RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 145, 23 June 1904, Page 3

RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Another Battle. SERIOUS RUSSIAN LOSSES NEAR HAI-CHENG. LONDON, June 21. The St. Petersburg Gazette reports a sanguinary battle near Hai-cheng, thirty miles south oi Liao-yaivg, and heavy losses. A St. Petersburg telegram received toy a French paper statqs that the Russians lost live thousand men. General Kuropatkin reports an important movement by the Japanese in the direction of Siu-yen and llaicheng, or Siu-yen ami Taschehas. The Japanese are advancing. A Japanese patrol sustained nix Casualties while skirmishing at Chipaning, thirty-six miles west of Siuyen,. killing lifly Russians and capturing three. Tliere are indications that General Stackedburg is in the vicinity of Suing-Yue-Chung. The Retreat from Fu-chon STUBBORN FIGHTING. LONDON, June 21. A Russian oflicer wounded at Wa-fang-han declared that the .Japanese artillery fire was marvellously accurate and effective. The Russians fought stubbornly and desperately, ftiutlbut were unalile to withstand tin enemy's dashing persistency. Russian correspondents, descrilntifc the engagement south of Wa-faiig han state that the Russian left was thrown forward, with the reserves, to clear a hill, where the Japanese retreated with thoir artillery, am. were compelled to cross a mile mostly in the open, under a deciinatint fire. Some got within twenty yard; under the trendies, the occupants o, which were unable to Are, owing ic the convexity of the hills, without exposing themselves. The assailant and defenders occasionally came hanc to hand using the liutts of theii rifles and stones. The majoritv oi the Russians gained the shelter of i neighbouring ravine, but shells anc shrapnel expelled them. The retire ment took place after the guns wen swashed, as cabled.

KUROPATKIN'S tactics critj CISED. (Received June 22, 10.11 p.m.) LONDON, June 22. General StackeJberg's position, ii considered, is growing critical The newspapers remark tliat hi: heavy losses are in accordance will Russian precedent, arming that the\ arise from a combination of braver, and bad generalship. One critic says : "The situation ii. Manchuria embodies all the element: of the swiftest military collap* once the battle of Yena. Genera. Kuropiutkin's action in sending Stae kelberg to the relief of Tort Arthur was like that of a man undermining the foundations of a hous, containing five storeys to the thin storey." There are persistent reports thu Kuropatkin has further weakened hi position by sending forces to Stack efoerg's relief. A HAZARDOUS MARCH LONDON, Juntt 21. General StackeJburg on the 18t' reported that three bodies of Russi an troops, extending their front between u iwl Chong-jong, after two days' fighting and Iwl days' tiring night marches by tiifii cult mountainous roads, were able to rest. HARRYING STACKELiiEIWi. JAPANESE FORCES ON THE PENINSULA. (Received Juno 22, 11.31 p.m ) LONDON, Juno 22. Part of the .lai>anese Fourth Army Corps, under General Nu/.u, will, part of the Third Army Corps mi der the same leader, is operatingagainst General StackelhJ>rg. Tin fifth and eleventh divisions, which were engaged at Teles*}, nominally belong to the Fourth Army Corps Thus there are four divisions on the peninsula, part north and part south of Stackelbbrg's force. The.'i are irrespective of the first, third, and fourth divisions, who were tin victors at the battles of Kin-chai. and Nan-sban, and who are now be -.sieging I'ort Arthur.

STACKELBERG'S FATE. j ■(Received June 23, 0.31 a.m.) LONDON, June 22. The Doily Telegraph states the indications are that Oeneral Nozu has intercepted or that General Oku has overtaken Stackelherg, or that both these events have occurred. f*? Skrydloflf's Exploit. ALLEGED JAPANESE INACTIVITY. (Received Jutio 22, 11.34 p.m.) LONDON, June 22. Vice-Admiral SkrydlofT's supplementary report on the s-helling and torpedoing of the Ilitashi Maru and fJ(Mo Mkru declares that ,a Japanese cruiser was watching them nil tin while. PRAISE FOR BRITISH OFFICERS (Received June 23, 0.34 a.m.) UJNDON, June 22. The British officers of the sunken transports were warmly praised for their bravery in sharing their Jap .anese comrades' fate. Various Items. SOME GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION. Nan-chJa-ling is sixteen miles west ward of Teltsze (or Telissa), Ta-fang-shin five and a half miles-south-west of Telesze, Lungwan-gao four miles south of Telesze, Lung hai-tin three and a half miles southsouth- west of LimK'-wang-ho, and i Vu-ho-tun ten miles south-west o. I

Telesze. CORRUPTION IX OFFICIAL CIU CLES. LONDON, June 21. Grosfe instances of official Russiar corruption continue to come ti light. Artillery of the latent pal tern was melted ami sold, and tin Bed Cross Society's boxes of sup plies were found to be filled wit I bricks and stones. (Received Juno 22, 11.34 p.m.) St. PETERS 11CHO, June 22. When the frauds in connection with the melting and Bale of Riissiiun artillery were discovered the head of the department committed suicide. DEPORTED CAPTIRE OF LIAOV'AXIJ. (Received June 2!i, 0 3-1 a.m.) LONDON, June 22. Unconfirmed native reports receiv- - ed in Niu-chwang state that the Japanese have captured Liao-yang, after two days' fighting. AN APPOINTMENT. LONDON, June 22. ■Marshal the Jlarqjuess Yanmgala succeeds Marshal the Marquess Oynma (Odama) as Chief General of the ;stafi. (Oyama has been appointed Chief •of Stall in Mojnchurla.) THE WAR'S EFFECT ON TRADE. LONDON, June 21. The Times says the war is seriously crippling Russian trade. Hundreds of thousands less tons of traffic ■were carried by the railways in May las compared with the same month last year. Sixty thousand railway Sands are Idle, and the unemployed »re increasing at the rate of 3000 «taily.

CABLE NEWS.

(Unitod PresS Association—By Electric. Telegraph Copyright.)..

JAPAN AND FOREIGN INTERVENTION, (Received June 22, 11.HO p.m ) PARIS, June 22. Baron Suyinatsu, interviewed here stated that if France wished to imdilate the Jaimnv.se refusal of her intervention would not be so absolute as Russia's ; but the vital interests she was defending- must lie safeinmrded.