Progress of Events.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 54, 8 March 1904, Page 3

Progress of Events.

DECISIVE OPERATIONS IMPENDING. LONDON, March 6. The Russians at Sin-min-ting are sorely harassing the people for supplies. and impressing native merchants in Niu-chwang as common labourers. There are indications that in the event ol a Russian defeat the whole country will .rise in revenge. The Russian Red Cross Society proposes to collect reserve 451,000 quintals of wheat, or six months' supply, in the north-eastern part of the theatre of war. The Standard's Tien-tsin correspondent says that undoubtedly thers will at an early date be decisive operations between Niu-chwang and Hai-ch^ng, ALEXIEFF'-S CHIEF OF STAFF. LONDON, Alarch G. Major-General Gilinsni has been appointed Chief-of-St*(l to Prince Alexiefl, He will be really an intermediary between AlexieH and General Kuropatkin (Commander-in-Chief of the land forces), whose professional Jtalouay is Intense. THB JAPANESE ELBCTIONS. CHINA ORDBRS GJjNS. TOKIO, March 6. The Japanese elections resulted ia the return to the Met of a largely increased number of non-party members, who are a great improvement ou fceir immediate predecessors. This is due to a revival of interust in national affairs caused by the war. LONDON, March 6. China has purchased two batteries of Krupp liold guns.

bombardment op Vladivostok. LONDON, March 0, The St. Petersburg correspondent of Keijter's agency reports that a telegram from Vladivostok slates that on the afternoon of the sth, live Japanese warships bombarded .Vladivostok (or 45 minutes. * Later News. 'JfHE ATTACK ON VLADIVOSTOK,. REPORTS FROM RUSSIAN SOURCES, ' fßegrfved Mar»h 7, 9,37 p.m.) LONDON, March 7, Rußsian official reports concerning the attack on Vladivostok state that Jive battleships, two cruisers, anil (our torpedo destroyers, including th» Inguma gad Yakumo, covered by the ic« and using Askold Island as a base-, began to lire opposite- Patrocalas and Soboe Mays, at a distance of five miles from shore. The Russian shore batteries were • urikble to reply at this range.

Th« Japanese lired two hundred shells l'roin their six and twelve inch .gung, aiming at the fort and shore batteries and the town. Most of the shells failed to explode, though Charged -with lyddite. The Russians estimate that this reeultlese attack cost Japan two hun■dred thousand roubles. The messages add that the population remains tranquil, though the Russians will tot defend the place. A- large force of cavalry returns ibefore the river opens fot traffic, ■and - maintains patrols between the •main railway and the 6ea. IIUS3O-CJERMAN FRIENDSHIP. ' v i LONDON, March 7, Plehve, Russian Minister for the interior, in an interview, said that .Russia was delighted to find Oerm--any sympathetic, and he hoped tho .war would strengthen the bond of Iriemlanip.

fiUSSIAX fortifications OS 1 TUE YA-LU. J JAPAiTESE TRANSPORTSDDEFEC t TIVE. ' tßeceived March 7, 11.85 p.m.) it .LONDON, March 7, ' * 'The Russians are fortifying An- |' tflng, and withdrawing from .Seoul and An-ju toVards 1\ as an. They ' j lye constructing miles of l'ortilicu- 1 ttons along the Ya-lii valley. ! The general staff are confident; The J apunese landed only fifty |' thousand troops, owing to tho bad -condition of their transports. j •RUSSIAN iukkuclau coups. t ?r0 BE EMPLOYED AS SCOUTS. • LONDON, March 7. Prince Afaxiefl has authorised the , (enrolment of several thousands of irregulars at Vladivostok, largely » ireeruited from former military officials, landowners, and students. >yu-y will be employed in scouting, a *iui in accompanying Hying columns. , r . PORT AKTHUIi. BOMBA'BDEU AGAIN LAST WEEK. . dt'CCEasi-'LL HUSK. • I . j/EIV YORK, March 7. . , f ,.,„i ( | rnto that Port Ar- ' > The Herald aL intervals on - *•—» *a-.» »~*»ssz*i£' fenders in .the forts , lights approuching the , ; the harbour ami '": f ' d aisCoV e r ,d •an hour before it was ■** (that titty were the subjects' P' a . [ panese rase to induce a was it' P al " munition. The lights were .mere y tamps attached to masts lixetJ ori lumber rafts. A QUESTION OF j HtFSSIA DECLINES TO RESPECT j CHINESE TERRITORY. ] LONDON, March 7. 1 The Times' I'ekin correspondent 1 (Dr. Morrison) says that Russia de- | •clines to respect the neutrality of j the strip of country between tho ■ Great Wall and the Liao-ho River, which was restored to China In kipoa. Russia has stationed two military posts there, and bodies of cavalry are patrolling the Great Wall «hd drawing supplies of cattle and forage from the Inhabitants of the districts, ...