BEATEN ON ALL SIDES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10303, 10 March 1905, Page 2

BEATEN ON ALL SIDES.

IN" FULL, RETREAT: JAPS PURSUING.

HKAVV CASUALTIES,

(Press Mm.— By Telegraph.—Oopyright.) LONDON, Man* 9. General Kuroki captured Munchuntun yesterday morning, and pursued the enemy iiortliwa.rds. The British colliers Venus and Aphro dite, bound for Vladivostoek, were captured "by the Japanese. Tho Japanese seizure of coal since the outset is 100,000 ton*.

The Russians evacuated the whole lineof Slmho, firing quantities of -supplies. I hey are m full retreat, north wards, the Japanese infantry pursuing them closely. A noteworthy engagement occurred south-west of Mukden. The Japanese, with 20 guns and 50,000 men, renewed their attacks every two hours. Generals Ok-, and Nogi made the «wif. U\sfc advanca of the campaign. Findinghat the enemy had been demolished, thty did not allow them to rally. Strong lines were defended lwlf-heart-edly. Many were abandoned without even a show of resistance. The Russian right was disorganised. There are indications that many Russians are m open revolt. The army corps opposed to Get^al Isogi did nob attempt to stop theL?«vanee. f^*The confusion and haste of the Russian retirement gave evidence that the Japanese rapid rushes, m constant touch with the enemy, disconcerted the plans of retreat.

The victory was greater than the cas. ualties suggest, as the morale of the Russian army is shattered. Mr John Hay learns from Tokio that there was a great Japanese victory before Mukden. The casualties on both sides were heavy. General Kuropatkin's headquarters are m a' train, their whereabouts being unknown. ','....

The Japaneisa ransacked the freight- .yard at Mukden railway station after a. series of encounters witli the Russians at close qu-ia-tens. ...

The Times' St. Petersburg correspondent reports that General Kuropatkin 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 ifcs way through Tieling Pju*, exposed im a threedays' march to the .risk of annihilation.

General Kuropatkin was reinforced a few dayis ago. . His only hope now is that these fresh troops may stall off a*crushing defeat by checking General Oku and enabling General Kuropatkin to remove stores and guns.' The Russian losses m the ten days' battle is officially given at 830 officers and 33,000 men

SYDNEY, March 9. The Japanese Consul hais been advised: — General Oyama reports that the Russians have been beaten on all sides, and are m full retreat. The Japanese are pursuing- them. The Japanese-' Consul is advised that the Japanese troops at Mukden have received >stnct instructions to preserve the sanctity of the city, whence rose the Chinese. Imperial dynasty ; also the interests of the Chinese residents m the city. (Received March 10, 7.24 a.m) LONDON, Mo i eh 9. The Japanese on the ea«t are presaimg the retreaters. Mukden on Wednesday morning reported that a heavy cannonade was progressing north-west. The walls of houses were sinking. An engagement was proceeding at the Imperial Tombs. An official report from Tokio, dated Thursday, states that the Russian retreat began yesterday, all Japanese arms vigorously pursuing the enemy. Marshal Oyama reports tluit the Japanese occupied Huajen, 50 mile 3 southeast of Shingking. The Time's sny.s that important routes from the north towards the Yalu. converge at Huaijen, and adds: ''Speaking generally, despite the immense ground to-be covered, the Japanese are successfully executing all concerted movements essential to a strategical triumph." General 'Kuropatkin, reporting oil the operations to the south and east, mentions an extraordinary ruse of the Japanese infantry, which m some places m the dim light turned their backs on the Russians and retired before its own supports upon the Russian position.

ROJESTVENSKY'S FLEET. The Temps' Antananarivo correspondent reports that Admiral Rojeslvensky's fleet has left Madagascar for Jubutil.