WAR IN THE EAST.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 100, 2 May 1904, Page 3

WAR IN THE EAST.

FIGHTING ON THE YALII. THE RUSSIANS DEFEATED. JAPANESE SHIP TORPEDOED.

I.ONDOX, April i! 9. Renter's agency at Shanghai reports that tho Russians, alter two days' fighting on the Yulu, were disastrously defeated, and retreated. Italian, information, which often proves correct, asserts that thirty thousand Japanese liavo crossed the Y alu.

Count LamsdorfT, Russian Foreign Minister, In a circular to diplomatists abroad, declares that after the Japanese treacherous surprise no friendly mediation will have any chance of success. Russia will not admit any intervention till the ternionation of hostilities.

Tokio reports stato that the HosRiya, a Russian protected cruiser of 12,000 tons, torpedoed the Japanese boat, Kinshu Maru, drowning 7:1. Russian, despatches claim that tho drowning® totalled IHO. BRISBANE, April JIO. Dr. liocken, ot Dunedin, arrived from Japan. He says the Japs are taking their success very coolly. The military authorities are confident they will have equal success on land as at sea

BRAVE JAPS DIE FIGHTING. THE SINKING OF THE KINSHU MARU. THE CHEMULPHO FIGHT. HEROES DECORATED BY THE CZAR.

(Received 1, 9.29 a.m.) LONDON, April 30. The Kinshu Maru became parted from the torpedoes escorting her in a fog. A St. Petersburg telegram states that the crew tried to escape in boats. Six infantry officers locked themselves in a cabin, and subsequently surrendered, but the soldiers concealed in another part of tho Kinshu Maru fought till the vessel sank. The prisoners were landed and transferred to Nukolsv.

Japanese reports confirm the statement that the soldiers preferred death to surrender, firing volleys upon the Russians until they were engulfed. One non-commissioned officer committed Harakiii, and some soldiers at the moment 01" foundering suicided with their own rifles. Three boats freeing themselves from the wreckage saved 45 soldiers and nine passengers and crew.

St. PETERSBURG, April 30. The heroes of the Chemulpho fight, when the cruisers Varyag and Korlete were destroyed, were frantically feted at St. Petersburg. Tile Czar decorated them all and entertained them at luncheon at the Winter Palace.

The Emir of Bokhara has given a million roubles towards an increu.se in the Russian fleet. THE FIGHTING ON LAND, RUSSIANS CLAIM A VICTORY. (Received May 2, 12.50 a.m.) LONDON, May 1. Russian official reports state that Japanese steamers have been arriving at tho mouth of tiie Yalu and small bodies crossing daily since 23rd at various points, mostly over pontoons south of H'iju. Fifteen hundred occupied two islands driVing back the Russian light cavalry which lost Lieutenant Semanoff and 18 killed and wounded on tho north bank, whence the Russians claim that a severe fire must have inflicted considerable losses upon the Japanese who were in close formation. On the 2Ulli the Japanese with a battery of artillery approached Chienching. the Russian artillery causing their retirement in disorder. The Japanese continued to cross on the 28th.

ANOTHER STORY ALTOCIB'.THER. REPORTED CAPTURE OF CTIINU-TIEN-CHI.VG. (Received May 2, 12.50 a.m.) LONDON, May 1. A Router's despatch states that on Saturday it was reported that 16,000 Japanese crossed the Yalu on Thursday and attacked thirty thousand strongly entrenched Russians. The Japanese sharpshooters killed many Russian ollicers who wore conspicuous uniforms. The Japanese having been reinforced the battle continues.

The Washington State Department has been informed of a complete Japanese victory on the 26th The weather facilitating the movement of the artillery the Japanese crossed the Yalu, capturing Cliing-tien-Ching, in Manchuria.