RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 75, 2 April 1904, Page 3

RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

BELEAGURED FORT ARTHUR. SUNDAY'S ASSAULT. LONDON", March 30. The Dally Mail's Kobe correspondent supplies Admiral Togo's report on Sunday's attempt to bottle up Port Arthur. It runs as follows : " When the four steamers laden with stones and explosives were within three knots of the harbour mouth, the forts ami torpedo-destroyers opened a terrific lire. The * vessels, with their escorts, continued to advance. The steamer Cheyomaru anchored, blew up. and foundered towards Gohlen Ilill. The Fukuiinnru went further, intending to anchor, but was torpedoed starboard and sunk. The Yukihouiuru anchored to the left of the Fukuimaru and sank herself. The Koneyamamaru pas3-.*d between the Cheyomaru and Fukuiumiu co the centre of the channel, and was torpedoed and sunk. " The attempt was valiantly executed by the same volunteers as before, under a storm of shot ai«d sheik - " Unfortunately the space between the Yakihomaru and the Koneyamamaru allows the passage of vessels. " Sergeant Sugino was not seen after descending to the explosives with the object of sinking one of the steamers, a torpedo striking her at that moment. " Commander Sirosc returned to tho steamer in the hope oi rescuing Sugino, and remained till the water was level with the deck. When trying to return in a boat a shell blew him to pieces. " The torpedo boats Aotaka and Bukame went a knot into the entrance of the harbour and had a fierce engagement with Russian destroyers. '• The Japanese losses were thirteen killed and eight wounded." Admiral Togo reports that the Aotaka became engaged with a destroyer inside tho harbour. The destroyer retreated after her boiler had been hit. The Jopanese observed another Russian ship below Uolden Hill completely disabled.

SYDNEY, March 31. Admiral Togo's report of the attack to bottle up l'ort Arthur received by the Japanese Consul Is similar to that already cabled. He mentions that the vessels were old merchantmen. The Koueyautainaru, after passing between two other sunken vessels, collided with the stern of a llfls'sian destroyer. A torpedo then struck her, and the force of the explosion carried her oil to tho beach. THE CHOXC-IU FIGHT. (Received March 31, 10.48 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 31. The Japanese Consul has received the following cable : "On the 28th part of our cavalry and infantry had an engagement with Russians outBide the south gate at Chong-Ju. After having dispersed them our forces occupied the city. The enemy, calculated at about six hundred, retired ( tn the tKrection of Wi-ju. In the cavalry Lieutenant Kano and four men were killed, Lieutenant Kuropawa and eleven others being wounded. There were no casualties among the infantry. Besides two Russian corpses on the field seven or eight were found in the city. The Russians did well, conveying their dead away, but blood-stained bandages were found in many places. It is estimated the enemy suffered casualties in at least the same degree as our 7in^APA^SE^*iU^MENT. (Received March 31, 11.58 LONDON, March 31. The JapariesoDiet fras approved of the Government's financial mea . . salt monopoly, but a monopoly on tobacco, with compensation to manufacturers equal to three years' sales. (lieceived April 1, 9.59 a.m.) SYDNEY, April 1. The Japanese Consul has received & cable from the Minister for Foreign Affairs stating that an extraordinary session of the Diet carried tho War Budget without dissent, ai*d also a hill granting the Government authority to raise loans to the extent of two hundred and eighty million yen (£28,000,000) for the prosecution of the war. Increased taxa- ' tioit was cheerfully assented to, though it represents sixty-two million yen annually. The Diet also unanimously, and amidst intense enthusiasm, carried a resolution that in the opinion of the House the Imperial "declaration of war is just and honourable, and solely prompted by bis Imperial Majesty's desire for the peace of the Orient. The resolution further declared that there was no subject of his Majesty's but would exert himself to the utmost in the nation's cause.

Hie Diet, in accordance with the nation's sincere sense of patriotism, has provided the necessary means for obtaining revenue so that there may be no deficiency in the war fund. The House agreed that "notwithstanding the great amount of success already achieved by the navy we realise the war is but in its infancy, and the time seems still fur -distant when complete victory shall permanently restore the peace of the Orient. This resolution is passed as a -definite and clear expression of the national willingness to assist the Government, and the House desires to urge Ministers of State to firmly uphold the Imperial policy, and take timely measures to meet any contingencies that may arrive." FLAGS RE-HOISTED. LONDON", March 81. The British and American flags have been rc-hoistcd on buildings belonging to Britishers ami Americans at Niu-chwang, and the Russians have apologised for having hauled them down. RUSSIA'S VIEW UK KOREAN PORTS. LONDON. March HI. Russia intimates that after noting Japanese proceedings in Korea she is unable to regard Korean ports as neutral. MIKADO GOES TO KOREA. LONDON, March 31. The Standard's Shanghai correspondent slates that private advices from .Japan notify that the Mikado proceeds shortly to Korea, with the .military headquarters start', . A RUSSIAN FORWARD MOVE LONDON, March 31.

'St. Petersburg advices state* that thousand I s.suri Cossacks were divided, and nm-half, going aJong the Taincn River, reached the Ya-lu west-wards of Tin. The other iialf proceeded to I'ukchong after its scouts had discovered the Japanese were at (.'hong-pint/. IX COXFIXEMEXT. .(Receivi-d Afiril 1, 9.52 a.m.) I,UNI)ON', March .'II. Foreign press coni'spomlents in Tokio are restive under Iheir forced inactivity. Tltey are watched by detective* incessantly. SEIZI'IiK OF AX AKSFA'AL. LONIIOX, March 31. Fogs are prevalent In the YelJow Sea, and it is considered they Vfill be a factor in impending Japanese movements. Five hundred Korean soldiers near ping-Yang are becoming riotous. There Is much distress amongst the Korean people. The Russians have seized a Chinese «rgenal at Kirin, wfoere they are - manufacturing amjnuaitlos,

CABLE NEWS. United Press Association.—By Telegraph.—Copyright. RUSSIA IMPRESSING MONGOLS* MORE HULKS FOR PORT ARTHUR. INDISPENSABLE COAL. (Received April 1. 10.8 a.m.) LONDON", March 111. The Russians propose to raise fifty thousand Mongol troops to patrol the railways. The Daily Express reports that Admiral Togo has requisitioned twenty-eight- useless steamers, and stripped them of everything except their navigating machiners. They will be sent in batches of six to block Port Arthur. It is reported in Liverpool that an English lirm is shipping one hundred thousand tons of coal, ostensibly for a. Chinese port, hut really for .Japan. VARIOUS ITKMS. LONDON, March :}(». There are now l:!r>,uno Japanese' troops in Korea. A huge whale drifted in Possiet Bay, and was killed by coming in contact with a submarine mine. The Japanese report one nllicer and one sergeant killed and two officers and one private wounded at Chong-ju. A Seoul telegram reports tMat forty-five Japanese transports landed a large force with sixty guns, at Chinaiu-pho yesterday. The Russian fleet sank the Japanese coasting steamer Hagi olt Miatoa Island on Sunday, and captured the passengers and crew. ST! PETEUSUrUG, March 30. The Baltic shipyards have completed live submarines and others are being built in the Neva \ai\ls, to accompany the lleet to the lar East in June.