RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10301, 8 March 1905, Page 3

RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

ENVELOPING MOVEMENT A

SUCCESS

40,000 RUSSIAN CASUALTIES.

DESPERATE FIGHTING

(Press Asm.— By Telegraph.— Copyright .} LONDON," March 7. There is every indication that the eaiveloping movement is a success. It is reported that General Kuroki Vt scouts, advancing from northward of Fushau, communicated with General Nogi" s from the west. The Japanese outstretched wings and converging column are threatening the Tieling railway. A large. Japanese force, marching to the mountains, cut off the Russian retreat along the Mukden-Harbin road. The Japanese are only two kilometres from Chaoling, General Knropatkin's headquarters. People oni the roofs m Mukden are watching the shrapnel bursting m the swamps to the south of the Imperial tombs. '• '..'. . Generals Nogi and Oku. tire cloning m. The Swedish steamer Vcgga aiid the British collier Easby Abbey, bound for Vladivostok, have been capturedThe Russian casualties m the recent fighting are estimated at Tofcio at forty thousand. The Japanese have captured redoubts aHong the highlands north-east of Hintung■maupauilse. Exceptionally dogged- -resistance-, .was shown at Macliiapu. The Japanese were two days desperately trying to capture

Field-Marshal Oyama reports that the Stichiatun railway "station is burning. Fierce fighting continues at Kaotultng Pass. It is stated at St. Petersburg that if General Kmropatkin finds, as reported, that the Japanese used all their reserves, J ie will to-day hurl his entire force south 4__»-und south- west m am effort to smash Oyama's force. (Received March 8, 7.21 a.m.) LONDON. March 7. The second lines at Chantan was defended as obstinately as the first. Generals Oku and Nogi thereafter advancing rapidly m the face of enormous difficulties carried position! after position, often at the poiint of th© bayonet, against superior numbers, to a point 15 miles north-west of-Mukden on Saturday, when they were still advancing, except at Pataitse. and Machiapai. Tlie 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 6-iuch howitzers and machine guns. The Russians claim that during coun-ter-attacks on tlie Shaho tliey captured two machine guns and 100 prisoners. Eastwards of Pudiloff General Kuroki's troops and the Russians,* despite terrible hardships from the cold, display equal obstinacy and daring. In one instance the Russians reached the Japanese trenches, and they "bayoneted one another. The Japs charged a battery at the top of a hill and almost reached- the guns, the Russians skilfully saving them. (Received March 8, 7.32 a.m.) Advices from Mukden state that 2000 Japanese dead lie m front of Kaotuling. The Czar has promoted 160 naval •cadets to. be lieutenants a half-year m advance. The. British steamer Carlisle, bound' for Yladivostock, lias been allowed to - repair at Manila. She will probably be interned. Japanese warships are watching her. (Received March 8, 8.30 aim.) Generals Kuroki and Nodzu are holding the Russian left and centre while General Nogi rolls up the right and gets to the north-west. The chief fighting on Monday was at Fashichiao, near the Imperial Tombs, and was renewed to-day m the form of a fierce nrtillery duel. Positions' east and south of Mukden, especially at Kandolisan and! Kaotuling, were the scenes of the bloodiest fighting. The Russians claim to have repulsed 32 night attacks m two days at Kandolisan aiid to have annihilated the Japanese Guards. General Kuropatkin is straining every nerve to keep open his line of retreat from Fuslnan to Tiding.