THE WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1402, 13 March 1905, Page 2

THE WAR.

general items.

CONFISCATION OF BRITISH STEAMERS. HOW MUKDEN WAS CAPTURED, % " _____ BRILLIANT ENVELOPING MOVEMENT.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Reoeived 8.69 p.m., March 11. London, March 11. The British steamer King Arthur, oaptured on leaving Port Arthur in December, has been confiscated, the Sasebo Court disallowing the written Russian statement to the captain that the vessel was seized and oargo confiscated by the Russians while bound for Niuchwang. General Oka, after a determined resistance, captured Suzalan station, the main Russian depot, on Thursday night. He seized enormous supplies, including bis million cartridges. General Nogi’s swift, resolute and unexpeated advance on Sinmingting and Mukden was the chief cause of the Japanese successes. The Japanese afterwards drove a wedge through the Russian centre at Hnnho, practically surrounding Mukden. The wedge reached Hain-pu, north-east of Mukden. The Russians, retiring north along the railway in confusion, were oaught between the wedge and the extreme Japanese left, north-west of Mnkden. The Russians were heavily punished,the retreat becoming a rout, Japanese shelling the fugitives. The Japanese Minister of War congratulated Field Marshal Oyama, who replied, “ The success is due to the Mikado’s virtues and the gallantry of his offioers and men.” 1 Reoeived 4.41 p.m., March 12.

J I Field Marshal Oyama, confirming the ' I occupation of Mukden and its oaptnre, 1 I says: “ The enveloping movement comI pletely attained its object. The fighting I was of the fiercest description and eonI tinues at several points in tho vicinity of I Fushan, oooupied on Thursday night. The I Japanese are now attacking the enemy on I the heights northward.” NEARLY ALL THE HEAVY GUNS CAPTURED. By Telegraph—Press association—Copyright Received 8.52 p.m., March 11. London, March 11. Nearly all the heavy and many field guns were captured. General Kuroki, advancing northwest, forced the Russians towards General Nogi. Detached bodies are trying to escape north-east, but are demoralised, with no prospect of provisions, in the hills.

HOW RUSSIAN PEOPLE ARE DECEIVED. PUBLICATION OF LYING 1 MESSAGES. i KUROPATKIN ASKED FOR SPECIAL PRAYERS. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright Received 4.41 p.m., March 12. St. Petersburg, Maroh 11. The disaster at Mukden is only beginning to dawn upon the population at St. Petersburg. No information has yet been published. General Kuropatkin’s messages have beeD “cooked.” The latest, dated Friday, says : “ The retreat of all our armies began last night. There was no fighting, but rifle and cannon fire was kept np all night." , General Kuropatkin’s earlier private message asked for Russia’s oldest city’s prayers for victory at Mukden.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright General Kurolti has occupied Tieta. Ad woes reoeived from Niuchwang state that the Japanese request the carriage of 450 comb of rice to Siumingting, and lhreaton that unless the demand is complied with to seize the railway, explaining that heretofore there has been no interference with the constant shipment of whoat atM coal for tho Russians, wherefore the Japanese demand impartial treatment.

General Nodzu, observing signß of' wavonng amongst General Boldering’s forces on the Shaho, eastward of the rail-* way, began the attack on Tuesday nigho j and dislodged the Russians from - vert 1 strong entrenchments. Generals Kaolbars and Beldering are threatened with heavy loss if they attempt to follow the direct Mukden-Tioling road. The only other avenue of retreat is the eastern road from Yuigpan to Tiding through thß Wankiakou Pass. It is stated at St. Petersburg that General Rennekampi’s cavalry has been withdrawn from the south-east to reinforce General Kaulbars to tho north-west of Mukden.

Reuter’s Niuchwang correspondent records circumstantial reports that Mukden was practically captured on Thursday morning. Thousands of guns, and enormous stores werrtyI’’' 1 ’’' n. St. Petersburg telegrams eneb newspapers reports that the d ■ ; the Russian arms exceeds the most iistio forecasts. The Russians are tot. /'exhausted.

After the Japanese had occupied, the basin of the Hunho, terribly bloody fighting occurred on the left bank, especially for the poss’ession of Dinshuntnn, six mileß west of M.ukden.

Owing to mortars being enabled to bombard Dinsbuntun, the Russians-offered an obstinate resistance. ’ Reuter's Tokio correspondent reports that the Japanese oddupied Mukden today.

_ Reuter’s correspondent states that official despatches have been received at Tokio confirming the news of the occupation of Mukden, which took place at 10 o’clock to-day.

St. Petersburg, March 10, The report that MukdeD haß fallen was received at Warsaw with delight. The newspapers desired to publish extra editions, but wero peremptorily forbidden. Feeling throughout Russia is inconsed at the Czar for continuing the war in opposition to his Ministers' advice.

FURTHER DETAILS. “I AM SURROUNDED.” JAPANESE SUCCESS. By Telegraph—Press Assoaiation— Copyright Received 4.22 p.m., March 12. London, Maroh 11, Up to Thursday night the Russian lasses were officially estimated at 65,000. Telegraphic and Railway communications were practically severed late on Thursday. General Kuropatkin’s latest message to the Czar was presumably brought to Tieling by a messenger. It merely stated, “ 1 am surrounded.”

The Times’ St. Petersburg correspondent reports that the general staff states that General Kaubars, reinforced by several of Generals] Linievitch’s and Bilderin’s corps, withstood General Oku’s onslaught north of Hunho.

General Europatkin personally directed the battle, freely exposing himself. Dembrovsky’s corps was engaged all Wednesday night at North Ruling, and sustained terrible losses. The seventeenth corps went to his support, but were repulsed by the Japanese. General Kuropatkin hoped to extricate the army under cover of a dust General Oku, resuming the attack, drew tho best Russian troops to Sayaitse and Wanchenhan, where there was terrible fighting, the Japanese succeeding in cutting the railway seven miles north of Mukden, and also shelling the Mandarin road.