RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 297, 20 December 1904, Page 2

RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

JAPANESE HOUSE AND WAR SUPPLIES. A SATISFIED COUNTRY. TOKJO, Dee. 18. Tile Budget Committee of the Lower House in Tol.io, jost;jit/iug- ull parties, unanimously voted all wai" supplies. Tlie Leader of the Opposition dsplurerl tlio country was thoroughly satistiud with the conduct of the war. IllttH PRICED LIVING. CAUSES CiENEHAL OKU SOME MISGIVINGS. (Received Doc. 1(1, 9.29 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 19. General Oku in threatened with a serious shortage of fuel and food, although lie is paving triple prices for supplies.

WINTER IN MUKDEN. WINTER CLOTHING FOK HOMELESS CHINESE. LONDON, Dec. 18. The Chinese at I'ekin and Tientsin have collected winter clothing for HO.OOO of their homeless compatriots in Mukden, tut the J apaiieso refuse to allow it to be forwarded, fearing it might iKmeflt the Russians. VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION. SURPRISE AND ROUT A RUSSIAN FORCE. LONDON, Dec. 18. Three thousand Japanese volunteers on Thursday surprised a large body of Russians attempting a diverting movement north-west of Hsien-kbang. A hot conflict followed, and the Russians were cornpulled to retire on Mukden. PROTECTION FOR HOSPITALS. GENERAL STOESSEL'S REQUEST TO GENERAL NOGI. LONDON, Dec. 18. General Stoosseh has requested Genoral Nogi to refrain from bombarding the hospitals, and has fur-nislfc-U him with a plan indicating their positions.

(lteceived Dec. 19, 9.29 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 19. General Nug-i assurdd General Stoessel that the greater part of the fortress was invisible from the Japanese positions. His troops had never purposely fired on buikjings or vessels flying l the Hod Cross, and he was una'blu to guarantee that shells would reach the places aimed at, since, owing to the garrison's long and brave resistance, the deviation of the Japanese guns was becoming greater and greater. General Stoessel, revested that the Japanese guns do not bombard the whole of the new town and the north-eastern [jnrt ol the old town, but General Nogi declined übsolotely to limit the area of Are. He promised, however, to consider the map showeng the positions of hospitals.

STORY OP METRE HILL, ■ THROUGH THE VALLEY OP DEATH TO VICTORY. (Received Dec. 19, p. 17 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 19. Commander Mizzinoff, who carried General Stoessel's despatches in a boat to Che-foo, stated that the slaughter at Metre Hill was so terrible that even hardened veterans shuddered' at the sight of the Japanese as they clambered step by step up the slopes, without firing, and facing a murderous fire from rifles and machine guns. The onlookers thought that flesh and -blood would be unable to face such a fire, even for a minute. The Japanese went down, in squads, and in companies ; yet others ever grimly and unwaveringly pressed forward. Their bravery was beyond praise, as was also that of the Russians. The muzzles of the rifles of the coinjbjttants often touched each others' breasts. Ho quarter was given. Commander Mizzinoff states that eight Japanese standard bearers were successively killed while placing their flag on tihe pinnacle of Metre Hill. When the ninth .tried, n Russian officer exclaimed : "Don't shoot him ! The flag will be planted anyhow."

rivulets of blood. WOUNDED "SHOVELLED IN"WITH THE DEAD. (Received Dec. 19, 10.14 p.m.) XiONDON,' Dec. 19. Commander Mizzinuft further stated that the Japanese ignited a huge pile of wood, coal, and corns'talks, and the wind blowing the flames and smoke towards the Russians the latter were compelled to retire. The hillside was literally covered with dead and wounded, and • in tihe trenches rivulets of blood were flowing. , Every visible spot of ground, find evory boulder, was crimson. The Russians lost two thousand men. Owing to the brevity of the armistice the Japanese wero unable, in t'he darkness, to distinguish between wounded and dcud, and consequently shovelled many wounded into the pits and trenches.

JAPANESE SHIPS MOVING. POSSIBLY GOING TO MEET THE BALTIC SQUADRONS. (Received Dec. 'l9, 9.29 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 19. It is reported in Shanghai that a part of the Japanese fleet has gone to Singapore. Transports, equipped with light guns, are said to maintain the blockade at Port Arthur.