Inland Operations.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 125, 31 May 1904, Page 3

Inland Operations.

JAPANESE ADVANCE TOWARD LIAO-YANG. LONDON, May 28. ' General Kuropatkin reports that a Japanese battalion of infantry and a squadron of cavalry on Wednesday advanced along the main road to Liao-yang, but were soon compelled to retire to Tythoumonze. Another battalion of infantry occupied the heights of the Villa Dapu, in the Valley of Aiho. Continuous skirmishing is proceeding with the Cossacks. Various Items. NEW JAPANESE EXPLOSIVE. WASHINGTON, May 28. Ofliciul reports received at Washington on the power of Japanese simosu powder show that its force is' tcrrilic, piercing the heaviest armour. Shells with a small cavity are rent into'a thousand sharp fragments, which pierce even steel obstructions like machine gun projectiles. RUSSIAN VIEW OF THE WAR. LONDON, May 28. The Times- states that the Russian Minister for Public Instruction has issued a circular for use in the schools. It explains the genesis of the war, and argues that expansion eastwards occurred against official Russia's will, owing to the sudden Chinese attack on Dlagovcstchensk in 1900. It instances the justification of ■ subsequent steps ending in the Russification of Manchuria, and adds that finally Great Britain and the United States thrust forward Japan, who was hostile and dangerous to themselves, as a combatant. It is calculated that the war will weaken' both Russia and Japan.

HOW THE HATSUSE AND YOSHINO WENT DOWN.

(Received May 30, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 30. Admiral Togo overhauled l a junk, in which were found letters written by a Port Arthur ollicer, stating that mines outside had sunk at least two Russian destroyers. The writer admitted that the mine which destroyed the Hatsuse (Japanese battleship) was laid the night before tho j explosion. The fatalities on the Yonhino, sunk the same day, were chiefly due to tho masts breaking and smashing [five of the boats just when manned. When the ship sank the captain was on the bridge encouraging his crew to save themselves. Lieutenant Nuito sprang overboard and reached the only remaining boat, in which he was rowed to the Kasuga. On returning with three other boats he found no trace of the Yoshino or her crew, except six men rescued by the cruiser Chitose. The fog was so dense that the Kasuga's searchlight was only faintly visible at 800 yards. The Kasuga struck the Yoshino on the port side, near the engines. The collision would destroy the dynamos, leaving the ship in darkness.