hun river over two Russian divisions. The latter belonged to the 16th corps. Owing to the Sinmingting raid, outposts at the various stations were recalled to strengthen Mukden. Some of these on Friday encountered tlie Japanese at Laopiene. The Japanese, m the face of a driving dust storm, fired shrapnel from thirty guns at close range. Tlie Russians were demoralised and fired wildly. From high ground with good cover they were routed by machine guns, stationed m a clump of willows. It is reported that five Russian officers and two hundred men were killed. Their comrades, abandoning the wounded, retreated to Tieling. The lines captured at Ghamtau extend twelve miles eastward.' The Russians retreated m disorder on their heavy defences south of Mukden. General Nogi, following the Liao northwards, intercepted round aud drove four sotnias of Cossacks wath twenty-six gueis to Tieling. The Russian wounded were abandoned. It is reported at Mukden that a strong force of Japanese at Fakumen moved south-east towards Tieling. General Kuropatkin states that the Japanese advance guard surrounding his right flank approached within eight versts of Mukden station. . (Received) March 7, 8.35 a.m.) LONDON, March 6. The Japanese advanced- "on the left and capturedi bills four miles south of Mukden. The Russians' movements lack co-ordi-nation and co-opera-lion. Two Japanese squadirons are 100 miles south-east of Hongkong, steaming rapidly. Tlie Czar's declaration! that the Russians' power, must be predominant inj the Pacific Ocean has created' amazement m Russia and abioadl: