THE VAR.

Manawatu Herald, 20 October 1904, Page 2

THE VAR.

A GRAVE SITUATION. General Fushiina and General Bilderling are continuing the fight, the latter endeavouring to cover the retreat across the Hunho. The newspapers at St. Petersburg recognise the gravity of the reverse. They urge fortitude and courage and emphasized the unexpected strength and daring of the Russian army. The Novoe Vremya says there is no European array like it. The Standard says the retreat developed into a rout along the whole front except to the south-east, where the retreat of a strong body was intercepted. There was heavy fighting ten miles south-east of Mukden on Monday. The Russians, by various artifices tried to entice Kuroki north, and east of the mines to enable them to outflank, but Kuroki quietly rested on his positions, compelling the Russians to move further away from their base. A RUSSIAN DIVISION ALMOST WIPED OUT. The third Siberian reserve division, which numbered 4000 at the outset of the war, and was reduced at the Liaoyang battle to 2500, was further reduced on . Wednesday to 800. A captain commands the regiment, a lieutenant a battalion, and first privates command companies. The Daily Mail says there is anguish and consternation in Bussip, the populace superstU-ioysly relyihg on some miracle. KUROPATKIN’S RETREAT. It is semi-officially announced’ at St. Petersburg that Kuropatkin has ordered a retreat from Mukden to Tieling. Major Takashuna’s battalion captured 14 guns at Kanchiatu on Sunday, making a total of 84 the centra has captured since the 14th. HOW THE JAPS TREAT THEIB PRISONERS. There are twenty-three thousand wounded at Mukden and many others at Tieling. The paper Russ states that all the stories of Japanese brutality are unfounded. The prisoners unanimously admit they were kindly treated. Kuropatkin acknowledges that the Japanese correctly observe the rules of war, and in that respect the war is the pleasantest he was ever concerned in. Kuropatkin admits that the Japanese on Saturday almost turned bis right wing. The attempt was renewed by the Japanese on Saturday evening, capturing Shakepu and Limuntun, on the Ggbt bank of the Shaho, after a stubborn resistance.