RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 132, 8 June 1904, Page 3

RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

PORT ARTHUR. JTS INVESTMENT AND RELIEF. LONDON, June 6. The Japanese lines have been expended from Shulan-taiku to Chi-■chang-tsu—about twelve miles from .the Port Arthur forts. The outposts .of the two armies are within two amies of -each other. St. Petersburg telegrams published the fVench papers state that the Czar's decision to relieve Port Arthur is ajguinst the advice of the majafity of the War Council, but is 'supported by the War Minister, the Grand Duke Vladimir, and popular opinion.

EXPLOSION'S AT THE FORTRESS LONDON, June G. The Japanese destroyer flotilla watching Port Arthur saw a gunboat of the Uilyak type blow up and sink while engaged with others clearing away mines in the roadstead. Admiral Togo believes a torpedo caused the explosion.

Reports from steamers representing newspapers attribute the heavy explosions at Port Arthur to Admiral Wittgits' efforts to clear the fairway in readiness for a sortie when the fortress is assaulted.

WIRELESS TELEGRAPH INSTALLATION. x LONDON, June 6. A Japanese cruiser reports that she saw four uiasts, one bearing wireless telegraphic iiisU-ujweMs, and a sentry box on the top the Liao-ti-slioa Promontory.

SKIRMISHES IN NORTH-EAST KOHEA. LONDON, June C. There arc two thousand Japanese troops at Gensan. Repeated skirmishes have taken place in the vicinity, Koreans co-operating in repulsing the Cossacks.

A SUGGESTED DIVERSION. LONDON, June 6. The Novoe Vreiuya, a leading Russian Journal, applauds a suggestion that the United States might possili COdQ Philippines to Japan in order to divert Japanese attention -tram Asia. A "WHITE FLAG" ABUSE. LONDON, June 6. The Daily Telegraph's Nagasaki •Correspondent reports that wounded Japanese officers informed him that a party of Russians at Nan-shan surrendered under the white flag, and on the Japanese advancing to pass them, the enemy fired point blank, killing and wounding many, A DENIAL, LONDON, June 6. The Times states that Count Lamsdorff's assailant was not the Prince Dolgourouki who married an English woman, but another of the same name. DISCOUNTING PORT ARTHUR'S OFFENSIVE POWERS. (Received June 8, 0.10 a.m.) LONDON, June 7. The Times correspondents aboard tha -despatch boat Haimun state that the continuous explosions heard from Arthur are interpreted to mean the demolition of certain Government buildings. If the channel were praoticajble to ships of larjgp draught there is insufficient coal in Port Arthur for such vessels to proceed to KUROPATKIN AS A SCAPEGOAT. Dt LONDON, June 7. . V??L Petersburg correspondent Of 1 t£ho de Paris suggests that the atory that the Czar ordered General Kuropatkm to detach a portion of tas army for the relief of Port Arthur was invented by the Ministry for Wax, to deceive the public, the lolly of such an attempt being generally admitted.