THE WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1399, 9 March 1905, Page 2

THE WAR.

GENERAL ITEMS. THE RECENT FIGHTING,

By Telegraph—ProS3 Association—Copyright London, March 7. Tho second lines at Chnnlan were defended as obstinately as tbo lira:. Generals Oku uud Negi thereafter advancing rapidly in the face of enormous difficulties carried position after position, often _aj<M)o point of the bayonet, against superlc-ft&'ambers, to a point 18 miles north-west-’- Mukden on Saturday, when they wore stii.-'’advanc-ing, except at Pataitse and Machiapai. The Russian icsistancb was spiritless. Many threw away their arms and cloth-

ing. Tho Russian centra noar the railway bsgau retiring on Saturday night, the, Japanese capturing samo 6-inch howitzers and machine guns. The Russians claim that during counterattacks on tho Shaho tbey'captured two machine guns and 100 prisoners eastwards of Pucli’off.

General Kuroki’s troops and the Russians, despite terrible hardships from the cold, display equal obstinancy and daring. In one instance the Russians reached the Japanese tronebes, and they bayoneted one another. The Japanese charged a battery at the top of a hill and almost reached the guns, the Russians Bkilfully saving them. ; Ad vices from Mukden state that 2000 Japanese dead lie in front of Kaotnling. The Czar has promoted 160 naval cadets to be lieutenants a half year in advance.

The British steamer Carlisle, bound for Vladivostok, has been allowed to repair at Manila. She will probably be interned.' Japanese warships are watching her. ‘ Generals Kuroki and Nodzu are holding the Russian left and centre while General Nogi rolls up tho right and gots to the north-west.

Tho chief fighting on Monday was at Fashiohiao, near the Imperial tombs, and was renewed to-day in the form of a fierce artillery duel. Positions east and south of Mukden, especially at Eandolison and Kaotuling were the scenes of the bloodiest fighting. The Russians claim to have repulsed 32 night attacks in two days at Kandolison, and to have annihilated the Japanese Guards.

General Kuropatkin is straining every nerve to keep open his line of retreat from Fushan to l’ieling.

CAPTURE OF MUKDEN ASSURED KUROPATKIN AGAIN IN TIGHT PLACE., RUSSIANS RETREATING.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received 10.43 p.m , March 8. London, March 8.

It is announced in Tokio that possession of Mukden and the line of Haaho is already assured, and the railway north of Mukden will bo cut.

Thirty thousand Japanese are en trenched five miles west of Mukden, and others six miles south. The Russians, alarmed, burned the Government buildings preparatory to retreat. Civilian refugees are pouting into Tilling and Sinmintiog. Japanese occupied the telegraph office at Sinminting. ; ‘ / „

Fighting has been heard far north of Mukden.

Field Marshal Oyama’s despatches imply that Kuroki is turning the Kaotuliug position..

It is reported at Tokio that General Kurop&tkin has already commenced a general retrpat, and is now partially enveloped ; his position is highly critical bordering on South Mukden. He is calling in the reserves.

BOTH RUSSIAN WINGS OUTFLANKED. CAN JAPANESE RETAIN -GRIP? By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received 11.9 p.m., March 8. London, March 8. General Kuropatkin continues to resolately defend Fushan. , Field Marshal Oyama reports slow favorable progress in Hanchutun district, also the repulse of a Russian division near the Imperial tombs. The Daily Telegraph’s Tokio correspondent reports that General Kuropatkin’s left rear guard, consisting of twenty thousand picked troops, is retiring. Advices from Tokio are to the effect that the Russians on both wings were outflanked.

The Morning Post says the issue deI pends on whether the Japanese flanking are numerically strong enough to retain I grip of the enemy. The Standards reports that 63 officers, 12 engineers and 2000 seamen at Sevastopol have been ordered to join the remainder of the Baltie fleet at Libau. THE CONSUL’S REPORT. By Telegraph—Press Assoeiation— Copyright I Beoeived 12.35 a.m., March 9. Sydney, March 8. The Japanese Consul’s oables report that repeated Bussiau counter attacks on Tita and Munchutun on the 6th were re- , pulsed, the Japanese occupying a height two miles south of Munchutun, and in the direction oi Pensibu, and occupied heights south of Paitaukou, driving the 6nemy towards Sauchiatchu. He also reports I that in the direction of Shaho a counter j attack was repulsed east of the railway. 1 An engagement is proceeding on the west of the railway. The Bussians are offering I a stout resistance on the right bank of the Hunho. A division of Bussians with. 70 I guns were repulsed at Fasohichiau.