WAR.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXII, Issue 3681, 30 March 1904, Page 4

WAR.

RUSSIA’S INVASION OF KOREA. A CAUTIOUS JAPANESE MAEQUIS. London, March 26. K orean officials at Wiju declare that the Russians began to invade Korea on February 2. Before the 16th 4500 had crossed the border. There are ten Russian torpedo destroyers afloat at Port Arthur. Tokio, March 26. The House of Representatives at Tokio warmly and unanimously thanked Admiral Togo and his fleet for their recent achievements. Commenting upon Russia s efficiency in repairing her Port Arthur fleet, the Marquis Tamagata urged the members not to be over-sanguine, but predicted that the united efforts of abldiers and civilians, high and low, would certainly carry the war to a successful conclusion.

A NEW VERSION OF THE BOMBARDMENT. RUSSIA. FORCED TO ISSUE PAPER CURRENCY. AFFAIRS ON THE YALU EIVIR. London, March 26. A British merchant, who was resident at Port Arthur for three years, has arrived Shanghai.-He ridiculed the report that tbe defenders are in —■! - - —-.via Vyyajtion and alleges that the bombardments bayo uuue little harm and supplies are entering • freely. He also says the fleet is : rapidly making ready to regain command of the sea. A city correspondent of the Daily Chronicle reports that Russian agents have vainly tried in France, Germany, and England to raise a loan. Ho adds that she has no al- . ternative but is forced to issue paper . currency. The Japanese again attempted to block the entrance to Port Arthur with four merchantmen, which how ever, the fortress sank. The channel remains unblocked. Admiral Makaroff reports that he left Port Arthur on the 26th with battleships, cruisers, and torpordoei s to reconnaisance the adjacent islands. , General Kuropatkin has arrived at Harbin. A St. Petersburg telegram states that in consequence of .the advanee ' ot forty thousand Japanese, tbe Rus- ;■ gians retired upon the retrenchments at the Yalu river. The Japanese advance guards, with artillery, are 40 miles south of the river. The ice is breakiog on the Tain. The Japanese are expected to attempt a crossing, with the assist- , ance of gunboats, which have already arrived.

PORT ARTHUR AGAIN BOM- ' BARBED. ■ JAPS. REFUSE A RUSSIAN CHALLENGE. : JAPANESE TROOPS AT OHINAMPHO. , • London, March 28. Russian accounts state that six Japanese torpedo destroyers accom- • named by sixteen warships, which conveyed four 2000-ton merchantmen, intended to be used as fire-ships to the entrance of Port Arthur. At 2 o’clock in the morning the v Russian guardsbips and the shore ■ batteries opened on the fleet bombarding the forts, but Kirinitujl, commanding the toepedoer Silyo, torpedoed the foremost merchantman in the bow. The merchantman turned to the right, and with two other steamers, which had been struck from the forts, stranded beside.the fairway. The fourth sank near the former t' * Seven of the Silyn’s seamen were ■' killed in a fight with a destroyer, r Kicmiuijl and twelve seamen were wounded. The merchantmen’s crews escaped in boats, r- A shell damaged the Silyn’s en- ! gints and she was stranded but was refloated again. ; The Japanese convoy returned at four o’clock, but the fleet re-appeared at 5-80. The Russians advanced to meet it, but the Jap&mse withdrew. Admirol Makaroff C.-und a une- ' inch Hotchkiss aDourd the mercliaiu-i man which had been used agamsal - the tiuaeidu torpedo bouts. Admiruii Makar off reports that Lieut. Keel rone a td Ensign PellaiaLky boarded one t 0 £ the steamers the moment she

stopped, cut the electric wires and extinguished the fire intended to illuminate the entrance to the harbour.

A floating mine was afterwards found bearing an infernal machine. The landing of Japanese troops with a hundred and eighty guns at Ohinampho has been completed. Reuter's Agency reports that Russian mines are planted at the entrance to the Liao river, which is now ice free and open to traffic. The Russian torpedo destroyer, Dinni, struck a rock whan entering the harbour at Algiers, and was extensively damaged.

NIUCHWANG UNDER MARTIAL LAW. RUSSIANS USING JAPANESE COAL. CIVILIANS ORDERED TO LEAVE VLADIVOSTOCK. London, March 28. The Russians have proclaimed Ninchwang under martial law. A committee has been appointed to inquire into the case of Akeyama, a Tokio editor, who has been impeached as a spy. It is reported there is no clear evidence against the man, but the tone of his newspaper showed he was prepared to subordinate the national interests to private gain. At the committee’s instance Akeyama has resigned his seat in the House of Representatives Admiral Makaroff’s patrol outside Port Arthur on the 26th extended

4W* , On Sunday the Japanese drew away from Port Arthur in two divisions in eschelon formation, the torpedo boats like antenme ahead, while the destroyers steamed on the flanks. The vessels showed no signs of the effects of hard usage. Admiral Mikaroff’s ships, using Japanese coal, are visible for a distance of twenty miles, while Admiral Togo's, using Welch coal, are almost smokeless.

The left wing of the Japanese army is at Paksan, thirteen miles north-west of Anjn. The right wing is marching on Kangge, ninety miles north-west of Anjn. Russia in declaring Ninchwang to be under a state of war annuls the neutral Powers’ treaty rights and interferes with consular jurisdiction. It is believed it is intended as a challenge to the neutral Powers. Chinese brigands are collecting near the town in the event of a Russian retreat.

Lieut-General Vorgnctz, commandant of Vladivostock, has directed civilians not possessing eight months’ supplies to leave the town.