RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 143, 21 June 1904, Page 3

RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

YESTERDAY'S CABLES. LONDON, June lit. Eleven hundred wounded, including lifty-live ollicers.have arrived at Liaoyang. The latter state that the Russians had forty-two .battalions and the. Japanese forty-four at the f.jiiille of "Va-fainJt-kan' Tin! result was- due to the superiority of the Japanese artillery—numbering ovvr two hundred guns. The Japanese sharpshooters were extraordinarily successful. All the ollicers of two Russian batteries were killed except one.

General Kuroki is awaiting the results of the Liao-tung lighting, lieavs rains have set in. Admiral Prince Ale.vieu' reports that the warships at Port Arthur been repaired. The Russians sank the transport izunri Maru on the lath. There was no loss of life. The Vladivostok ajjuadron, after hurriedly searching two merchantmen on Saturday, disappeared oil the coast of the Aomori Protective, Admiral Skrydtotf fearing the approach of Admiral Kamimura.

LAST NIGHT'S CABLES. (Received June 20, 10.40 p.m.) LONDON. June 20. The Jzunii Maru was homeward bound. One hundred passengers, including a number of sick, and the crew were transferred to the Gromo'*>i. Twenty-two non-comUjalants were transferred on the loth to the I'nko Maru, and have arrived at Maizura. A vessel, the Maiko Maru. was attacked on the loth, but escaped and reached Tsu Shiuia. Admiral Skrydlolfs sji/iadroit on the 16th sank the merchantmen Kawata Maru and Ansei Maru between Oku and the Kojima Islands. Thir-ty-seven survivors reached Yesashi. The Russians transferred the. Sado Maru's English second mate to a released Merchantman. Suventvthree of the Sado Maru's survivors have reached Nagasaki. (Received June 20, 11.6 p.m.)

LONDON, June 20. Admiral Syrydloff remained at Vladivostok, Vice-Admiral Uezabrazoff conducting the raid. Skrydlotf reports that the squadron encouuterid in the Straits of Korea the izuiiii Maru, whose troops, on the expiry of a certain period of time, were allowed to quit the vessel. A I art of the crew also took advantage of this- concession. Four guns then sank the Izumi Maru. Then the Jlitashi Hani and Sudo Maru were s^n— one with troops and the other with coolies, horses, and railway plant. Tiie transports refused to surrender, and on the expiry of the period granted them .both were sunk by shells. Their losses were considerable, including a portion of the troops and crews, and the war material. Th» squadron on the Kith overhauled tl>e Dritish steamer Allanton, laden with coal for SlokarJo, and bound south. The lack of clear papers and irregularities in her :og excited suspicion regarding the .leulrality of her cargo and the Allanton was sent to Vladivostok, where she has arrived. A Prize Court will consider her disposal. The prizo crew on board the Allant.m apparently brought the sUiadron's report.

Admiral Kamimura is severely criticised in Japan in connection with the Kushi Maru and the latest raid, lie was at Tsu Shima when Admiral liezabrazoff was at Oki Shima, and intended starting in pursuit immediately, but an electrical storm interbred with his ethergrams. (Received June 20, 11.32 p.m.)

LONDON, June 20. The Times correspondent states that the Hitashi Maru and the Sado Maru were encountered seventy miles north of Iloji, to which place it was intended to return when the Sado Maru was disabled. Six hundred men rowed away, and four, hundred remained, preparing to commit K-iicide. FimiUy they tried to stop the leaks and construct rafts. The u-ssel drifted for twenty hours. The Hitashi Maru's victims include Captain Campbell, Chief Oliicor Bishop, and Chief Engineer Glass. All accounts agree that the Russians deliberately butchered combatants ; but non-cointyitants were .shown some clemency. Those on the Sado Maru were allowed to k--ave the vessel before the torpedoes were got to wort.

Admiral Bezabrazoff is still at sea. (Received June 21, 0.34 a.m.) LONDON, June 20. Details of tho recent lighting show ihat the line from Pi-tsze-wo to :-ort Adams, forming the northern sfate to the Liao-tung Peninsula.was the one which General Stackelberg tried to force.

Oeneral Oko advanced from ' Port Adams, along the westernmost road, uhilc a portion of his force on the lelt followed the Fu-chon highway. Iho cavalry advanced on the extreme right, from I'i-tsze-wo to Hegu-gS-o-chin. The left wing on the morning of the 14th advanced to Xan-chie-iing, while the centre and ■ight, keeping in touch, reached Chia-shica-tun, on the Tai-ping-knu iine, twelve kilometres (between seven and eight miles) south of Telissa. The country was rough and the advance consequently difficult.

Tlie Russians held the Ta-iVmg-•:han-Lung-wang ('? Liao-yang) line, immediately south of Telissn. This was a very strong position, but lacking in facilities for retreat, though Us nearness to the railway favoured rapid reinforcement.

lhe Russian fighting line comprised twenty-five battalions of infantry and seventeen squadrons of cavalry, with ninety-eight guns, to which force constant additions were made. The Japanese advanced on the Wantgiiatun-Lungykiatun - Mukialun line, where, posting artillery, they oombariled the enemy for two hours. 'Their centre and right occupied the heights west of Ta-l\rn|vknu at dawn on the loth, the right wing stretching along the heights from Lungkiatun to Wangkiatun. These divisions wore ordered to hold their positions firmly, without adopting ■trong offensive nieasuivs, pending i Hank movement by the Fu-chon ■oiumn.

ntm-iud Juno 21, 1.2 ~.„, ; I.OXIIOX, ,I, mi . 121). The Russian position lay i-um. and '■vest across the narrow valley in which the railway and I-'n-t-htju Kiv■r are flanked by high bills. The ,'npane.se artillery in the centre ami on the right precluded the centre's advance, and the enemy pressed the Japanese main column northward of the Fu-chon Kiver, but the Hank movement, on the left then began to develop. The Fir-chon columns of infantry and artillery reached't he heights westward of Wankiatun and established touch with the centre. Roth columns, in face of ~ heavy caimvoMwic, then advanced scaling the precipitous escarpments and jiushing back the,.enemy on Ta-fang-tin. The enemy's left was heavily reinforced, and the new troops attempted repealed attacks to nun the Japanese right, necessitating the summoning of the whole of the Japanese reserves, which with timelv movements of cavalry threatened the Russian left rear, and restored the Japanese initiative. The retreat, .conducted under a withering fire, was converted into a rout. A battery of artillery and two companies of infantry sent to the hills ambushed nine hundred retreating Russian infant vx troops, mnny heing killed and wounded. An unofficial estimate of the Russian casualties places the number at three thousand. Some foreign attaches were present. BY TRAIN TO PORT ARTHUR. THROUGH A WAR-SWEPT COUNTRY. EXCITING EXPERIENCES. Nemirovich Danchenko. a Russian war correspondent in the service of

CABLE NEWS.

I (United Press Association—By Tclc- | graph-Copyright.)

the Associated Press, (jives an interesting narrative of his journey to Port Arthur, as follows : "Having reached the flaming village of Wamndiati, I wished to proceed thence to Liao-yang and al'ter- | wards join General Sassalich eastward. With nightfall from tlie hills 'outlined against the blaze of lire, shots were heard occasionally. The .locomotives showed no signs of .starting. Chinese approached us with complaints against Ihe Govcr- , nor, who had executed eight more |of our friends. The Chinese, frightened, huddled around our camp-lire. The telegraph wire was working all night with headquarters. At daybreak a monster ammunition train, drawn by several engines, arrived. Jt was essential to lake the train through to Port. Arthur, an exceptionally dangerous undertaking, in view of the re-appearance of the enemy. Two squadrons of frontier guards were sent, out to reconnoitre the neighbourhood. The cars were armoured by a double row of rails against rifle lire and had on board a company of Haiknl engineers. "A locomotive was sent ahead to act as a scout, in charge of Lieutenant Zaxgdsky, who acted as engineer, and Lieutenant Von Yioop, two armed stokers, and the correspondent of the Associated Press. Our mission was to signal the train, which was following ten minutes behind, if there was any danger that it would attract the enemy's attention. in which case the train would haw been blown up by Russians. Colonel Soiridorof. who, with a force of ollicers and men of the Amur railroad battalion, had come over the damaged line, repairing it as he came, . Have the signal, and we moved off, with the engine swathed in clouds of smoke from the burning station of Wafandin. "As we drew close, on both sides were verdure-covered slopes, with blue lulls in the distance and occasional glimpses of the emerald sea. Chinese villages and miniature gardens alone relieved the monotony of the picturesque scene. The typhoon had passed and there was nothing then to prevent the enemy's landing. Doubtless it was proceeding not far away

"I paw Chinese women and children fleeing with their families and valuables. We eagerly scanned the treacherous nooks and gorges of the hills, where the enemy might lip lurking. A single successful shot from a hidden battery might blow up the mammoth train behind. There was no sign of life at Pplandicn. "The charred station house was as desolate as the grave. We overtook the cavalry scouts, ami thereafter acted ns our own outposts. We found the bridges, one of which had been repaired by Colonel Spiridorof on the previous day, were still guarded by our sentries, who reported that the enemy had not appeared. The locomotives steamed on quickly, without encountering any sign of life, as far ns Sivnshillipou. There, the troops were drawn up to meet us. We heard the good news that thirty-six men, who had iyei'H surrounded by the enemy the previous day, and who had been vainly sought by the Kinehau -garrison, had succeeded in breaking through the enemy's lines unaided.

'-'After again starting we saw a detachment of cavalry in the midst of a cloud of dust, near the seashore, and stopped to see whether they were friends or foes. Through field glasses we recognised Uussiar. uniforms. It was a sq'uadron sent by General Fock to meet and escort

us. The soldiers hurrahed and galloped forward with joyful faces.

"At Kin-chau Oenerul Fock mid his stall' eame lo oiler their congratulations on the accomplishment of such a dangerous and important

,'iiission. ' Now Hint you have fed Port Arthur in every sense we need have no anxiety. The enemy is everywhere, but missed you,' said General Fock. The (icnernl thanked Colonel Spiridorof and the ollieers and men, and the train proceeded thence over a well-protected line. There was no necessity for us toi go any further. A telegram came from Port. Arthur expressing heartfelt gratitude.

"As we left and resumed our journey to Liao-yang we could hear the echoes of distant explosions caused by the blowing up of piers, docks, und quays of Port Dulny. On our wuy north we sighted a detachment of Japanese cavalry. The enemy continued landing troops at Ilunchaii, near Cape Terminal, driving out the Chi nine.

"There is a deep feeling of confidence that Liao-tung is not impaired by the apparent, temporary checks to the Russian army, which, it is claimed, cannot alter the final outcome. Let Russia, it is added, not give way to excitement, but look forward cheerfully.

"Fresh troops are arriving uninterrupyedly. The Siberian soldiers have a splendid appearance. They are greatly superior to the troops from the Central Russian provinces. Liao-yang is packed with supplies.

"The Russian commanders do not believe the enemy will prove very energetic. They think the Japanese movement against Port Arthur was a ruse and that the chief attack is intended to be made on Liao-yang."