THE WAR.

Manawatu Herald, 21 April 1904, Page 2

THE WAR.

JAPS ON A SPECIAL MISSION. A Japanese flotilla, employed on a special mission, encountered, at dawn on the 13tb, outside the south* east Promontory of Port Arthur, a large Russian destroyer, and sank her in ten minutes. Daring the night of the 14th, Admiral Togo says the destroyers successfully executed a mission at the mouth of the harbour. Later on the Russian fleet detected three Japanese floating mines and sank them by gun fire. ihe Nissbin and Kasuga, at ten in the morning, opened an indirect cannonade on the inner harbour, their high-angled guns enabling them to reach the elevated land works. Beyond the elevation were other ships. They finally silenced the new forts west of Liaotisban. The Daily Mail states the last bombardment killed a hundred Russians in Port Arthur, but the Bus* sians declare only a few Chinese were injured. A steamer reaching Niuchwang, reports seeing twenty-six warships convoying a hundred Japanese transports in the Gulf of Pe-ohi-li, steaming in the direction of Eaiobau. HOW THE RUSSIANS WERE CAUGHT. Immediately Admiral Togo re ceived the wireless telegram the Easuga and Nisbin, accompanying a battleship, dashed forward at full speed. Unluckily the wind freshened, dispelling the mist. The Russians, descrying the smoke, guessed a ruse and headed at full speed for Port Arthur, the Japanese hotly pursuing.

The Russians were not enticed far enough and they regained the pro* tection of their forts before Admiral Togo was within effective range. After the Petropavlovsk was struck the whole of the Russian line com* menced firing indiscriminately into the water, in their immediate front, in order to destroy the mines, the mist favouring them. JAPS ACCOMPLISH THEIR TASK.

A Times’ correspondent's wireless despatch says that although the concentrated beams of four searchlights revealed every spar and rail on the Koryamaru and the merciless fire swept around her, the vessel accomplished the task of laying the submarine mines undamaged, without the Russians discovering her designs. After the chase by Admiral Togo, the Russian vessels took refuge in the harbour, under cover of the fire from the Golden Hill forts. All of Admiral Togo’s efforts to draw the Russian fle-t on the 14th failed. None emerged from the harbour, even the batteries being silent. The Herald states that General Altvafces, acting-Oommander-in-Ohief of the Russian artillery, has disappeared. It is supposed he committed suicide. Thinking the war improbable, he disobeyed orders by sending t > the Polish frontier, instead of the Far East, seven batteries of light mountain artillery, which was supplied by French manufacturers.

JAPS ALLEGED TO HAVE RETREATED, Admiral Makaroffa widow has been granted a pension of twenty thousand roubles. General Europatkin reports that Russian outposts occupied the islands of the lower Yalu, within 400 yards of the Japanese, who retreated during the night. BALTIC FLEET ORDERED TO SAIL. The Czar has ordered the Baltic fleet to start on July 15th. He has sent to the Yalu a number of dogs which have been trained to t'-aok wounded, The dogs have been furnished with collars containing first aid medicaments and nips of brandy. The Japanese in Korea consist of 45,000 troops, which ace advancing on the Yalu; 15,000 reservists who ace guarding the lines of communication ; and 4000 which are garrisoning Seoul. The Times alone is receiving ethergrams. The correspondent aboard the Haimun declares be is operating on the high seas, in neutral waters, his cipher is not recordable on the Russian or Japanese instruments. He trusts the Powers will insist on Russia confining her threats to her own waters. The steamers Birksgate and Cioncurry, sold to Japan, are now loading produce for Kobe.