THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7800, 17 April 1905, Page 3

THE WAR.

RUSSIANS STILL RETREATING. JAPANESE SUCCESS. EASTERN TOWERS WARNED. BREACHES OF NEUTRALITY UNENDURABLE. (Received April 16, 4.18 p.m.) LONDON, April l.">. Russian rctreatcrs from Kaiknen have reac, ed Kirin, leaving the rearguard of 8000 at ltsuchan, llafclusu, and Sulipau. The Russians at Changtu and Fagumen are rallying round Lhungchung, but thirteen thousand remain at Fengwha and three thousand at Pumiencheng, to check the Japanese advance. It is offioially reported at Tokic that the Japanese on the FshunHailung Road, after defeating » Russian regiment of infantry and six sotrrias of cavaJry, with four guns, at Erfehuls,, eight miles northeast of Yingpan, occupied Tftangahihe, twenty miles north-east of ■Yingpan, The Russians fought all .the way, retreating to Ha i lung, Whore the rearguard of twelve thousand were met. Admiral Roatidcstvensky's voyage Continues north-east. Japanese newspapers declare that should the Baltic Fleet stay in an Indo-Chinese port Japan will be compelled to reganl that port as a Russian naval buse. France, China and Holland are warned that breaches of neutrality are tolerable west of Singapore, but are unendurable east of that port.

THE DOOMED FLEST. JAPAIESE READY FOR i SALLY. KI.AIK) REPRIMANDED. TARDY REGHET. P. AND O. STEAMER OVERHAULED. (Received April 16, 4.18 p.m.) LONDON, April 15. Four German colliers which were anchored at Cape St. James, have resnilcd. Japanese destroyers are making ready for a sally. The Russian hospital ship Orel remained 30 hours at Saigon, and took food, medicine, and 900 ions of coal on board. Captain Klario has 'been severely reprimanded for criticising the Ad* iniralty. Count Larosdorff, Minister for Foreign AfTairs, has tardily expressed to Sweden Russia's keen regret at the Baltic Fleet firing upon the Aldebaran. (Received April 17, 0.42 a.ml) LONDON, April 1(5. Admiral Rozhdestvensky overhauled the P. and 0. Company's steamer Poona between 'Saigon and Singapore, but allowed her to proceed.

LOSHC THEIR HEADS. WHAT EXCUSE THIS TIME ? I.ONDON, April 14. It is reported that before leaving the Animba Islands the Baltic Fleet, imagining the Japanese Fleet was approaching, opened a useless and aimless bombardment, causing rumours of a naval engagement

The Baltic fleet is making its great I voyage under difficulties, tt stayed a I long- time at Nossi Be, and then it made its break-away across the Indian Ocean. On Monday it aeems to have anchored near the Anainba Islands, which lie on the route for Saigon. The ships doubtless are taking In coal for the next spell of steaming. I't would be a terrible predicament for the Russians if the Japanese were to break in upon them as they lay at anchor. Opportunities of that sort of thing will present themselves many (tinier before the fleet gets to Vladivostock, if it ever reaches there. It is stated that Admiral Hoshdestvenski is waiting the arrival" of the third squadron. lie is evidently confident that the Japanese will not .venture in behind him to cut off his reinforcement®. From the Japanese there is no news whatever. Their squadrons do not agpear to have made their appearance near ports. There seems to be nothing of consequence taking place in Manchuria. As has happened so often during the ;war, naval activity is accompanied by military inactivity, and vice versa. Hie landsman has left the stage clear so that the sailor may get into the limelight. The relative strength of the opposing fleets is estimated as under —Russia.— Five new battleships. Two old second-class battleships. Two old armoured cruisers. Six protected cruisers. Two volunteer cruisers, the Rion and Dnieper .(late Peterburg und Smolensk). Fifteen torpedo craft. —Japan.— Fiveolder butfmodvrn battleships. Eight modern afinoured cruisers. Seventeen protected cruisers, y Two torpedo gunboats. About 100 torpedo craft.