RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 77, 5 April 1904, Page 3

RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

THE (fIIONG-JU FIGHT. A RUSSIAN ACCOUNT. tßeeeived April 4, 9.3 a.m.) LONDON, April 3. Russian accounts of the skirmish with Japanese troops outside Hie walls of described tlie engagement us a brilliant vietojuy for thu Russians. It is slated the loss of the enemy was ten-fold that of the Russians. Prince A lex i elf has arrived at l'ort Arthur. He has presented the captains of the cruisers Buyun, Novik, untt Ask'old each with a gold sword of honour, RUSSIAN CRUISER DAMAGED. LONDON, April 3. The Russian cruiser liayarin was damaged in a storm in Talien-wan Hay, aud has been towed to Dtilny for re]iairs. RUSSIA'S ARMY IN MANCHURIA. PARIS, April 8. Le Temps states that General Kuroputkin, who commands the Russian armies in Mamchuria, will have half a million soldiers under his command by the end of May. A CYCLOPEAN TASK. TRANSPORT OPERATIONS ON LAKE BAIKAL. (Received April 4, 9.17 a.m.) i LONDON, April 3. I Prince KhilkoH, Russian Ministet for Roads, Canals, and Railways, superintended the passage of 420 locomotives and 2400 waggons over the ice railway across Lake Baikal. He has returned to Russia to consult with the military authorities with reference to the further transport ot troops. The Minister said he felt disappointed that the railway round Lake Baikal, designed to obviate the necessity of transhipment across the water, will not be finished until August. THE MUSCOVITE'S SUMMER SUIT. LONDON, April 3. A hundred thousand grey khaki suits have been ordered for summer wear for tho Russian troops, white being regarded as too conspicuous. TARTAR TRAIN WRECKERS. LONDON, April 3. An attempt to wreck trains tilled with Russian troops lor the Far East made by Tartars at Skya, Ekateriublurg, failed. A CONCESSION TO AMERICA.

LONDON, April 3. The Japanese have permitted a long-detained American concession bullion pack train to proceed north to An-ju.. THE STRENUOUS JAP. TAKING TIME 11V THE FORELOCK. (Received April o, 0.18 a.m.) LONDON, April 4. The Japanese have occupied Syonshkon, 18 miles west of Chong-ju, without opposition, und are pushing on, hoping to expel the Russians from Wi-ju before the Va-lu River Hoods the surrounding territory. The ice is now well broken. ENEMIES AT HOME. LONDON, April 4. The Russian cruiser Jemtchug, which was completing her equipment in a Baltic shipyard, suddenly began to sink. It was discovered that pipes in the engine-room leading from the furnaces to the sea had been left open. Treachery is suspected. ON THE WAY TO THE YA-LU. j THE PASSAGE, OI>EN TO JAPAN I AT WILL. LONDON, April 4. The Times correspondent, alter visiting one of the Japanese l|ases, reports that General Kurokis' army lias secured strategic positions enabling him to force the passage of the Ya-lu at will, but General Kuroki is awaiting the 'development of the second mobilisation, which is now proceeding, before striking decisively. Meanwhile outposts are constantly in touch along the line of the Cuen-cheng River, and several sharp conflicts have occurred, the honours being equally divided. (Received April 5, 0.32 a.m.) LONDON, April 4. The weather in the Far East is improving rapidly, though communication is extremely difficult. The Japanese have reached Chelson, 30 miles south of Wi-ju, THE TOTTERING CHINAMAN. HIS INEFFECTUAL RESISTANCE TO RUSSIA.. LONDON, April 4. Japan is exhibiting irritation at the Chinese inability to enforce neutrality conditions, Russia's intiinidatorv methods being still elT.rttinl at I', kin. JAPAN'S THOul'N I'DI'RING INTO KOREA. LONDON, April A. Five more transports bate disembarked Japanese tnjtfjis ut Cheinulpho/ The forces marched to Seoul. HOW RUSSIA HEARS THE IILOW. CZAR AND CZ-ARINA KNEEL IN SUPPLICATION.

There has been no lack of movement and manifestations of «motio'ii to-day (writes the St. Petersburg correspondent of the lluily Alai! under date Feb. U), but still the dominant note continues to he the marvellous and admirable self-re-straint and control with which the people generally have borne the shock of the first grievous news of hostilities. One cannot help being reminded by the aspect of St. Petersburg to-day of the maimer in which the people of Loudon bore themselves in those dark (lays of the winter of 181)9, when they were brought face to face with the knowledge of the grave character of the undertaking to which they were committed. There is the same silent,-wondering look on the faces one passes in the streets, the same doubts both of the •known ami the unknown, but the same tightening of the lips in grim determination to "see the thing through." Moreover, there is the same quiet, resolute confidence that whatever is happening now, the ultimate result must and should be unaffected. Perhaps every nation is seen at its best when it is suddenly faced with the consciousness of a national emergency. In the moment of victory may run to excesses, ,Jk: t

but time and trial disclose the best of a nation's characteristics. It was not, until the Official Gazette published it in the morning' that (lie news of (he torpedoing of three ships at. l'ort Arthur was available for Ihe general public. ICven then not one in a thousand knew of Admiral AlexielVs message. Alost of those whom the Ollicial Gazelle readies had more or less known overnight, the dillercnce of time allowing it to be known in the afternoon ut St. Petersburg what was not to happen at l'ort Arthur until night. Hut. (or the public it was not untilfjipecial fly-slnvls issued by the newspapers came out that the news vyiis generally known. They were eugerlv bought, and sadly and silently i perused. Men remd wilh tears the brief bare announcement that thece of th« I»*t ships i» lhl ' ' u , l "- v l "' a „.i<hl«ulv and unexpectedly h,-eu attacked, but little wan said. Later on the news spread that in Ihe nflenioon in the rhiiich of the Winter i'alace <> service of inlercesBion would be held to beg' Tlwaveii s blessing upon the enterprise to which tlie nation was commit led. Then the people l»egau to gather. In tlie Doortsooie l'loche.l. the great square which has the long front of the Winter I'alace on one side and is faced by a semi-circle of Government building's—of wliich the Foreign Oifice, where so much had happened, and the General Staff, wh»re so much remained in he mine, form the principal pari—not ninny were allowed to assemble, a spacy being kept for the dignitaries attend in K the service. Hut, in the main streets of the great Morskaie and Nevsky Prospect', along which the Dowager Empress would pass on her way from the Ar.iichkoff I'alace, a great throng assembled and watched the Imperial family walk in procession to the church, where a brief service was held.

Shortly before their Imperial Majesties were seen, carriages containing high dignitaries, generals, and ollieials began to arrive. Admiral SkrydlolV's bluff sailor countenance was recognised and evoked a cheer, but, the police immediately stopped any such demonstrations. It was a solemn religious function where cheering was out of place. Similarly, when the Empress-Dowager passed, "He silent," the officers cried. The Czar and Czarina and most, of the Imperial Family were present in the I'alace Church, where Proloprebytor Janischeu, Chaplain of the Imperial Court, conducted a solemn service of intercession for success to the Russian arms. But not yet did the Czar make a declaration. That was to come later.

Crowds remained in the streets afterwards with rumours running across them as ripples over n cornfield—rumours that l'ort Arthur was being bombarded by fifteen .Japanese vessels, and was burning ; that the .Japanese had effected a landing, hut had been compelled ?o retire ; that the Russian fleet had forced its way out of the hiirljour ami passed Wei-hui-wei.

These stories went successively from mouth to mouth, Then a momentous rumour issuing from the palace of another battle to the eastward of Korea, in which Russia had more than avenged her earliest losses. It was cheering then, and men kissed one another, while women with sons and sweethearts on board the three torpedoed ships stood by with wide eyes welling with tears.

II was the first stage of war us we have known M. at home.

There is- no truth in the report Unit, Admiral SkrycllolT will go to "« Fill" l&iKl U, take high .:<„ illl( |. H<; "■turns to his p ost to-morrow. |l>. ; Court hali wlri.h was to have taken place to-night was abandoned.