RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 116, 20 May 1904, Page 3

RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

GENERAL KUROKI'S ADVANCE. LONDON, May 18. The Japanese are within fifteen miles of Hai-cheng, aUout 30 miles south ,of Liatt-yang. Colonel Gatikei correspondent of I the Berlin Tageblatt, telegraphs from Mukden that the Japanese are advancing parallel with the railway from Niu-chwang on to Liao-yang. Their right is moving cautiously, while the left wing is advancing with persistence. Strong bodies of Itussian cavalry are watching both flanks. Rain prevails, and the road 'is very bad. Harbin telegrams announce the arrival of three ambulance trains with large numbers of men wounded in the Ya-iu light. (Received May 20, 0.26 a.m.) LONDON, May 19. The Japanese advance south of Liao-yang was delayed for two days, while awaiting the heavy artillery, which, owing, to the terrible state ul the roaids, greatly retarded the progress of the army. The advance was resumed on the 18 th.

RUSSIAN COMMANDER DEPOSED. LONDON, May 18. General Sassulitch (who was in command cm the Ya-lu) has been reMoved of his command, and General Keller, late Governor of Lkaterinosluv, replaces him. PRECAUTIONS AT PORT ARTHUR AND DALNY. LONDON, May 18. Reuter states that the Russians exploded all buildings, breakwaters, piers, and docks at Dalny. The land approaches to Port Arthur are heavily mined. OBSTACLES TO KUROPATKIN'S RETREAT. LONDON, May 18. News has been received in Rome that two Japanese divisions near Mukden will intercept General Kuropatkin's retreat. ON THE LIAO-TUNG PENINSULA CUTTING THE RAILWAY. THE EXODUS OF REFUGEES FROM DALNY. (Received May 20, 0.26 a.m.) LONDON, May 19. General Oko reports that the railway was cut in five places, north of Port Arthur, between sth and 17th inst? Hundreds of Chinese and Russian refugees from Dalny have reached Che-foo. They report that the attempts to . destroy the •docks and piers at Dalny were unsuccessful, though an iron pier at Taliep-wan was wrecked. FIGHTING WEST OF NIUCHWANG. ANOTHER RUSSIAN REVERSE LONDON, May 19. The Japanese, on the 16th inst., after serious fighting, drove a battalion of Russians, with eight guns, .off the line of hills extending from Chickaton to Chulisan, near Kinchau. The Russians retreated southwards. Japanese casualties number-, ed 14R, including nine officers wounded. GENERAL KUROPATKIN'S LATEST REPORT. (Received May 20, 1.27 a.m.) LONDON, May 19. General Kuropatkin reports that five thousand Japanese are sixteen kilometres (about ten miles) southeast of Feng-hwang-cheng (about forty miles north-west of Kiu-lien-chang and in the direction of Liao-yang) The presence of only small bodies m the vicinity generally suggest that the Japanese advance is lesa rapid than has been indicated from other sources. The Japanese are constructing field works near Feng^hwang-cheng.