THE WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1371, 4 February 1905, Page 2

THE WAR.

GENERAL ITEMS.

By Tolograph—Press Association — Copyright London, Fob 2. The Japanese seizure of imsooitant outpost positions on General ICuropatkin s right renders it necessary to alter the entiro disposition of the Russian army. The Japanoao, through Chinese merchants, are circulating accounts of events which occurred at St. Pctarsburg on the 2nd. The Russian forcos are much discouraged. Japanese medical and surgical statistics indicate an astonishingly low rate of mortality with General OUu's army. Between May and Decomber 24,642 cases of disoaso were treated, in which 18,578 recovered, 40 died, and 5609 wore sent to Japan. The figures uro unequalled in the history of warfare. During the same period 210 of General Oku’w oflicors and 4917 men were killed, and 743 ollicers and 20,337 men were wounded. Sixteen per cent, of the wounded died.

RUSSIAN ANXIETY. CASUALTIES IN RECENT FIGHTING REGIMENTS ANNIHILATED. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright Received 10.4 p.m., Fob. 3. London, Feb. 3. Anxiety is felt at St. Petersburg respecting provisioning General Kuropatkin'B army in April and May, when the whoia of Manchuria's resources will be exhausted. Marshal Oyama reports that tho Japanese casualties in recent fighting were 7000. Prisoners state that four Russian regimeutß of infantry were nearly annihilated. Many companioa wore reduced to twenty or thirty. DETAILS OF PORT ARTHUR’S = SURRENDER. Fremantle, Feb. 3. Mail nows by tho s.s. Octona gives an interesting account of the final scene at Port Arthur. General Stoessel sent under a flag of truce a message stating that he considered further resistance was useless, and asking Goneral Nogi to oppoint commissioners to meet. The conference took place at the little Chinese hamlet of Suessi, two miles from Port Arthur. General Ijichi and Colonel Reiss deliberated in the compound of a tiny thatched cottage. Twice the parletnentairs separated and went to their respective tents before tho peace document was ready te be despatched to General Stoessel. The conference was a lopg one. ; There was no parade or formality bet yond tho posting of a single Bentry near I the entrance to the compound. A strange stillness reigned over the belligerent lines, broken by an occasional detonation, telling of tho destruction of the fleet in the har-

Finally, when dusk set in, Cieneral btoossel Bigned the document and telegraphed informing his Imperial master of the oourse he had been forced to take. The conference broke up after the envoys on both Bides had dined together. The final success was not quickly realised by the Japanese, for while nothing seemed to interfere with the usual routine the feeling was one of relief rather than exultation, but when a telephone message informed the investing army that its task was accomplished, this almost weird selfcontrol in a measure relaxed and “banzais” echoed through the camp, bengal lights flared from captured ridges and lit up the night, white bivouac fires for the first time were allowed to blaze up, there being no need for concealment of positions. Many Russian soldiers came out of the fortress and joined tho Japanese at the camp fires, exchanging vodka for sake.