RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 298, 21 December 1904, Page 2

RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

THE OPERATIONS AGAINST PORT ARTHUR. PROGRESS OF EVENTS. LONDON, Dec. 19. Shells on the night of the 9th repeatedly hit the hospital's' in Peirt Arthur, killing seven patients. Many, clud in white, fled through the snowy streets. It was a ghostly sight. Several died from exposure. General Stoessei h'as cabled the Czar a stirring story ol twelve days' assaults, commencing on November ,'2uth, and claiming to have definitely repulsed tins Ja(mnese with a loss of twesity thousand, lie attributes the result to the prayers of the Mother Empress. Cabling' on Hie loth General Stoessei admits the Japanese on the (ith captured Vyssokaia Hill alter three repulses. lie states that the warshijtt ore suffering from the eleven-inch shells. General Tsrpitsky died from wounds, lie adds that the spirit of the tjpops is excellent. A shell wounded Admiral W.irrin slightly. Router's Tokio; correspondent reports Hint the Sevastopol was torpedoed ten times, and |is now aground, completely disabled. The Japanese lost two torpedo boats in tlie operations the Sevastopol. The crew ol one were saved.

tf'he Russians have abandoned the warships Peresviet, Poltava, Pobied.a, Pallada, Dayan, and Itetvisau. General Stoessei 'has again been wounded, but not seriously, lie reports that there are twelve thousand men ini the garrison, including sailors. All are on half rations.

Admiral Mizzinoll reports that the garrison expects the arrival of Admiral Rozjestvensky's fleet within ten days. (Received Dec. 20, 9. 38 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. J'2o. The Japanese lire sank a Russian torpedo boalt at Port Arthur. (Received Dec. 20, 11.9 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 20. Admiral Togoj reports that the Russian battleships and big cruisers are completely disabled, but at least six destroyers still remain ill tho harbour. He praises the couragv and eiash of his torpedo boat crews.

HAND TO BAND FIGHTING, A WARM AFTERNOON AND NIGHT, LONDON, Dec. 20. The Japanese ;on Sunday afteruoon destroyed, by means of mines, the breastworito of the north tort at East Kek-wan-shun, charging immediately afterwards. A licrce light followed, hand grenades being used. The resistance was so stubborn and the tiro from machine guns so severe ihut •operations had to be suspended. General Samejima, fut seven in the evening, again assaulted the position, capturing it shortly before midnight and rendering the position secure before morning. The Japanese captured five 9-cen-timetre lield guns, two oiaohine g>uns, and a great quantify of ammunition. They found lifts dead Russians. Th# Japanese casualties were not heavy.

TOGO'S CHALLENGER. THE BALTIC FLEET THE EQUAL OF JAPAN'S. LONDON, Dec. .19. Admiral Birileff, writing to the N'ovoe Vrem.va', urges the cessation of the controversy in connection with the despatch 1 of n third sq'uadron. He describes the Baltic Fleet as enormously strong and equal to the Japanese, and declares that Admiral Rozjesitvensky has every chance of success, since Admiral Togo's vessels and personnel have evidently suffered! severely. (Received Dec. 20, 11.9 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 20. Sixteen ships of the Baltic Fleet passed 'the Cope on the 19th. Four colliers are awaiting them at Lorenzo Manpies, Delagoa Bay (Portuguese colony).

THIRD BALTIC SQUADRON. ' HASTENING ITS DEPARTURE FROM LIBAU. (Received Dec. 20, 9.38 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 20. Feverish lvaste is shown at Lilian ill preparations for the despatch of a third squadron. Only those repairs which are absolutely indispensable are being effected on the warships. WORK IN MANCHURIA. RUSSIAN ATTACK ON OUTJPOSTS REPULSED. (Received Dec. 20, 9.3|8 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 20. Field-Marshal Oyama reports that on the evening of the 17th he repulsed repeated attacks on his outposts wt Si>jiJisaio-chi«vgF-tzu, Tury'hiaMtsekon, and Hsmg"tung-tun.