THE WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1398, 8 March 1905, Page 2

THE WAR.

general items

It is reported at Mukden that a Btrong force of Japanese at Fakumen moved south-east towards Tieling. General Kuropatkin states that the Japanese advance guard surrounding his rI S“t flank approached within eight versts of Mukden station.

The Japanese advanced on the left and oaptared hills four miles south of Mukden.

The Russian movements lack co-ordina-tion and co-operation. «; y * Two Japanese squadrons are a hundred miles south-east of Hong Kong, steaming rapidly. . Czar's declaration that the Russians’ power must be predominant in the Pacific Ocean has created amazement in Russia and abroad.

JAPANESE ENVELOPING MOVE MENT. , /

NEARING KUROPATKIN’S HEAD.QUARTERS.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received 9.17 p.m., March 7. London, March 7. There is every indication that the enveloping movement is a success. It is reported that General Kuroki’s scouts, advancing from northward of Jbushan, communicated with General ■Nogt s from tho west. The Japanese outstretched wing 3 aud converging column are threatening the Tieling railway. 5 A large Japanese force, marohing' to the mountains, cut off the 1 Russian retreat along the Mukden-Harbin road. The Japanese are only two kilometres from Chaoliog, General Kuropatkin’s head quarters. .. People on th 9 roofs in Mukdan are watching the shrapnel bursting in the swamps of the south of the Imperial tombs. -

General Nogi and Oku are closing in. The Swodish steamer Vogga and tho British collier Easby Abbey, bound for Vladivostock, have been captured.

ESTIMATE OF RUSSIAN CASUAL TIES—4O,OOO. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright . Received 11.5 p.m., March 7. _ London, March 7. Russian casualties id the recent fighting are estimated at Tokio at forty thousand.

The Japanese have captured redoubts along the highlands north east of Husudkmaupautse.

DESPERATE FIGHTING. KUROPATKIN GOING TO SMASH 1 : . OYAMA. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received 10.26 p.m., Maroh 7. London, March 7. Exceptionally dogged resistance was shown at Machiapu. The Japanese were two days desperately trying to capture

Field-Marshal Oyama reports that the Suehiatnn railway station is burning, p Fierce fighting continues at Kaotnling

It is stated at St. Petersburg that if General Kuropatkin finds, as reported, that the Japanese used all their reserves,' ho will to-day hurl his" entire forco south and south west in an effort to smash Oyama’s force.

FIERCE FIGHTING CONTINUES. NAVAL ACTIVITY, By Telegraph --Pross association— Copyright ' London, March 6. Routers Mukden correspondent Bays that the turning of the Ttua«i|in right at a complete right angie resting on LinahiDpu 18 considered the most remarkable strategic movement of the war. , * >4: Th t ?L J, ! paneße infaufcr .y brilliantly crossed the bhaho on Thursday nigh 4 , winning a front two miles across by crawling dp bare Btony hills like leeches. '

General Kuroki, after a fierce fight, captured tho second line of defence of the Russians. The latter maintain their main defences eastwards of the railway elong the Sbaho. ■

A battle is now proceeding with General Nogi west and north-west of Mukden.

The Russians have not tasted food for two d*yp. General Nogi in three days transformed the entire position. - It is apparent that the Japanese made a feint east, attracting the bulk of General Kuropatkins reserves. Meanwhile General Nogi crossed the Hunho southward of the Russian position, seized _ Simminting tt ? d . >8 operating on the pluiaß westward of Mukden, where there was no neutral line of defence!

Fiold-Marshal Oyfima reports that westwards of the railway the Japanese are continuing fierce attacks. .They occupied Fuehmying, five miles west of Shahopu, ana Laishenpau or Hianpbanpu, three miles northward of Fuohinying, thence Huhupau, five miles further north-west. The enemy were dislodged at Laintum. Reuter’s Agency reports that 200 Russian scouts eastward of Niucfawang, moving north, have reported to Niuehwaog that tho Russians are burning Mukden station together with stores, preparatory to retreat. Their right is ’represented as panic stricken. -

Reuter’s agent with General Kuroki reports is victory beyond the. Him river over two Russian divisions. The latter belonged to theMbth Corps. X the Sinmingting raid, outposts at the vftKtous stations-were recalled to strengthen ’’lßakden. Some of - these .on Friday enedrebtered the Japanese at LaoI'.mpaXi'The Japanese, in the face of a driving duet storm, fired shrapnel from 30 guns-at close range. The Russians were dombtejilisodj and fired wildly. From, high ground^ with good ; -cover they were routed by machine guns, stationed in a clump of willows.\lt is reported that five. Russian officers and\2oo men wore killed.. Their comrades, abandoning the wounded, retreated to-Tieling. The lines captured at Ohantan extend 12 miles eastward. The. Russians retreated ?i. 80 , rder on ’their heavy defences south of Mukden.

General Nogi, following the Liao northwards, intercepted, rounded anidrove four eotnias of Cossacks with twenty-Bix guns to Tieling. The Russian wounded were abandoned.