The Land Fighting.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12478, 15 September 1904, Page 3

The Land Fighting.

SIEGE OF PORT ARTHUR. LUCKY FIND BY RUSSIA. LONDON, September 13. The St. Petersburg correspondent of the " Cologne Gazettereports that a secret depot, established at Port Arthur before the Chino-Japanese war, was recently unearthed. It contained' between 60,000 and 100,000 shells, several hundred old Krupp guns, large quantities of powder, rifles and cartridges. KURORT'S FAILURE TO ENVELOP. THE KEY OF THE RUSSIAN POSITION. SANGUINARY ENCOUNTERS—APPALLING LOSSES.

LONDON, September 13. Detailed accounts show that General ICuroki's failure to get round the Russian left and cut the railway north of Liaoyang was due to General Kuropatkin's foresight in sending a greatly superior force across the Taitse.

Some of the most-sanguinary encounters occurred around Heiyentai, the key to the Russian position. On the night of September 2nd, the Japanese stormed the heights at the point of the bayonet, and held the position all next day, despite heavy losses. The Russian ■ right, with reckless bravery, gained the summit, but prolonged bayonet fighting resulted in; the Russian defeat with appalling losses. At the same time the Japanese attacked the Russian batteries. By means of electrical devices the gunners ascertained the exact position of the assailants, mowing them down in swathes. One battalion was annihilated, dying in heaps before the guns. There were three thousand casualties around Heiyentai. .* Russian newspaper correspondents it Tiehling report that the Japanese' have withdrawn ten versts from the Russian rearguard to prepare for future movements. The Russian plundered the Chinese and European shops in Liaoyang, and destroyed the foodstuffs. Much liquor was drunk, and many excesses were committed. The Chinese troops after the evacuation • ontinued the pillage, n ud the Japanese, who were without food, completed the looting of provisions. Dr Westwater, a distinguished Scotch missionary who was reported to have been stabbed by famishing Japanese soldiers at Liaoyang, is succoring 200 injured, aged imd children at Liaoyang. The " Daily Mail's Tientsin correspondent reports that General Luiviteli, with 50,000 men in north-eastern Korea, cut General Kuroki's communications with Fengwihengcheng. REPORTS NOT CONFIRMED. THE DEFEAT AT LIAOYANG. Received 11.10 p.m., September 14th. LONDON, September 14. Reports 'regarding Luivitch's expedition and S'assalitch's disaster are not confirmed. M. Nordern, the correspondent of the Paris " Journal" cabling news which was not censored, from Tientsin, attributes the Russian defeat at Liaoyang to lack of enthusiasm among the troops who were very weakened and dejected. The Russian army needs doubling, regulars replacing all the reserves. He concludes by stating that it is impossible for the Russians to resume the offensive for some time. RUSSIAN REINFORCEMENTS. Received 11.30 p.m., September 14th. LONDON, September 14, The Russian- General Staff state that ten corps have reinforced General Kuropatkin since the battle of Liaoyang, and that his army now exceeds 200,000 men with 300 guns. It is believed at St. Petersburg that when the Japanese attack Mukden General Kuropatkin will leave a rearguard of 50,000 men, while the rest retire to Lichling. WAR UNDER ENORMOUS •DIFFICULTIES. THE SITUATION' SAVED. TWO DAYS' DESPERATE FIGHTING. Received 0.8 a.m., September 15th. LONDON, September 14. General Kuroki's report shows that his army encountered enormous -difficulties in holding the 1 highlands of Haiyentai, owing to constant Russian reinforcements, and the very disadvantageous position of the Japanese artillery. The situation was saved after two days' desperate fighting by the opportune arrival of the third Japanese column; - • Marshal Oyama states however many corps Russia mobilises, Japan caii duplicate with better troops and much moye expeditiously.