FAR EASTERN WAR.

Waikato Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6375, 14 March 1904, Page 2

FAR EASTERN WAR.

Russians Preparing to Evacuate the Yalu.

Japanese Cruiser injured at Port Arthur.

Russians Fire at a British Merchant Vessel.

[PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT]

•JAPANESE CONFIDENT OF SEA VICTORY. NOT SO SURE OF LAND FIGHTING. BRITISH SHIP FIRED AT IN PORT ARTHUR. HULL DAMAGED AND MEN WOUNDED. REPORTED TO THE ADMIRAL. (Received March 12, 8.50 p.m.) BRISBANE, March 12. The .steamer Empire arrived from Kobe, An otlicer in the course of an interview said the Japanese were confident of victory ou the sea, but less confident as to the laud fighting. Referring to an incident at Port Arthur, when the Russians fired at a British ship leaving the port, he said Admiral Alexieff had ordered no merchantmen to leave the port. A few hours later the order was rescinded. The first vessel to cleai was a British merchant ship. When she was passing the Russian guard ship, the latter fired a shot across her bows, and before she could be brought round, two live shells crashed through her hull, seriously injuring five persons and taking the leg off one child. The captain was taken aboard the guard ship, and *ifter his papers were examined, was allowed to pass out, the Russians stating that they made a mistake. The matter was reported to the British Admiral. BOMBARDMENT OF PORT ARTHUR. THE ACTION OF THE 10th. RUSSIAN ACCOUNT. JAPANESE CRUISER SERIOUSLY DAMAGED. (Received March 13, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, March 12. Admiral Makaroff telegraphs : " Six torpedo boats left Port Arthur at three o'clock on the morning of Thursday and encountered the Japanese torpedo boats and cruisers. A hot action ensued. The torpedo

boat Vlastine discharged a Whitebead torpedo and sank a Japanese torpedo boat. " On the way back to Port Arthur the torpedo boat Stereguschtchin damaged her engine and began to founder. " Noticing her critical position I hoisted my flag on the Novik and went with the Novik and began to rescue the crew ; but five of the enemy's cruisers surrounding the Stereguschtchin and the battleships approaching, I did not succeed. " The Stereguschtchin foundered. Part of the crew were captured, part of them being wounded. " Four Russian officers were wounded, and two soldiers killed and. eighteen wounded. "The Japanese bombarded Port Arthur at long range at nine o'clock. ' They fired 150 twelve-inch shells and damaged one vessel and the harbour in an insignificant manner. '• The electric cliff batteries discharged shells which seriously damaged the Japanese cruiser Takasaga. "Th ree inhabitants of the town were killed and six soldiers wounded. Many of the enemy's shells had a seven miles range. KUROPATKIN'S FAREWELL AT ST. PETERSBURG. RUSSIANS PREPARING TO EVACUATE THE YALU. (Received March 14, 5.47 a.m.) ST. PETERSBURG, March 13. General Kuropatkin had an immense ovation on leaving St. Petersburg. The streets were densely packed to witness his departure for the Far East. The Grand Dukes bade him farewell at the stations where the Army's eikon was presented to him. LONDON, March 13. The Russians, preparing to evacuate their position, poured kerosene over fifteen thousand tons of coal, at the mouth of the Yalu, for the purpose of firing it if the Japanese should land. All the strategical points on the Yalu have been mined.