THE WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1404, 15 March 1905, Page 2

THE WAR.

GENERAL ITEMS. OVERWHELMING VICTORY. THE CZAR’S BLUFF.

By Telegraph—Prooa Association —Copyright London, March 13. A St. Petersburg correspondent of French newspapers describes the retreat as a debacle. Soma soldiers became mad and fired on others of their own side, Others bayoneted trees in mistnke for Japanese. Many wept and lay on the ground, making the 3igu of the Cross. Wboleeule brigades surrendered without orders.

Tho Daily Telegraph’s Tokio corrospon-. dent says that tho victory was overwhelming. Tbo number of dead und prisoners is eo enormous that the Japanese are hardly able to deal with them.

St. Petersburg telegrams to Paris confirm the estimate that tho Russian killed,, wounded and prisoners number 200,000 with 500 guns. The Japanese captured a vast amount of bullion.

Two divisions of Russians were surrounded west of Mukden and nearly annihilated.

The Russians were caught in a trap and fought desperately, but the hellish hail of artillery and hand grenades compelled their surrender.

One Japanese force is now ten miles south-west of Tieling, and another 20 miles north-west of Tielirjg. It is feared that General Stackelberg’s and ZarubarS’s corps, which were left to guard the Mukden-Fushan line, have been captured or annihilated, Generals Zerpitsky’s, Belderling’s, and Topornin’s corps, which General Kuropatkin led against General Nogi, sustained terrible losses.

Owing to Japan insisting on the carriage of military stores, the Chinese have suspended the ordinary train service to Sinminting. General Nogi marched 40 miles one day, greatly aiding in the victory. The Russians admit that their defeat was

due chiefly to ignorance of the Japanese positions, the numbers of which vastly exceeded their calculations. French St. Petersburg advioes show that General Kuropatkin thrice narrowly escaped capture. HU supplies wer t e all lost. He has asked for the despatch of supplies to Haybin, where none are left. General Kuropatkin considers that General Beldorling’s army and part of General Kaulbar’s have been lost. He proposes to proceed to Harbin. The Czar is represented as determined to prosecute the war with increased yigor. Now that the public in Russia are aware of the calamity, society is stunned. The Novosti says it would be no humiliation to renounce the colonial policy in the Far East. Liaotung and Manchuria are not Russian territory. Saghalien was for- [ merly Japanese. Even the abandonment I of Vladivostock for the sake of peace would I be less painful than the former renunciaI tion of the right to maintain a fleet in the I Black Sea.

Renter states that this is popular sentiment.

Marshal Oyama reports that all the Japanese forces have advanced north, inflicting heavy damage on the enemy, who are attempting resistance at various places. They have been completely expelled from districts 25 miles from Mukden, and were still being pursued on Sunday.

REPORTS TO CONSOL. By Telegraph—Presß Aseoeiation—Copyright Reoeived 10.44 p.m., March 14. Sydney, Maroh 14. The Japanese Consul’s cable states : “ A report was received on the afternoon of the 12th tnat one Russian officer, who surrendered at Port Arthur, came to Hsinmintun from Shangai, breaking his parole, and was captured by our garrison. A report received on the 13th inst. states that although the enemy’s losses in the direction of Hingking are yet unascertained, there have been over 800. "Russian oorpses already found afield. ;' According to the statement of Russian prisoners their 71st Division was almost annihilated. Although the Russians burnt the store houses at Maihuntan and other places large quantities of fodder, ammunition and war material fell into our lines. ,

KUEOPATKIN’S TALES. 11 RETREAT IE PERFECT ORDER.’ By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyrighl Received 11,19 p.m., Maroh 14. London, March 14.

General Kuropatkin admits having 50,000 wounded. He claims that the Russians retreated in perfect order, though the movement of transport was difficult owing to the Japanese Cannonade. He acknowledges the superiority of the Japanese intelligence department. Reporting on Sunday, he states that 11 divisions of Japanese came within cannonshot of the rearguard of the First Army. He admits that the First Siberian Rifles, which lost over 1000 on the Oth, during the retreat fought a rearguard notion to proteot the Second Army, and suffered severely from the Japanese Are on both flanks. Only three officers and 150 men with the oolors were extricated. There were heavy losses by other divisions, notably the Yarieff regiment, of whioh only two offioers and 619 men were left.

CASUALTIES IN HINGKING REGION.

RUSSIAN TOTAL 20,000.

RICH SPOILS FOR JAPANESE,

By Telegraph—Press Association— Oopyrlghi Received 12.51 a.m,, March 15. London, Maroh 14.

The Russian casualties in the Hingking region since February 24th total 20,000. Twelve hundred dead were left on the field. Only 80 are prisoners. The spoils include 2200 rifles, 6 machine guns, 320,000 cartridges, 11,500 shells, 33 miles of light railway, large quantities of cereals, fodder, bullooks, horses, and telephones.

CHINESE TROOPS PLUCKING UP COURAGE. 30,000 APPROACH MUKDEN. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received 12.51 a.m., March 15. London, Maroh 14. It is reported at St. Petersburg that General Ma with 30,000 Chinese troops is approaching Mukden on the pretext of protecting the Imperial tombs.