The Russian Fleet.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8014, 9 December 1904, Page 5

The Russian Fleet.

(Received To-dai/, at 5.35 a.m.)

London, Last Night

The Russian Fleet arc now coaling at Jibutil from their own colliers. They are also taking in supplies.

Kuropatkin Under Fire.

A Speech in Battle.

The following account of the great battle of Shaho was received in St. Petersburg from Mukden ;— On the night of the I' 2th the Japanese overwhelmingly assailed the Kosloff and Voronezh Regiments, which retreated, leaving the second division of the 9th Artillery Brigade to check the enemy's advance. The Russian guns did not cease firing until the Japanese were within 700 yards. The Russian officers gave a grand examplo to their men. General Rialinki was mortally wounded, and Divisional Generul Smolensky was killed. The commanders oi' the 4th and lith lotteries were killed at their posts, and the commander of the sth Battery was wounded.

It was at length realised taat no human efforts could save the guns; therefore the caissons and vital parts of the guns wero removed, and the Russians retired.

On the following morning the Japanese renewed the attack, crushed the left Hank of the Korsloff Regiment, and drove it back two versts. The Voronezh Regiment, which lost most of its officers, nevertheless continued fighting with undiminished fury. Guns were posted at nine o'clock in the morning on the right bank of the Shaho, and the Russians were able to receive the Japanese with a decimating cross fire. The Japanese fell in scores. General Kuropatkin himself directed operations, and was dangerously exposed to the Japanese artillery. AC the critical moment of the battle General Kuropatkin addressedthe troops. He said : " I salute you, my brave fellows. I know that you are weary, and that you have neither slept nor eaten ; but we must all serve the Czar and country." Projectiles fell all round him, while, with ringing cheers, the Willmanstrand Regiment dislodged the Japanese by means of a bayonet charge, the Nouschlatz Regiment nobly supporting. The Japanese artillery was finally sjlenced, and the day rested with the Russians.