THE WAR.

Manawatu Herald, 28 July 1904, Page 2

THE WAR.

RUSSIA’S INTERFERENCE WITH SHIPPING. Admiral Domville has stationed 1 his warships in the Mediterranean, maintaining wireless communications between the fleet and Malta. The Arbiter Zeitnng declares : “ Russian mendacity and brutality is a danger to Europe, and only where the rouble circulates would it be denied that right was on the side of England.” Reuter’s Berlin correspondent states that the Nor h German Lloyd’s steamer Maria Teresa and four Hamburg American liners have been pur chased by Russia, and have left Libang under sealed orders, armed and equipped as cruisers. The Saint Petersburg stopped the P. and 0. steamer Ceylon, homeward bound, in tbe Red Sea, but allowed her to proceed. The Scandiawas released on Sunday evening. It is believed at Tokio that Admiral Skrydloff’s object is to interrupt the Amerioan-Japanese trade. Several heavily-laden steamers are nearly due, and . be. Jn serious danger. After torpedoing u, merchantman, supposed to be the Hiogoraaru, s uthward of Irmsake; the Vladivostok squadron, on Sunday morning, steered west. ■ ' • PROGRESS OF OPERATIONS, i Residents, from the housetops;- at Niuchwang, watch the slow advance of the Japanese, which is stubbornly contested. The Chinese report that Kuropatkin has 40 000 men at Liaoyang, and another large force at Haicheng. The Times says that it is evident the Japanese are engaged in a general advance all along the line, and everywhere the Russians are falling back Tbe Japanese, on the 19th, drove a battalion of infantry and 1000 cavalry across the Taise river. Seventeen Japanese were wounded. In a battle on Saturday at Taksuitong, six miles from Niuchwang, the Russians lost 700. The Vladivostok squadron, off Idzu, at the eir ranee to the Bay of Tokio, sank the British steamer Knight Commander, bound from New York to Yokohama, with a general cargo. It also, captured a German vessel, believed to be the Arabia, with three thousand tons of flour. , RUSSIANS ABANDON NIUOHWANG. The Russians civil authorities have left Niuchwang. The destruction of Government property, by their orders, has been commenced. The railway station is in flames, The entrance to Port Arthur is now clear, except for mines which nightly laid. A sortie is hourly expected. The steamer Ardova has reached Suez, under a prize crew, and is lying close to tbe British cruiser Venus.

The Latest. RUSSIA’S RAhToN FOREIGN SHIPPING. The Premier, the Hon. A. J. Balfour, in speaking to a deputation of shipowners, stated Sir A J. Hardings, British Minister in St Petersburg, has been directed', to make a strong representation to'the Russian Government about theAllantdn. The Tithes states the sinking of the British steamer Knight Commander is -the worst outrage yet committed, and was absolutely inexcusable unless resistance was offered, and is a gross violation of neutral rights. Even if a part of the cargo was* contraband, under Russia’s extravagantly wide definition, yet the ship’s destruction makes all investigation and adjudication by a competent Court impossible. The Times urges that during the war a committee comprising representatives of the Foreign Offices, Admiralty, Lloyds and two international jurists ought to remain in session at the office and deal with such cases. Replying to a specific inquiry if the Government proposed to submit to The Hague Tribunal the question whether the passage of the Dardanelles' by' the volunteer fleet was consistent with treaties, the Hon. A. J. Blafour said the matter was forbidden on the ground that it raised a controversy which could be better settled if no fur her statement was made at present. ON THE TRACK OF ’FRISCO STEAMERS. The Russian Vladivostok squadron is hovering on the track of San Fran cisco steamers. .It is believed at Tokio that Russia is seeking to affront Britain, Germany, and America in the hope of finding an avenue to retire from a disastrous war.

The Standard’s St Petersburg correspondent says it is certain the Malacca will be released at Algiers. JAPANESE ENTER NIUCH* WANG. The Japanese entered Niuchwang, unopposed, on Monday afternoon.