Various Items.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 140, 17 June 1904, Page 3

Various Items.

RELUCTANT RESERVES. ST. PETERSBURG, June 15. The Czar's action in summoning many additional officers and men belonging to the reserves for active service has caused acute upprenhension, CHINESE ARMY IN MONGOLIA. (Received June 17, 1.14 a.m.) LONDON, June ](i. General Ma, Chinese generalissimo, who commands forty thousand troops in Northern China, has removed bis headquarters from Chnoyangito King-chiu-chau, further westward in Mongolia. The Viceroy refused his rt|,juost for ten thousand more troops.

Skirmishes tetween the opposing (advanced posts northwards o£ Port Arthur are reported to be of daily occurrence. Troops in Port Arthur are on twothirds rations. There have been ninny desertions of Siberian troops, who escape disguised as Chinamen. THE PASSAGE OF THE YALU. BATTLE STORIES. The following telegram was des. patched by Reuter's correspondent at Wi-ju on -May 8, while the Japanese advance across the Yalu was in progress, but only reached Seoul on May 8 : When the morning mists drifted from the river the Japanese infantry was disclosed, aligned for battle on the low, sandy island of Kintatao, before Wi-ju. The walls and towers on the city of the hill, rising abruptly from Iho south "bank of the nearest of the three channels, were crowded wit* Japanese and Korean spectators of the coming attack. Tho island, in the almost dry river-bed, consisted of a low sandy plain, only a few feot above the level of the water and without shrubbery nr cover except on its southern hub. The infantry lay with slacked arms across the island, awaiting their work. The soldiers were spread out in thin, black lines three miles long from a point on the island opposite the village of Chiulien Cheng, on the west, to a point opposite the extremity of Tiger's Head on the East. A division of the Imperial Guards occupied the centre of the line. Another division was on the west, and a thini; on the east of the line. The Tiger's; Head forms a peninsula 'projecting into the river almost parallel to the south bank. The Japanese division, which executed a flanking movement from up stream yesterday w.tli almost its full force present, was now on tho sands north* of Tiger's, Head. Four field batteries were behind and the infantry on its extreme flank, concealed by shrubbery. Two batteries began the action by throwing shells to the Maneh.iria'n side of the river for half aw hour, while the sun was rising. Thev sprinkled with shells the embankmentswhence the Russian guns had been firing for the past week, but no response to their fire was forthcoming, and it looked as if the Russians had removed their batteries during the night. It seemed as if (he enemy had withdrawn entirely, us there were no signs of life in their works.

Soon after seven the Japanese began their advance. The distance from the Korean to the Manchuriaii shore was about two miles. The Japanese troops spread out in extended formation as they marched. When they were a few hundred yards from the Russian hills they stretched themselves out flat on their faces and began volleying. In the meantime the batteries searched the hills with shrapnel.- The Russians could now be seen hurrying in small squares along the hills at intervals, where the road was exposed, and these stretches of road made tine artillery targets. A fierce fire was focussed on to ono space,'the shrapnel bursting over a small area with wonderful practaion. TherC'was a perfect shower of puffs of white smoke, with occasional shells digging great holes in the earth, and scattering the rock. Still the Russians remained silent until the first Japanese line was within n few yards of the river. Then sharp volleys burst almost simult iniMusly from several trenches, and ihe attacking lines found themselves under a heavy continuous fire at easy range from covered position;; high above them.

They lay behind the sand hillocks replying bravely and hotly, while their own batteries pumped shells over their heads. The officers sat un their horses or walked along the lines without shelter. A few stretcherbearers coming back to tho hold hospitals showed that there weie wounded. The Russian smokeless powder was excellent, and their positions could neither be discovered nor their numbers estimated. Soon gely silenced by the combined anilafter eight tho Russian lire was lnrlery and infantry attack. Parties of the enemy could be seen hurrying up the mountain roads in retreat.

Two regiments of Japanese, one directly opposite Wi-ju and another near a village on the west, ran to the river, stopping to fire now and then, and giving a shrill cheer as they ran which echoed clear over tla plain. Their formation was closer than that of the British or American trooi»s, ami it looked as though their losses must lie great. They waded the river, and ran on across the sands, and clambered up the steep, rocky hillsides like a swarm of ants their red and yellow cap bands gleaming in the sun. One man bore something white, which gave rise to a shout of, "The Russians surrender!" but on reaching the top of tho first Russian trench, a hundred yards up the hillside, he shook out a v Japanese flag, waving it to and fro.

The storming party westward mounted a hill commanding tlit* Kus-s-ian lim* of rotri'at. Just as they were thickly uiiiiclhml on its crest two Japanese shells hurst among them, falling short. When the smoke lifted a dozen bodies lay there, while the rest clambering down the, hill to escape, the unexpected lire in their rear. The sound of the rifle lira Boon passed on over the hills us the Japanese pursued the retreating enemy. One column of weary soldiers. who for two days had been almost without rest, was trudging down the river towards An-tung, where the gunii-'oats woro shelling the Russian works.

At nine o'clock a solitary soldier climlling ahead of his comrades unfurled a huge Hag on the face of the topmost Russian fort, on a ridge 1000 feet above tho plain. lie marched back and forth along the parapet waving the banner, and fur the first time the Japanese spectators on the walls of Wi-ju broke the impressive silence with which they had wiatched the battle and shouted '•|lanzai." Already foot soldiers, and■'batteries, and paek-trains wore atreaitiing on the island by every road.

CABLE NEWS

(United Tress Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. )