THE WAR.

Manawatu Herald, 1 September 1904, Page 2

THE WAR.

REPORTED CAPTURE OF PORT ARTHUR. Several reports that Port Arthur has been captured have not yet been confirmed, but apparently the Japanese have penetrated commanding positions. The Russian ships are scattered about the harbour hoping to avoid shells. Marines quitted the ships for the purpose of working the land batteries. The Daily Chronicle reports that the Japanese are now within the main defences. The Japanese seized a bill behind Itshan and artificially raised its level by piling up sand bags, whereon guns were mounted which reduced the northernmost fort on the eastern line of the defences. There are many instances of desperate assaults. One heroic band, 500 strong, undertook td storm No 5 fort and were practically annihilated. OUTFLANKING THE RU SSIANS. While General Kuroki was engaged dti Sttimetse road towards Liaoyang in routing and indicting serious losses on the Russians, Generals Oku and Nodzu hurried north on the heels of the Ansbantian fugitives, their evacuation leaving the railway open. The Japanese be’ieve they are able to OUtfiank the Russians facing General Kuroki, at Tangboyen and Anping, French advices state the Russian losses in the Liaoyang district total 8000The Japanese have adopted a new method of night attack. They concentrate searchlights on the point of attack, thus preventing the garrison from seeing the attackers. The Japanese, learning that the crews of the Varyag and Korietz, despite their pledge to abstain from further service during the war, have been drafted to the Baltic squadron, have demanded China to prevent a recurrence by retaining the crews of the warships recently refuged in Chinese ports. FANATICAL BRAVERY OF JAPS.

The Russian transport and artillery retir.d safely to Liaoyang. A Mukden telegram states the Saraisk regiment, with a battery of artillery turned the Japanese right flank on Friday, and attacked them in tfle rear, mowing down whole columns. The Japanese displayed fanatical bravery. Many wounded disembowelled themselves to proven) the Russians capturing them. Admiral Uriu will remain in the vicinity of Shanghai until the conditions of disarmament and disposal of the orewa of the Russian warships are complied with. The Baltic fleet has reached Revel. Some of the vessels were seriously damaged when firing twelve-inch guns. The Latest. RUSSIANS BEAT A HASTY RETREAT. Telegrams, chiefly from Russian sources, show the result of the three days’ fighting. The Russians retreated tq Liaoyang, leaving the I Japanese in. possession of the positions to the east and south of Atshaho and Shilintza. The Japanese now occupy a wedgelike formation with its apex immediately ahead of Liaoyang. The Japanese on Saturday advanced ip all directions, including to the west afong the Liau river. They occupied Anshantian on Sunday, after executing a turning movement, avoiding five extremely strong redoubts. This compelled the Russian southern army to beat a hasty retreat. The Japanese on Sunday attempted to force a passage of the Taitse river and cut the communications. The censor’s silence regarding the result is considered significant. AN URGENT MESSAGE FROM RUSSIA. The British Admiralty announce, at Russia’s request, that seven British warships have started to convey the Russian Government’s urgent message to the Smolensk and St. Petersburg. The British cruisers Cresent, Forte and Pearl left the Seychelles on Friday, steaming south. The cruiser Barrosa and gunboat Partridge are searching between Walfisb and Sitaloas’ Bay, while the cruisers St. George And Brilliant are searchin the vicinity of Cape Verde, in the event of the Russian cruisers proceeding north. THE DEFENCE OF LIAOYANG IMPOSSIBLE. It is reported at Tobio that the Japanese captured eight guns at Amping and eight at Anshantian. The latter was the Russians’ strongest position m the vicinity of Liaoyang. Advices from Tokio state that the successful defence of Liaoyang is now impossible. The Russians and Japanese are in contact to the east, south and west of Liaoyang. Tq-dajr ft battle begun.

The Russians claim to have dispersed the Japanese force to k the west. The disarmament of the Russian warships Askold and Grosovoi will be completed to-day. Captain Mahan is of opinion that the Japanese plan of intercepting would throw General Kuropatkin westward off the railway. Its success would involve an utter and material disaster to the Russians, irrespective of the moral effect. THE SEIGE OF PORT ARTHUR. General Kuropatkin recently urged General Stoessel to hold Port Arthur for another month, promising to bring half a million men to the ° * rescue. It is decreed that every month's service by officers, not commissioned, defending Port Arthur, will be reckoned as a year, dating back from May Ist. The Czor has conferred upon General Stoessel St. George’s Cross for bravery. KUROPATKIN HARD PRESSED. General Bakharoff, from Liaoyang, telegraphed at ten in the morning that the Japanese were advancing along the whole front. The main attack was against the centre and right, where the Russian losses were the heaviest. THE ATTACK ON PORT ARTHUR RESUMEDThe Japanese are employing thousands of Chinese at Port Arthur in filling moats and sandbags, digging trenches and constructing earth works. Heavy fighting has been resumed.