TO-DAY'S CABLES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 12761, 14 January 1905, Page 3

TO-DAY'S CABLES.

i SUC'CIitfSKUh LOAN FOR RUSSIA. RUSSIA'S OPINION OK CHINA'S NEUTRALITY, j. RccL-ived January 11, 8.34 a.m. London, January 1.5. A Russian loan in Germany and Holland has bfon covered tenfold. Aa oflic-ial report from Port Arthur stall's that tne Russians, before and after the surrender, acted in .perfect fairness. , Six hundred .Jai)ane-.e naval c-fllcors have ljeon promoter]. Russia has sent a circular to the Powers, in which s-he claims the right to act in her own interests in the matter of Chinese neutrality, which is constantly being violated, China being unable to fulfil her obligations. SKIRMISHES BETWEEN FORCES. Received January 11. ?.38 a.m. London. -January !.'>■ The Japanese repulsed a Cossacks' attempt to cut the railway at J!aicheng, and defeated a detachment of Cossacks at Uoneiwan in Korea LlJlijTg nine. AVAR NOTES. Tort Arthur lias avoided us. a \ aluablo lesson. We jiow understand that, despite the corruption in tho Russian army, the latter can display wonderful powers of resistance. The" enemy is not to be oespistxl. But the final victory is ours.— Count Okiiina, in Press, Nagasaki. Probtably the vast fields of subterranean warfare before Port Arthur wore constructed by those same engineers of Rueter's Agency who drew the water from tho sea to inundate the forts.— Russ, St. Peters'bur^. The only chance for the Japanese lies in the fact that the organisation of our tnrco armies is not yet completed, and our antagonists may consequently horo t o fall upon us at an awkward moment. — Russ, St. Petersburg. The fate of Admiral Rozhrleetvcnssky's squadron is of tho greatest mi. portanee, not oniy as regards Russia's position as a naval Power. Tt must not be forgotten that this squadron is not only our last hope' on sea, but also our last naval reserve. — Russkiya Vyedeitnosti. 'Hope, that winged goddess, hovers over us, and whispers soothingly. "Be of good cheer ; the God of Russia is powerful ; many a great deed will yet be accomplished!" iAnd '.avc wo a right to doubt it ? Tho stronghold of tho Russian national ppirit is impregnable, and the rest will follow of itself.' — Pcterburgskaya Gazeta. Tho Chinese Minister in Tokio has wired that the only return for driving the Russians out of Manchuria that the Japanese arc preparing to demand is the Chinese Railway, and this has given groat satisfaction in Peking, The "Chinese Eastern Railway," however, has before now proved an clastic ierm.r-Ti.im*. Peking. THESE "LITTLE" JAPS. A correspondent of the ''Russkoye Slovo"' writes as follows to a friend in St. Petersburg from the ♦.heatre of Win* concerning Japanese tactics : — " Yes. we were greatly 'nistaken when Me called them 'little Japs." We ha\e never before had to deal with such skilful opponents. P J hey have included in their tactics all modern methods, strictly adapting them to their own national peculiarities. For instance, knowing the weakness of their cavalry, they never allow it to p,o unsupported. There is always infantry behind it, and our cavalry often runs against it. not expecting its presence. The Japanese reconnais'-ance is effected thus : A compact force of nilemen marches, sustained by screens, and patrols move about five vcrsts ahead. At a distance of three versts the scouts are preceded by a number of Chinese. These last come to the Russian lines. eNamine the camp, and make signals d) th" Japanese concerning the whereabouts of t\v> cavalry patrols. As the country is mountainous, they advance at the rale of seven versts a day. entrenching and fortifying- every «lep they take. Their path" is an uninterrupted row of fortifications. Knowing the excitable, impressionable

temper of their soldiers they never pursue tho enemy before ►•ettling down in good order upon the position occupied, because during a pursuit troops often become disarranged. Judging by their operations, one could imagine they are the most phlegmatic and methodical people in tho world — so strong- in their military education and their knowledge of tho art of war. They very reasonably avoid the bayonet. Their leading ranks run away to the right and left, opening the front for the fire of the succeeding lines. Running round these to the rear, they again form their ranks, thus taking the place of reserves. Jf tho troops uncovered arc unable to step our attack by fire they repeat the manoeuvre. What self-control, what discipline are required in order to do this, and what a consciousness of strength ! When they are on the march it is all but impossible for them to meet with any surprises. In addition to the men detached for guard, they surround their columns by chains of scouts, who advance alone; the crest of tin 1 elevations. Movement under such conditions may be slow, but it is sure."