RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7714, 17 January 1905, Page 3

RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

z 'g[' ' FALL OF PORT ARTHUR. |yr : ' lot to Discourage Russian Forces. W ST, PETERSBURG, Jan. 15. i The Czar, in an order announcing f the fall of Port Arthur, exhorts his brave soldiers and sailors not to allow Sorrow to discourage them. The enemy is brave and strong, and * -it is extremely difficult to sustain a struggle ten thousand versts away, but he is confident the hour of victory is arriving. THE BALTIC SQUADRONS. Coaling Operations. LONDON, Jan. 15. . Advices from Port Louis (Mauritius) slate that Admiral Rozhdestvensky had thirteen Russian warships anchored at Diego Suarez on port Cuban, 510 men, and tho 31st lilt. The volunteer transeight guns, reached Diego Suarez (on the north-east coast of Madagascar) on the 30th ult~ Cottiers arc coafHng Admiral! Foelkersahm's fleet at Passandava, and the steamer Irrawaddi landed at Nossibe Island 4500 packages for the Russians. ALLEGED BREACH OF NEUTRALITY France Accused by Japan. (Received Jan. 10' 10.14 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 16. The Japanese press complain that \ France has allowed the Baltic "H Fleet to • remain twelve days in Madagascar Waters, using the island as a base for its operations. It is claimed that thfe 6s a serious breach of the neutrality laws. ALLEGED ARBITRARY PROCEEDINGS. British Telegraph Stopped. ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. 15. Tho Xovoo Vremyu's Java correspondent reports that a Japanese £) warship has estaWished a base at Labuan (a British island near the north-west coast of Borneo). In order to conceal its presence the British telegraph office was compelled to cease working for twelve days on the pretence of a breakdown. AN ARRESTED SHIP. Detained at Sydney. SYDNEY, Jan. 16. The Customs authorities detained the steamer Rockton on the eve of her departure for Yokohama, consequent on persistent rumours that she had been purchased by the Ja- *■ panese Government, and referred the matter to the Federal authorities. (Redeived J a n. 17, 1 a.m.) SYDNEY', Jan. 17. As a result of negotiations with the Federal authorities the Rockton was allowed to sail for Japan, after the owners had given a bond for £10,600 that the vessel was not intended for belligerent purposes. It was subsequently stated that the Rockton bad been bought by an English firm in Japan. nSTCHENKO'S EXPLOITS. INDIFFERENT SUCCESSES. m (Received Jan. 16, 9.59 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 16. The New York Herald correspondent who accompanied Genera! 1 Mistchenko on his recent raid, staKes 40k that he had an enormous cavalry force. Three columns, commanded by Generals Abramou', Samsonoff and Tyelschorf, showed a front extending for five miles. The writer describes it as a '"magnificent sight." * The country was swept thoroughly of hares, fawn.o, and other game. ' The force had several encounters with Chu-'Nchuses, one hundred of whom were killed. Japanese flags were captured at the village of Shouteze, near the confluence of the Tai-tse anfl Liao-ho. These were captured during a night attack, despite a stubborn resistance from three ,-. hundred Japanese. Two Russian officers were killed. Crossing the Tai-tse-ho the Cossack farce reached Old Nitt-chwang unopposed on the 15th. Fifty Japaj_ nese in a house refused to surrender, and some were killed. Many large transports were captured and burnt, and five hundred metres of the railway north of Haichcog was destroyed, while a bridge at Aishichjao was blown up. Cossacks on the 12th attacked Yingkow station where there were nine million roubles worth of stores. Japanese en-gine-drivers, displaying great daring under a heavy fire, brought , up a thousand troops whose accurate firing compelled the Russians to retire. The Russians claim that they would have captured the station U they had arrived a quarter of a* hour earlier. General Oku despatched eight thousand men from Sanliheo, and it was reported from Yung-kow on Sunday that the Russians had ibeen cut off. IN NEUTRAL TERRITORY. MISTRUSTING THE MUSCOVITE. (Received Jan.- 16, 10.14 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 16. ' In connection with General Mistchenko's raid the Japanese declare that owing to an infringement of the neutral zone they will not obr_ serve those restrictions which the - Russians ignore. , At Washington the opinion is expressed that the invasion.of the neutral zone was intended to pave the . way for the Russian occupation of other Chinese territory if compelled to evacuate Manchuria.