Later News.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 38, 15 February 1904, Page 3

Later News.

THE SINKING OF THE KORIETZ AND VAHVAG. SPOILJNG FOR A FIGHT. WEI-HAI-WEI RUMOURS DENIED. (Recei\<*l Feb. 14, 9.21 a.m.) I»SDON, Feb. 13. Admiral Urius, of the Japanese fleet, reports thut at five o'clock oil tha afternoon of the tttli, six Lours before the attack on l'ort Arthur, five Japanese cruisers and some torpedo boats wihen near the round island off Oheliiulpho sighted the Russian, warship Korietz proceeding to sea. The Korietz fired on the torjpedo boats. The Japanese cowtinutd their passage without retaliating, and entered Chemulpho. "Hie Korietz soon returned, and the Japanese commander on the 9th sent a message, and the Korictz and Varvag must have apprised tire other foreign ships of hia action. The Varvag anjd Korietz steamed out between the islands, followed by the Japanese mruadran, which attacked and s-atok both of them. In the House of Commons Lord Cranbiorne said tbfc rumour that Wei-hai-wei was to be given to Japan as a base for n«.vai operations was entirely without foundation, and apparently a onlscbievoua fabrics-

RUSSIA CIIAKTF.KS CF.K.UAN SHU'S. JAPANESE MERCHANTMAN SINK. THE CHAR'S HOI'E. THE UXRELIAISLENESS OF RUMOUR. (Received, Fell. 14, 9.38 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 13. Japan has allowed the survivors of the Varvag and Korietz to proceed to Shanghai on parole, on condition tlaat Russia does permit theln northwards during the war. kmssia has chartered two of the Meirzell Line su-a,'iners at HamtAirg. One,, the Carmonaell, with guns, arms and ammunition for \ ladisvostok, sailed yestordhy, and the second sails in a lew liays. Four Russian wai"s:'jij>s belonging to the V ladisvostok sjyuadron oil' Huiinnashi, on the I'Jth, surrounded and boiiTjjaiMied two private Japanqso steamers, the Nakauoura Maru, of 1084 tons, and the Zendio Maru, of 319 tons;, bound from Sakaton»n -to Otaru. The Jarger vessel' was sunk, hut tho smuilor vessel escaped m safety. The Khedive has decllßCd to allow a Russian torpedo dnstroyer, which was injured at Port Suidj to dock for renai'r* at Suez. Addrei\.)injj a deputation from the Council of tihe Empire, the Caar expressed the hope that Russia would "emerge from her grievous trial with honour, and strengthened at home and atiroad, again devote hers, [f to tile arts of peace so dear to my heart ar.'d so necessary to the Fathorlaad." The Daily Express declares that the Baltic flewt rumour is only l> um' to Miisfy Russian public, opinion. Tlte tstatement last wuqk thtvt the Russian AmWassoilor in England had asked Lord Lansdowne to sanction Russia's request to the Pprte to permit the passage of the Black Sc-a fleet throug|i the Dardanelles is witbout foundation in fact.