THE WAR.

Manawatu Herald, 24 March 1904, Page 2

THE WAR.

The Times' correspondent with the Japanese fleet cables that Admiral Togo, though passive, is keeping a close blockade of Port Arthur with his cruisers and destroyers. When Vladivostock was bombarded the forts were unable to reply bscause the ships, though within range, were so skilfully placed beyond the arch of the training of the guns. During the fight at Port Arthur on the 10th inst. the Russians were close enough to throw explosives on to the bridge of the Japanese destroyer, but they failed to explode. The Japanese vessels used sixpounders and the Russians throepounders. The Russians fought with desperate bravery. One commander was killed early in the fight. The lieutenant who succeeded him fell wounded in both legs. The sub-lieutenant was also killed, just as the vessel was almost safe.

The Japanese destroyers towed her out under a heavy fire from the forts and found thirty dead on the deck terribly mutilated by shells. Out of a crew of 65 all were killed except four. Two sailors looked themselves in the conning tower and refused to come out. They were drowned when the vessel sank.

It is reported that civilians are deserting Port Arthur wholesale. The Daily Express states that Russia is sending overland ten destroyers in sections to Port Arthur, with three hundred skilled artisans. St. Petersburg telegrams state that the Japanese tried to land at Helen’s Bay, ninety miles souuh of Niuohwang, but bad weather prevented thera. *

Despite Russian denials it is generally believed that the Japanese established themselves at Fenghancbang. Elaborate barbed wire defence* have been constructed on the land side of Port Arthur. The French Minister at Tokio, at the instance of Russia, protested against the bombardment of Shinshantao Island, alleging that the shells killed a number of people at the quarantine station. RUSrfIA PREPARING TO MAKE

A GREAT STAND. MANCHURIAN RAILWAY BLOCKED. Japanese naval officers admit that Port Arthur is a terribly hard nut to I crack. jr The Russians are preparing tch make a great stand at Liaoyang if expelled from Niuchwang. Immense snowdrifts have blocked tbe Manchurian railway. Several bridges have collapsed. Captain Trokoff has been executed at St. Petersburg for selling army organisation plans to Japan. Reports, have reached Niuchwang that the Japanese crossed the Tatung Pass forty miles from Haiching, and had several collisions with the Russians, who strongly hold Muotienling. Several trains containing Russian wounded have gone through tha Pass at Tashichias, proceeding to Liaoyang, Two regiments of Cossacks, with six heavy guns, reinforced Muowang. The Daily Telegraph announces that a Tokio paper published, on Monday, a circumstantial account of the capture of Port Arthur. The paper states that a division of troops landed on the Liadtung Peninsula on the 19th and attacked Fort Arthur in the rear. Sixteen vessels simultaneously bombarded. The action began at six o’clock on Saturday evening and continued until ten o’clock on Sunday morning, resulting in the capture of the fortress. Tha report is unconfirmed. Reuter’s St. Petersburg correspondent states that tbe Czar goes to tha front in August. A SHARP ENCOUNTER. BURNED ALIVE. It is reported from Tokio that a sharp encounter has occurred at Cbyongeyong, on the Yalu river. The Russian casualties were six hundred. General Zilinsky, telegraphing from Mukden on Monday, states that all reports of tbe Japanese landings are an invention, except the increased activity between Pingyang and Anju. Katok, a Japanese merchant at Tientsin, has been burned alive, secretly, as a Russian spy. The Japanese inhabitants are overjoyed at tbe deed.