THE WAR

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1396, 6 March 1905, Page 2

THE WAR

GENERAL ITEMS. By Telegraph—Press Aasoolation—Copyright , London, March 3. ■ The Japanese loft wing, in driving back the Russian outposts, occupied a line from Sansmun, two miles we6t of the Hunbo, to tho north west of Taltalita, on the oast bank of the Liao.

General Kuropatkin reports stubborn fighting at Kudiusa. Repeated Japanese attacks were repulsed; General Kuropatkin admits groat losses. Tho Japanese thrice determinedly assaulted the village of Übonukusa, and wore twicD repulsed. The third bayonet chargo was successful. Tho Russians retreated to tho next fortified crest. The Japanese, after several repulses, drove the Russians to Gaotulin, but failed to capture Manchoupu. General Kuroki, using Bentsiaputso as a pivot, Sis pressing General Linievitoh at Kantulin Pass, Madgiandau and Kudiassa, within fifteen miles of Inushun. General Rennenkarnpf, being outflanked, precipi.Jftely surrendered the passes of Taking range. Two of General Kuroki's columns are now north-east of the Sbaho positions, which they tnrned.

The Russians assert that the transfer of General Kuropatkin’s headquarters to Inuehun shows that he is prepared for a counter move.

French papers anticipate grave consequences if tho Japanese destroy the railway bridge before the Russians get over the Sungari. General Stoessel, the defender of Port Arthur, had lunoh with the Czar and family. He urged the appointment of a tribunal to investigate the surrender -of Port Arthur. General Stoessel has been decorated.

Received 9.39 a.m., March 4. General Knroki occupies part of the first lino of Russian defences on the hills overlooking the Shaho Valley. There has been a serties of fresh desperate engagements all along the front. The Russian official account states that two vigorous attacks at Pudiofi were repulsed. The Japanese lost heavily. Four Japanese divisions, turning the Russian right wing at Liao, reached Sawinpa, 11J miles west of Mukden. The advance was then checked. Tokio, March 3. A domestic issue of a loan of tan million pounds sterling in Japan has bean covered twice. The Imperial household took half a million, and the associated bankers six millions.

HEAVY FIGHTING PROCEEDING WHOLE RUSSIAN ARMY BEING FORCED BACK. GREAT SUCCESS OF JAPANESE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copytignt Received 4.15 p.m., March 4.

London, March 4. General Kuroki’s Pensihu force captured positions on the eastern heights of Kantulin and Bhaukau.

A strong Russian counter attack in the night in the direetion of Shaho was repulsed. General Oku sent a detachment to reconnoitre the outpests 500 yards north of Apatai. The trenehes were captured after a desperate bayonet charge against superior numbers. General Oka’s casualties on the night of the let and the morning of the 2nd wore two thousand, while those of the Russians were heavier.

Russians were expelled from Ohangatan and Sufaniai, north-weßt of Chant an..

A converging encircling movement on both flanks is being conducted. The great Japanese numerical is every: where succeeding and assuming a more and more decisive character along the whole front. General Kuropatkin’s whole army 1b being forced back upon its bases. Opinion at St. Petersburg is frankly pessimistic. General Oka occupied nine miles of Russian positions on the right bank of the Hunho, capturing Chantain and neighboring villages on Wednesday, after desperate bayoneting. , . General Kuroki got across the Shaho, despite determined resistance, by means of night marches, and gained great success. He occupied on Thursday the Russians’ first line of triple defences on the hills beyond the river.

ISOLATION OF MUKDEN. ENORMOUS LOSSES. GREATEST BATTLE OF HISTORY, FLIGHT OF RUSSIANS.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Gopyrighi Received 4.15 p.m., March 6. London, March 4.

St. Petersburg reports imply that Muk- ! den has been completely isolated, as the Russians are retreating to Tieling; also that there is a,, breakdown of the railway. General Kuropatkin that a Russian detachment at Kudiaza on Thursday repulsed a Japanese attack, 'indicting enormous losses, a company being annihilated. , General Oku on Wednesday opened a terrific bombardment .with one hundred enormous guns, groatly damaging the defence of villages on both sides of the railway. The Russians were unable to replv. The Japanese left is twelve miles south west of Mukden, and the right near Tainagushan, fifteen miles south-east of the Russian, and thirty miles due east of Mukden.

1} is estimated that 350,000 Japanese and 300,000 Russians will be engaged in the greatest battle in the history of the world.

A private Harbin telegram, received at St. Petersburg, states that the Japanese on Thursday recaptured Praciloff, on theNovgoorod Hills, after a terrific bombardment with 11 inoh mortars. General Rennenkampf’s cavalry division was almost annihilated.

The Russians abandoned all the positions on the Hunho in order to escape being surrounded.