WARNING TO MERCHANTMEN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7802, 19 April 1905, Page 3

WARNING TO MERCHANTMEN.

.... ... CAVALRY ATTACK REPULSED. RUSSIAN NAVAL INCREASES. (Received April 18, 9.45 p.m.) -' LONDON, April 18. Merchantmen are required to pass y , the Pescadores Islands at a distance of seven miles, and neutrals are obliged to obtain permission to enter Kelung, Formosa. Field-Marshal Oyama reports that on the, night, of the 15th five squadrons of Russian cavalry entered Sunycnching, between Fenghtia and Fakun>cn, the Japanese , attacking and repelling 1 them.St. PETERSBURG, April 18. The Russian Minister for Marine has ordered the completion of the torpedo boats Zadorny, -Zvonsky, and Zorky, each of three hundred tons, building at the Nikolaiff yard, Black Sea, where two 6000 ton cruisers are heing hurried forward. The Vladivostok garrison, it is re- ' ported, is to be brought up to 100,000 men. To feed such an army for any length of time immense stores will be required. The Japanese force marching upon Vladivostok is the fifth army, of 140,000 men landed in Corea in February and March. Three divisions were landed in February at Gcnsan and other ports of Corea'. It was a portion of this army, under General Kainawara, that appeared near Fushun during the battle of Mukden. The remainder was marching along the coast towards Vladivostok. The army consists of eight diss- visions of four regiments each", and is made up of recruits and men of the landwehr. The Russians, if is said, think tin Japanese will never take Yladivostpek. They believe the recently-con-structcd forts have made the towi impregnable. Eight miles down thi channel, and on the eastern side o] * the city, there are six very stronj forts, which may be seen at any litm from the deck of any ship passing ii[ or down the channel. The guns o these forts all point seaward. Then are more forts on the eastern side o the city which cannot be seen fron the channel, though their guns doubt ' _ less cover it at every point. On th right sMo of the channel, going t i the South city, arise three or fou tf" forts, all mounted with lnrg t guns. There is believed to be onl &'■ one fort on the western side of th flLv city, but it is a strong one. and i •£&•- mounted with heavy guns. To th /jgjgjr north, whence the railway come! 3KJ there were up to a few weeks ae gfejjir-' no forts. Tho eastern forts are. tli BUj*' most formidable, and the range i Sp|% their gunflrc sweeps all the othc Bjfe' torts from superior heights. It i Hglj :;: " wnsWered that thew: comprise tl to the situation, and, should tl