RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 205, 2 September 1904, Page 3

RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

The Three Days* Fight• MORE DETAILS OF THE CONFLICT, LONDON, August 31. St. telegrams estimate the Russian losses around Liaoyang on Saturday and Sunday at 3150.

Military circles in St. Petersburg declare that Liao-yang is a huge fortress—a second Port Arthur. Russian accounts state that 200,000 Japanese, with 1200 (sic, 1 guns, attacked an advanced position at Liao-yang early on the 30th under cover of a very severe artillery lire, and delivered obstinate assaults on tie Russian centre. They intl'icte<l considerable loss, and fiercely cannonaded the Russians until dark from the hedghta at WariUattu. Tiie Russian cavalry were obliged to operate in a labyrinth of defiles and marshy, narrow roads, the vegetation being above the heads of the horsemen.

The Russians claim to have captured 'ten guns, and to have repulsed all attempts to outflank them. French advices from Liao-yang state that one hundred thousand projectiles were exchanged on the 80th.

The Daily Express says that Russia is sending 160,000 of her liest troops to Harbin to conduct a war campaign. General Sakhejrofl reports that the battle lasted till nine at night. The main attack was made on the centre and left. A Russian counter-attack culminated in a bayonet charge, and many positions in the ememy s occupation. were re-take». The reserves repulsed a force attempting to turn the Russian right. During the artillery duel the batteries outranged the Japanese batteries. General Sakharofl adds that the announcement that the Port Arthui garrison iiad. repulsed ail attacks has greatly raised the spirits of the troops.

CONFLICTING REPORTS. KUROKI PRESSING ON TO LIAO-YANG. (Received September 1, 10.54 p.m.) LONDON, September 1. The first days' fighting was largely An indecisive artillery contest, the attack being uiuxnly directed at the Russian centre, while flanking move menta were developing. The Japanese repeatodly attempted to seize a round-topped lull neai which the Russian fire completely dominated. Japanese shells fell within two miles of Liao-yaitg. The Russians admitted that the Japanese located the Russian batteries .viHt marvellous precision. The Russians checked a dangerous infantry attack along the railway.

' The battle was renewed at dawn, towands the south-east, but the cannonade was lesS violent. The Rus~ Mans claim, that they repulsed the Japanese all along the line, with heavy losses; but few official details are available. :i, .A wounded Russian correspondent States that 46 undamaged Japanese guns were captured, but there is no official confirmation of this. A Ltiao-yang telegram states that the Japanese are getting round to the left flank, but this is interpreted to mean that General Kuroki has crossed tie Tai-tse River. Later news states that the Russians have effected an advance along the railway southward.

JAPANESE TACTICS. RUSSIANS ARE APPARENTLY HARD PRESSED. . General Sakharofl estimates the Russian losses yesteiday at 3000. Received September 1, 11.12 p.m.) LONDON, September 1. The Times' military critic considers the Japanese second army is .fighting a delaying action, to enable •Genenal Kuroki to prepare lor the •passage of the Tai-tse. He believes, .from Reuter's Liao-yang telegram, that 'practically the whole of the Russian' forces are in the firing line. This implies that the attack kat teen closely pressed on all sides, necessitating the utilisation of reserves.

The Daily Express Niuch-wang correspondent reports that General Kuroki is bombarding the centre, while aiso bombarding both flanks. The .western turning movement was slow in accomplishment, and not completed till late, while the eastern movement is progressing rapidly. General Kouropatkin vigorously opposed both. Seventeen heavidy-armed forts delend Liao-yang, and the Russians are very confident that the position ia impregnable.