THE WAR.

Manawatu Herald, 11 August 1904, Page 2

THE WAR.

DETAILS OF LOSSES

General Stoessol, in a message to the Czar, says that all the Japanese attacks on the 26th, 27th, and 28th were repulsed by the garrison. The enthusiasm is extraordinary. The fleet, assisting in the defence, bombarded the Japanese flank. “ Our losses,” Continues General Stoessel, “daring the threedays were 1500, with 40 officers killed and wounded.” He adds that according to statements by the Chinese and by prisoners, the Japanese lost 10,000, their losses being so great, in fact, that the enemy had no time to remove their dead and wounded.

The Russians have destroyed the Sivoutch and her armament up the Liao river in order to prevent capture.

The Japanese have despatched a number of shallow torpedo gunboats up the Liao to intercept any Russian retreat westward. The vessels are able to ascend 100 miles.

General Kuroki reports that he buried 512 Russians at Yushalingtze and Yangtzuling, and captured 268, including five officers and 115 wounded.

A brigade from the Japanese central column raced two Russian regiments for the possession of the summit of the Ohobodari Pass, ten miles from Motienling, from which it was intended to command the Russian flank. The Japanese fired on the ascending Russians from the rooks,* killing and wounding 1000 in a few minutes. There were 12 Japanese casualties.

Admiral Togo reports that when the Japanese destroyers Akehono and Oboro were reconnoitring at the entrance of the harbour on Fridayevening, fourteen destroyers dashed out and separated the two and endeavoured to surround them.

The Japanese broke through the cordon and drove off three of the destroyers. The Japanese then joined the others, the three, with great spirit, attacking the eleven, the Russians retiring. Their damage is unknown.

THE KNIGHT COMMANDER CASE.

Owing to reports that the steamer Teo was chartered and sub-chartered by British and Japanese firms, German newspapers counsel the German Government to act warily. The Standard publish s strong comments on the Knight Commander case, and foreshadows that besides a demand for comp nsation possibly instructions will be given to British warships to prevent filibustering and secure due respect for the flag and a proper regard for neutrals’ rights. The newspapers compare the Knight Commander case to that of a prisoner summarily executed and then tried and found guilty. This case was against all the principles of international law.

Russia has declined to put in writing the character of the volunteers that pass the Dardanelles. The Porte has addressed to the Russian Ambassador a letter . embodying hi* verbal promises.

Four thousand Russians'defended Wolfe’s Hill. t Many dropped their rifles and hurled rocks on the Japanese with deadly effect. Russian mines were cleverly concealed elsewhere and annihilated two squadrons of cavalry. The Japanese finally closed, though the ground was strewn with dead, and stormed Wolfe’s Hill. A bluejacket, disguised as a Chinese beggar, occupied a week in traversing the Japanese lines, bringing General Stoessel’s and naval despatches to Admiral Alexieff at Mukden. It has been - ! announced that the Bayan, Askold, Pallada, ISTovik, and

some gunboats steamed out to bombard some of'the enemy’s positions on the 2Gtb. They were attacked by the Japanese battleship Chin Yen, and the cruisers Chiyoda, hima, Matsushima, two others and thirty torpedoers. / n eight-inch shell from the Bayan burst in the Itsukushima’a stern, disabling her, whereupon all the Japanese steered into the open sea. A Russian mine damaged the Chiyoda later, and sinking by the head she steered for Talienwan Bay. A land battery damaged a Japanese gunboat. In view of tho Japanese taking, on the 27th, a genera! offensive movement against the land positions, the Captain, Reitzenstein, Bayan, Retvisan, Pallada, Askold, Novik and two coast ships, the gunboat Galjak and twelve torpedoers tinder Rear-Admiral Leshinsky, were ordered at General Stoessel’s request to support the right flank. Preceded by a mine dredger they steamed towards Lungantan and bombarded the Japanese position.