RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 72, 29 March 1904, Page 3

RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

POUT ARTHUR. ANOTHER OPINION OF ITS POSITION. LONDON, March 27, A British merchant who was resident' at Port Arthur for three years has arrived ut Shanghai, lie ridicules the report Hint the defenders are in un unfavourable position, and alleges that the bombardments have done little harm. Supplies are entering freely, and the fleet is making ready to regain command of the sea in the vicinity. The Japanese again attempted to block the entrance at Port Althur with four merchantmen, whjch, however, the fortress sunk. The channel remains unblocked. Admiral MakarolT (Russian Com-mander-in-Chief) reports that he left Port Arthur on the 2(ith instant with battleships, cruisers, and torpedo-boats for a reconnaissance of the adjacent islands. THE LATEST ATTACK ON PORT ARTHUR. FURTHER PARTICULARS. BRAYERY OF RUSSIAN SEAMEN. (Received March 28, 10.40 p.m.) LONDON, March 28. Russian accounts state that six Japanese torpedo destroyers, accompanied by sixteen warships, convoyed four 2000-ton merchantmen, intended to be used as lire ships These entered Port Arthur at two o'clock in the morning. The Russian guard-ships and the shore batteries opened upon the ships. the fleet meanwhile bombarding the forts.

Lieutenant Krinitzki, commanding [the torpedo-boat Sielyn torpedoed the foremost merchantman in Hie bow. The merchantmen turned to the right, and with two other steamers, which had been struck from the forts, became stranded beside the fairwar near the forts. They sank near the former wreck.

Seven of the Sielyn's seamen were killed in the fight with the destroyer, and Lieutenant Krinitzki and twelve seamen were wounded. The merchantmen's crews escaped in boats.

A shell damaged the Sielyn's englnes.and she was stranded, but was refloated.

The Japanese convoy returned at four o'clock, and the fleet reappeared at 5.30, when the Russians advanced to meet it, but the Japanese withdrew.

Admiral Makarofl found a 1-Inch Hotchkiss gun aboard a merchantman, it having been used aguinst the Russian torpedo-boats. He reports that Lieutenant KedrolV and Ensign Pillondsky boarded one of the steamers the moment she stopped, cut the electric wires, and extinguished the fires on board. The firing illuminated the entrance of the harbour.

A floating mine was afterwards found, bearing an infernal machine. JAPANESE FORCES LANDED. THE DANGERS OF THE LTAO. (Received March 29, 0.2:1 a.m.) LONDON, March 28. The landing of Japanese troops, with one hundred uud eighty guns, at Chumul-pho lias been completed! Reutcr's Agency reports that Russian mines have been planted at the entrance of the Liao River, which is now free from ice and open to traffic. VARIOUS ITEMS. LONDON, March 27. General Kuropatkin (Commander-in-Chief of Kussin's field forces m the Far East) has arrived at Harbin. The ice is breaking on the Ya-lu. The Japanese are expected to attempt a crossing with the assistance of gunboats, which have already arrived. The correspondent of the Daily Chronicle reports that Russian ugents vainly tried in France, Germany and England to raise a loan and adds that she has no alternative but a forced paper currency. A St. Peterslrtirg telegram states that in consequence of the advanci of fortythousandJapane.se, the Russians retired' upon their entrenchments on the Ya-lu. The Japanese advance guards and artillery are forty miles south of the river.