THE WAR.

Manawatu Herald, 26 March 1904, Page 2

THE WAR.

THE REGENT BOMBARDMENT of port Arthur.

Admiral Alexieff reports that on Monday night search lights twice revealed the approach of the Japanese torpedo boats. At daybreak six battleships and twelve cruisers appeared. The battleships and torpedo boats took up a position between Liaortshiro and Colubmaia Bay, behind a rocky eminence, the cruisers forming two divisions to the south and south-east of Port Arthur.

The Retvisan opened fire over the crest of Liaortshiro.

The Japanese then bombarded the town. The Russian fleet formed up in the outer roadstead. After two hours’ bombardment the Japanese withdrew.

Five of the Russian soldiers were killed and nine wounded.

The Daily Chronicle’s Niuchwang correspondent states that the Japanese shelled Pout Arthur on the 17th for four hours, dismantling two guns and killing fifty soldiers. A Ohefoo telegram reports an hours* bombardment on the 13th, which resulted in five Europeans and a number of Chinese being kib'-d. German advices report that the Japanese are constructing a line of large strong torts between Anju and Port Lazareff to protect their retreat in the event of a defeat in Manchuria.

TORPEDOERS REPULSED A RUSSIAN VERSION.

Admiral Makharoff reports that the fire from the forts and gunboats twice repulsed the torpedoers on Monday night. When the Japanese fleet appeared the cruisers, with Admiral Alakharofl: aboard the Askold, and the battleships following, left the inner harbour.

The Japanese fired 100 shells from 12-inch guns, at Port Arthur and 108 at the environs of the town. The Russian shells were fired at a range of 80 cables, and were very well placed. One Japanese battleship was struck and compelled to retire.

The Russian fleet sustained no losses.

The Japanese fleet, when retiring, passed along the outer roadstead, but were not attacked by the Russians. TORPEDOES RECOVERED. The Russians have recovered fifteen Japanese torpedoes at Port Arthur. The Japanese forgot to withdraw the safety pegs, DEFEAT OP REBEL KOREANS. EXECUTING PRISONERS. General Tilinsky reports that Cossacks killed one hundred Chunchuses at Ondini. A detachment of Japanese, from Genaan, attacking three hundred

Korean rebels at Humhenng, about rixty miles northwards, killed two, wounded twenty, and captured 86. The ringleaders declared the Russians had instigated the revolt. The Supreme Court at Seoul is clearing the gaol of prisoners who have been awaiting trial for years. Thirteen who have been strangled were implicated in the murder of the Empress of Korea in 1895. Thirtysix embezzlers and highwaymen were hanged and six decapitated, all in one night.

JAPANESE STEAMER EVADES RUSSIANS. The Soda Maru, U Japanese steamer, with 6000 tons of coai OS board, after evading the Russian cruisers, has arrived at Capetown,

RUSSIAN DEFEAT ANTICIPATED.

Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge, who is in command on the China station, interviewed at Yokohama, stated the chief lesson of the war was the success of the destroyers. The Chemulpho action was fought at a range of 7400 yards, proving the Value of heavy guns in minimising ■ the efficiency of secondary batteries. - Twenty per cent, of the shots took effect compared with three per cent, in the engagement off Santiago, in the Spanish-American war. He was not surprised at the Japanese successes, and anticipated the surrender and destruction of the Port Arthur fleet.

A Harbin telegram states that only twenty thousand troops have arrived there within forty days. Much confusion prevails. America refuses to agree to Russia's suggestion for the 'neutralisation of Niuehwang, considering that Niuchwang is as much within the zone of hostilities as Port Arthur. GERMANS ALARMED.

Several German newspapers are alarmed av the friendlier tone of the leading section of the Russian press towards Britain and the attacks 95 Germany.

The newspaper Krenz Zeitung complains that this is an ill-reqmttal of Germany's benevolent neutrality, enabling the frontier to be denuded of troops. Finding that the Hamhenng insurrection was due to official extortion, the Japanese have released all except the ringleaders. Major-General Baron Kodama is leaving Tokio Shortly to take supreme command of operations. General Kuropatkin has crossed Lake Baikal. The Varyag’s sailors, wearing clothing and caps the gifts of British bluejackets, have passed Suez. Forty Cossacks at Kangkeni, a hundred miles north-east of Gensan, where two Korean battalions are stationed, demanded the barracks, but the Koreans offered them the use of another building. A quarrel over the matter led to a fight, in which thirty-five Cossacks and seventeen Koreans were killed and twenty Koreans wounded.