RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 230, 3 October 1904, Page 2

RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

GUARDING THE LINE OP RETREAT. KJ.'HOPATKLV'S MOVEMENTS.

LONDON, LONDON, Sept. 80. General Kuroputkin, with his main

force, has withdrawn northwards of Mukden. Strong bodies defend

both Hanks. There are maay gun positions, trenches, and entanglements, esiiecially on tho western rood to Mukden. A strong rear-

guaid is South of the town, and the soutltern approaches art mined. THE VOLUNTEER FLEET.

SMOLENSK AND HER CONSORT LEAVE PORT SAID. (Received Oct. 2, 9..10 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 1. The Hussion Volunteer Fleet cruis-

ers Smolensk and Petersburg, after coaling and provisioning, proceeded to Libau. .» (Received Oct, 3, 1.2 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 2. The Smolensk and Petersburg are at Algericris (r Algeeiras, ft town in Spain on the west side of the Bay of Gibraltar.) I THE RECHITELNI.

VESSEL BLOWN UP : JAPANESE KILLED. LONDON, Oct. 1.

A report has i-cached Vladivostok that while tho Rechitelni was being towed the vessel blew up, and 130 Japanese perished. JAPANESE ARMY REFORM. OHU-'NCHUSEB INTERRUPT THE

RAILWAY TRAFFIC. LONDON, Oct. 1. The Times' Tokio correspondent says the change in the J apaneao military system is estimated to bring forthwith 000,000 trained men U> ■the colours. A band of Chu-'Nchuses blew up the railway 160 miles south of Harbin, killing a sentinel. The traffic and telegraph wires were interrupted for several hours. The Japanese captured a junk with despatches' from Port Arthur, and

detained two Russians. ASSAULTS ON PORT ARTHUR. . NEWS TO SEPTEMBER 20-FBOM RUSSIAN SOURCES. LONDON, Oct. 1. The Russian General Staff's news from Port Arthur states that all assaults from the 20th to the i6th September were repulsed. WORK IN MANCHURIA. JAPANESE CONFIDENT OP THEIR SUPERIORITY. LONDON, Oct. !.■ Ad .ices from Mukden state that the Japanese have fortlfled positions north and west of the Ycn-toi' mines. | Field-Marshal Oyama's forces facing tho Russians! number 144,000 | bayonets, 6380 cavalry «nd «.'lB flold guns. The Japanese were represents I td us iM-'intf anxious to act on the dej tensive. The advices record sharp ' Hkjriiiishing, at various points, with ' unimportant casualties. ] The Standard correspondent at General Kuroki's headquarters says the Russians are reconnoitring, being puzzled at the Japanese inactivity, 1 and unable to realize that the Japanese, confident in their superiority, can afford to wait till they hava completed their arrangements. ; The Telegraph says that double tho Russian estimate of Oyania's forces is much likelier to be correct. (Received Oct. 8, 1.2 a.ra.) LONDON, Oct. 2. General Sakharoff reports that th» Japanese arc pouring across theTaK tse at Brin-si-ku, A number of Chu'Nchuses are assisting the Japanese on the Liao River side. Cavalry on Thursday checked the Japanese odvnnce in the Yen-taJ district, an'J on Friday burned 17 junks transporting ammunition on the Hun-ho. RUSSIANS MOBILISING. (Received! Oct. 9, 1.2 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 2. | Tho Moscow province is mobilising 50,000 troops. VARIOUS ITEMS. Lo Matin's St. Petersburg correspondent reports that the Czar has summoned Prince Alexieft to hear his statement of the situation. This is interpreted to me tt n that he is not to return. There are persistent reports that the Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholas vitch will be appointed generalissimo. TOGO'S HIDING PLACE. One of the mysteries of tho war has been as to where the Japanese naval base was situated which enabled Admiral Togo t 0 make such sudden appearances before Port Arthur, and after delivering an assault t 0 vaftish as if his fleet had never bee». The mystery is now dispelled iby Mr Frederic Villiers, the special artist of tha Illustrated London News, who is with Admiral Togo, Tbat astute commander has now given him to tell the British public where the

"certain place" mentioned so oftw t j in early despatches is situated. It j is one of the natural havens in tlte Kili o tt group or Islands that Mo j I about tlirco hours' stcaiu from Port j i Arthur. The haven is between <Ao l islets of Da-eho-san und Khas, a vd

t hero the Japanese ships are re-coalcd, | re-victualled, rei>aired, and nursed for ,j further efforts.