THE WAR.

Manawatu Herald, 7 April 1904, Page 2

THE WAR.

\DMIRAL TOGO’S PLANS AT PORT ARTHUR-

Admiral Togo revisited Port Arthur and found, as a result of Sunday’s operations on the neck of the narrowest channel, that the entrance to toe inner harbour is impracticable to the larger Russian ships. Admiral Makaroff, the Russian naval commander at Port Arthur, telegraphs to his Kronstadt friends that he sleeps without undressing, so as to be in readiness for any emergency. The statement of Admiral Yamamoto, the Minister of Marine, in the Japanese Diet, that Admiral Togo’s plan of battle at Port Arthur was Ear from realised, is interpreted at St. Petersburg as a desire to catch the -Russians napping. FIGHTING NEAR THE YALU RIVER. Japanese at Ghong-ju (Western Korea) advanced to Yang-chen, halfway to Wiju (on the southern,, bank of the Yalu river), skirmish d, and drove the Russians northwards. Ten thousand Russians, with sixty cannon are at Newchwang (in the north-east of the Gulf of Liaotung, and at the mouth of the Liao river). They are mining the river, and will shortly close the port. THE GUNBOAT MANDJUR. ' The Chinese and Japanese authorities being satisfied that the disarmament of the Mauri jar, the Russian gunboat which has been for some time at Shanghai, is complete, the Japanese cruiser which has been watching her has been withdrawn. A JAPANESE STEAMER SUNK. The Weihaiwei correspondent of the Daily Telegraph states that. a Japanese torpedo boat torpedoed the Japanese steamer Sanee Maru, which was towing a junk with provisions from Ghefoo to Port Arthur, Twentyfive persons perished.

THE JAPANESE FORCES. Two Japanese cruisers captured a Russian transport flying the Chinese colours and carrying a cargo of tinned meat for Vladivostok. Five hundred Cossacks have occupied Unsan, forty miles north of Anju, forestalling the Japanese, who are advancing from Chongju. Reute&’s Shanghai correspondent states that the Japanese scouts entered Wiju on the 4th, and the Russians apparently retreated beyond the Yalu. Admiral Aloxieff inspected Port Arthur and considered everything was hugely satisfactory. The damage, he thought, was insignificant. He returns to Mukden. Japanese accounts state there are 270,000 Japanese troops in motion, besides 60,000 in garrisons. It is believed that Japan intends to operate three armies of a hundred thousand each, the first in the north-west of Korea, the second at mouth oj

the Yalu, and the third east of Niuchwang, all 00 operating in a turning movement against the main Russian position. t Chefoo reports that Port Arthur was again bombarded on Sunday. RUSSIA APPEALS TO BANDITS. Russia is offering'tempting bribes to Manchurian bandits to serve against Japan. Prince Khilkop, on being interviewed by the Standard’s correspondent, declared he was confident the railway round Lake Baikal will be completed by August. He does not expect important fighting before June 20th, since General Kuropatkin intends to take no chances. Russia’s forces in Manchuria. * The volunteer cruisers Smolensk and Orel have been ordered to prepare for work outside the Black Sea It is supposed they are instructed to intercept merchantmen carrying contraband to Japan. The Chinese general at Pangheng estimates that there are two hundred and twenty thousand Russians in Manchuria. Russia bolds'a position extending for seventy miles, from Antung to the mouth of the Hunkiang river. JAPANESE WAR PREPARATIONS. Japan’s frontier base is at Anju. The advance on the Yalu is being prepared by three roads. Advices received in St. Petersburg state the Boy aria, in a recent fight was struck seventy times. She is rapidly being repaired. Woods* Great Peppermint Cure, for Coughs and Holds never fails. Is 6d.