TELEGRAPHIC

Kaikoura Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 13, 16 February 1904, Page 5

TELEGRAPHIC

RUSSIA AND JAPAN SAID RUSSIA FIRED FIRST SHOT. FIGHTING PROCEEDING AT YALU. JAP. FLEET SAILED FOR PORT ARTHUR. REVOLUTIONARY FEELING IN RUSSIA. London. Feb 14 Admiral Togo, in. charge of attacking squadron at Port Arthur, reports that Russians were greatly demoralised in 40 minutes. Japanese fleet suffered little damage, and the fighting strength was not decreased. Four Japanese were killed and 54 wounded. The Imperial Princes on board the warships were unharmed. The officers were as cool as they were during manoeuvres. Four Russian warships belonging to the Vladivostock squadron surrounded and bombarded two private Japanese steamers. One was sunk, but the other escaped. Admiral Alexieff reports that the transport Yenesei, on Feb. 11, while laying a line of submarine mines at Talienwan Bay, was sunk by the explosion of one of the mines. The commander, engineer, two midshipmen and 92 sailors perished. Admiral Urin, of Japanes.e fleet, says the Coreetz fired on torpedo boats at 5 o’clock on the Bth inst., six hours before the attack on Port Arthur. The Japanese did not retaliate. Subsequently the Coreetz and Varyag were both sunk by the Japanese. The Chinese Legation at Paris states that fighting is already in progress along the Yalu river, and that the Russians have taken 80 Japanese prisoners. Russian Ambassador in London denies having asked England to sanction Russia’s request to the Porte to permit the passage of Black Sea Fleet through the Dardanelles. The Austrian collier Java, chartered to proceed to Port Arthur with coal, was treated as a belligerent at Port Said, where she was ordered to quit immediately. She unloaded her cargo. Egypt permits absolutely essential repairs to be effected to the Russian torpedo destroyers <it Alexandria. The warships were afforded harbor and coaling facilities at Jibutil, on the ground that war had not been formally declared when they arrived. The Tokio correspondent of the “ Times ” says that the Japanese squadron has sailed for Port Arthur. • St. Petersburg, Feb 14 A widespread revolutionary proclamation is being circulated in Russia against the war, which, it declares, is calculated to retard economic progress for years, and it urges Russians so to act that the contest will prove the grave of despotism. Sydney, Feb 15 The Japanese Consul has received official information'that a request was made, through the British Consul to the Japanese Consul to Chemulpo, for permission to place 34 wounded Russians under the care of some charitable Japanese. The request was willingly acceded to, and the men were placed in the Japanese nurse's’ hospital, and treated by Japanese doctors.