THE WAR.

Manawatu Herald, 3 May 1904, Page 2

THE WAR.

Bennett Burleigh, war correspondent, reports Admiral Jeszen passed the Japanese squadron and regained Viadivostook. 1 _ The Times, commenting on the sinking of the steamer, says it does not believe the Japanese officers left two hundred in the lurch aboard the Kinshumaru, or that the latter resisted after the officers surrendered, and hopes the slander on the officers is due to misinterpretation of a despatch. Russians explain that Admiral Jeszen was unable to spare a prize crew or to hamper a swift squadron by taking the Kinshuraaru, which was of slow speed. The Japanese are determined to capture or close Port Arthur, and land at Niuohwaug at the earliest moment, and then make a main attempt from the Yalu. Admiral Jeszen reports that he sank the 220-ton steamer Naka muraraaru, but successfully rescued the crew. Two hundred perished in the sinking of the Kinshumaru. fighting on the yalu. RUSSIANS BADLY DEFEATED. Reuter’s Agency at Shanghai rep -rfcs that the Russians, after two days’ fighting on the Yalu, were disastrously defeated and retreated. Italian information) which often proves correct, asserts that 30,000 Japanese have crossed the Yalu. RUSSIA WILL NOT PERMIT INTERVENTION. Count Laraadorff, in a circular to diplomatists! abroad, declares that after the Japanese treacherous surprise no friendly mediation would have any chance of success. Russia would not admit any intervention till the termination of hostilities. Tokio reports that the Russian warship Rossiya torpedoed the Kinshumaru, drowning 78. Russian despatches claim 180 were drowned. JAPS PREFER DEATH TO SURRENDER. The Kinshumaru became parted from the torpedoera escorting her in a fog. A St. Petersburg telegram states that the crew tried to escape in boats. Six infantry officers looked themselves in their cabin and subsequently surrendered, but the soldiers concealed in another part of the Einshuraaru fought till the vessel sank. Japanese reports confirm the statement that the soldiers preferred death to surrender, firing volleys upon the Russians until they were engulpbed.

Some soldiers, on the moment of foundering, suicided with their own rifles.