RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 131, 7 June 1904, Page 3

RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

THE RELIEF OF PORT ARTHUR. AN ATTEMPT EXPECTED. (Received June G, 11.39 p.m.) LONDON, June 6. Advices received at Tokio state that large bodies of Russians are advancing south towards Hai-ping. Tho Russians opposed to General Kuroki at Feng-hwang-cheng are also increasing. This is interpreted at Tokio to mean that strenuous efforts are to be made to relieve Port Arthur. Advices trom Niu-chwang state that an army corps is advancing south. Its flank-guards have passed Niu-chwang. General Stakelberg's force forms its vanguard. FEARS IN RUSSIA. A DECISIVE MOVEMENT SUSPECTED. LONDON, June 6. There is a growing uneasiness in Russia at Marsha) Yamaguta's a\ypointment as Japanese Generalissimo. This is interpreted as indicating an intention to attack the Russian forces simultaneously at Port Arthur, Liao-yang, and Mukden. DISASTER TO RUSSIAN FORCES. LONDON, June 6. The Russians at Chan-keo-tun and Lung-wang-miao on the 30th were driven from their positions towards Tele-szc. Two thousand Russian infantry, with some cavalry and a battery .of artillery, attacked a Japanese cavalry force at Chin-ciu-tien on Friday, and were repulsed and driven to Tele-szc. The Daily Telegraph's Tien-tsin correspondent reports that four thousand Russians on the 31st attacked fifteen hundred Japanese at Jonghills, five miles south of Vagenfrau, and sixty-five miles north of Port Arthur. The Russians were repulsed, losing two hundred killed and four hundred wounded, while several hundred of their rifles were captured. The Japanese delivered a successful Hanking movement. One hundred Jupanese were killed. (Received June 6, 11.52 p.ni.) LONDON, June 6.

Kuroki reports that a detachment from Ai-yang, while reconnoitring towards Samaki, had a brisk fight with and inflicted heavy losses on 600 Cossacks, who retreated. The Japanese casualties were slight. EXPLOSIONS AT POUT ARTHUR. (Received June 6, 11.52 p.m.) LONDON, June 6. Admiral Togo reports that great explosions were heard, and dense volumes of smoke seen in the direction ol Port Arthur on Saturday. Ad unofficial message attributes this to blasting operations for new batteries, JAPANESE ARTILLERY AT KIN-CHAU. LONDON, June 6. Pigeons bring General Stoessel despatches from Niu-chwang. According to General Stoessel the Japanese massed a hundred and twenty field pieces at Kin-chau, capable of concentrating an irresistible fire on the defensive lines. A HAUL FOR BRIGANDS. LONDON, June 0. Russian reports state' that brigands in the Niu-chwang district obtained a thousand Mannlicher rifles. RUSSIAN COUNCIL OF WAR. LONDON, June 6. French advices from St. Petersburg announce that at a great council of the General Staff important offensive tactics in the Far East were resolved upon. THE WRECK OF THE BOGAtYR. LONDON, June 6. The St. Petcrstftirg correspondent of the Paris newspaper Le Matin reports that Admiral Jcszen ordered the Bogatyr to make a sortie from Vladivostok in a fog. Her commander (Stehmann) was unwilling to risk bis vessel, and resigned. Admiral Jeszen thereupon assumed command hiuvielf, and ran the vessel on the rocks. He will shortly be courtmartialled.

OPERATIONS AROUND LIAOTUNG PENINSULA. (Received June 7, 0.9 a.m.) LONDON, June 6. The Japanese base has been transferred to Dalny and Talien-wan. Troops landed at Dalny are proceed- • fag along both coasts towards Port Arthur. Gunboats support their flank. On Friday the eastern coast division fought a battle fifteen miles from Port Arthur. It 18 announced at Tokio that a gunboat of the Gilyak type was torpedoed and destroyed on Saturday ' at Port Arthur. GENERAL KUROPATKIN'S ORDERS. OFFICIAL JEALOUSY. LONDON, June 6. It is uncertain whether the Czar's order-to relieve Tort Arthur has yet been transmitted. The Daily Express states there are indications that Kuropatkin has merely made feints. The Daily News says the order is attributed to Kuropatkin's enemies in St. Petersburg. Manv high officials are trying to persuade the Czar to change his mind. VARIOUS ITEMS. (Received June 6, 11.39 p.m.) LONDON, June 6. The French have erected a wireless telegraph pole at Ching-wang-tao, to receive communications from Port Arthur. LONDON, June 5. General Kuropatkin has ordered grey tunics and cape-covers for the whole army. He advises that he is dyeing the white tunics to avoid awoiting European supplies. Japanese scouts intercepted CosSacks approaching Gen-son and compelled their retirement. They killed five. A junk landed field pieces on the Shore near Ham-liengy, where Cossack reinforcements arc expected. Russian reports claim successful operations in north-eastern Korea causing grave dif| a uietude on the part of the Japanese. General Yodama, chief Japanese General of StafT, telegraphed to ('.,- neral Meeker at Berlin : "Ya-lu victory won by the officers you instrucThe Cologne Gazette expresses the hope that Russia recognises that Germany's friendly neighbourly sentiments are so far consistent with neutralitv.

CABLE NEWS.

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