352
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
"the amount of war news which they allow | Port Arthur on Tuesday. Two Japanese "to be published with the amount given to torpedo-boats and eight fireships were sunk. "the world in similar circumstances by "other nations."
Now we believe that the writer is quite justified in praising the manner in which Japan and Russia have enforced reticence upon the flock of war correspondents who have descended upon them in search of
news.
LONDON, 5th May. General Kashtalinsky reports that the Eleventh Regiment lost 40 officers and 2,000 men at the battle of the Yalu.
It is reported that Admiral Uriu, with a portion of the Japanese fleet, has engaged Russia's Vladivostock squadron off Gensan.,
LONDON, 5th May.
The Russian gunboat Krabri yesterday stopped the P. & O. mail-boat Osiris nine miles out from Brindisi on her way to Port Said. The Osiris was detained for two hours, the Russians demanding the produc- tion of the mails for Japan. They did not, however, touch them, and the Osiris pro-
The British Admiralty has seized a des- troyer in the course of being built on the Tyne for one of the belligerents.
JAPANESE VICTORY ON THE YALU.-
OFFICIAL DESPATCHES.
Through the courtesy of Mr. M. Noma, Japanese Consul, we are enabled to publish the following official despatches received by him describing the successful crossing of the Yalu by the Japanese troops and their establish- ment on the north bank
Both countries h ve undoubtedly taken to heart the fact orought out in this connection during the South African War. But it is not fail surely to lay the whole blame for the avidity with which the public (or the Public, if that be preferred) is ac- customed now to look for telegraphic information about any big war. There was always a public-though not so large as to-day-eager to learn the latest news about events likely to have a great political in-ceeded on her way. fluence in the world; but, knowing they would have to wait for their thirst to be gratified, they waited. The Press has, with the aid of telegraphy and modern methods generally, succeeded in supplying the news in the course of hours where previously days and weeks were required; that is, it has succeeded, except where a censorship steps in such as exists at the moment at the seat of war.
This is very lamentable, of course, but must therefore a pointed attack be made on the Press for catering to the " many. headed"? The "many-headed" must have something to occupy the mind in its many heads, we might argue; and whether is the latest war news or the latest indifferent cheap literature the more deleterious? It seems to us unjust to make the Press the party to be blamed. If a general attack were made on the excessive speed of modern life, one might be disposed to agree. But should one not then advocate less popular education first, to deprive the pandering Press of its too many-headed Public? We should have to believe that the Press had made the Public if we accepted such criticisms as some of those which we have quoted. We have little sympathy with the war correspondent who cries over ink spilt in vain, or because he caunot get anything to spill his ink over. But we must protest that a sweeping con- demnation of all daily papers as unduly demanding news for their readers, as a right, and at anyone's expense, is totally unjust.
THE WAR.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS.]
LONDON, 2nd May. The Russians admit the capture by the Japanese on the 1st instant of Chiuliencheng, aud say that the battle is continuing at Potientintzy and Tschingu [?].
The Japanese state that the Russians lost 800 as compared with their own 700, and that they have captured 28 Russiau guns and 20 officers.
The Russians burnt the town of Antung after their defeat and abandoned it, retiring in the direction of Fenghwangcheng.
KOBE, 2nd May. The Japanese have occupied Chiulien- cheng, on the north bank of the Yalu.
KOBE, 2nd May. The Russian casualties at Chiuliencheng were about 800, the Japanese 700. The Japanese captured a number of prisoners and 20 guns.
LONDON, 4th May. Viceroy Alexieff announces in a telegram that another attempt was made to block
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Tokyo, 1st May, 7.35 p.m. General Kuroki reports that on 26th ult. he gave orders to prepare for laying bridges. Al detachment of Imperial Guards and the Second Division attacked and dispersed the enemy on islets in the Yalu, and occupied them. The Imperial Guards casualties consisted of nine slightly wounded and sixteen seriously, while the Second Division had no casualties. The enemy retreated carrying many dead and wounded toward Chiulienchong. A Russian cavalryman taken prisoner says that the 22nd, 23rd, and 27th infantry regiments of Eastern Siberian Sharpshooters formed a vanguard. Lieutenant Senyoloff. commanding mounted scouts of 22nd Regiment, who was found dead, was buried at Wiju. 95 dead horses and also six
live ones were found. From noon until the 27th ult. the enemy fired intermittently upon Wiju,
wounded;
but our army did not answer. On the 26th ult. two gunboats, two torpedo-boats, and two steamers, detached from Rear-Admiral Hosoya's squadron, ascended the Yalu, exchanged shots with the enemy at Autzushan and silenced them. The detachment suffered no damage. On the 28th ult. two infantry companies of Imperial Guards reconnoitred at Hushan, and one section was detached to Sitzuyuen, whence the enemy had filed, leaving five dead. The enemy fired at long range from the neighbourhood of Chiuliencheng upon Wiju without much effect upon our pre- parative works. On the 29th ult. the 12th Division commenced bridging at Sukuchin and completed early on the morning of the 30th, and the army crossed. From 10.40 a.m. to 1.20 p.m. severe firing took place on all sides, but the enemy were soon silenced. Our losses were as follows:-Officers, five slightly non-commissioned officers and men, two killed and 22 wounded.. At 8 p.m. on the same day the bridge over the main stream was com- pleted. Our army crossed, and ad- vanced upon
Hushan. On the same day a detachment Rear Admiral Hosoya's squadron advanced below Antungsien, and fought at close range with 400 of the enemy's infantry and cavalry. The enemy's artillery also fired upon us heavily, but after an hour they retreated, no casualties on our side having taken place. On the 1st inst. at daybreak we commenced cannonading, and silenced the enemy's artillery on the hill situated north-west of Fushukon. At 7.30 a.m. all the divisions advanced for attack, and took possession of the heights extending from Kiutunchang to the north of Makon and Fushukon by 9 a.m.
Tokyo, 2nd May, 11.40 a.m. "General Kuroki reports from Kiulienching that, on the 1st inst., notwithstanding a stout resistance, the 2nd and 12th Divisions and Im perial Guards advanced by three roads, driving the enemy before them. At 8 p.m. we
£1
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[May 7, 1904.
capt red the enemy's line from Anteng- sien to Liushakon, and the Imperial Guards surrounded the enemy on three sides, and after several fights, captured 20 guns with their horses and carriages and over 20 officers and The general reserve corps advanced many men. on the Liaoyang road. The enemy's force was composed of the whole of the 3rd Division and the 22nd and 24th regiments of the 6th in- fantry division of sharpshooters and Maschinko's cavalry brigade, about 40 field guns and 8 machine
army
guns. The enemy fled towards Fenghwancheng. Our casualties are at the most 700. Total booty, 28 quick firing guns and large quantities of rifles and ammunition. Our heavy field guns were very effective. A Russian officer who was taken prisoner says that the commanders of both corps and the division were wounded, and casualties exceeded 800.
Tokyo, 2nd May, 12,40 p.m. Captain Maya reports that detachments, con- sisting of the two cruisers, the Maya and Uji, and several torpedo-boats ascended the Yalu on the 1st inst.. bombarding the enemy. While they were returning the enemy's artillery sud- denly attacked the torpedo-boats, which silenced the enemy after a severe engagement of thirty: minutes. The whole of the detachment return- ed to Yongampho without having suffered any casualties.
Our armed launches reached Antung on the same morning and repulsed the enemy's infantry and artillery, after 30 minutes' sharp fighting. Flames were seen rising from the town, and a native says that the enemy had filed from Antung after setting fire to the town.
Tokio, 3rd May, 6.10 p.m. General Kuroki reports that on the afternoon resistance to our pursuit, adding 300 to our of the 1st inst. the enemy offered stubborn casualties. The enemy fought bravely to the last, Finally, two companies of their artillery losing the majority of their men and horses, they surrendered by raising a white flag. The officers taken prisoners asserted that Division General Kashitarinsky, the commanders of the Artillery Battalion Sharpshooters were killed. 11th and 12th Infantry Regiments, and the Many other superior officers were also killed wounded. Many refugees subsequently returned and surrendered. The total number of prisoners was :-30 officers, and 300 non-
or
commissioned officers and men. Details of losses are under investigation.
TELEGRAMS TO SHANGHAI,
The N.C. Daily News publishes the following telegrams :-
Tokyo, 25th April.-Three Russin men- of war and two torpedo-boats appeared off G asaa, Corea, in the forenoon of Monday, the 25th instant. The Japanese women and chil- dren fled. At one o'clock in the afternoon the Russians sank the Japanese merchant steamer Goyo Maru, of 372 tons."
Later. The Russian torpedo-boats which ank the Japanese merchant steamer have left Gensan, but a four-funnelled three-masted man- of-war was reported approaching the harbour."
"Tokyo, 27th April.-The Japanese Press is indignant at the repeated sinking of defenceless merchantmen by Russian men-of-war. Unless Russia abandons this practice, it will imperil, the Japanese papers say, her reputation for humanity.
Tokyo, 27th April.-It is believed that the Russian fleet is absolutely unable to steam out to the Japan Sea."
"Tokyo, 27th April.-The crew of the Goyo Maru, 24 in all, is safe."
Major-General Dessino has communicated to the Shanghai papers the following telegrams:—
"Port Arthur, 26th April.-Nothing new has been received from the Yalu. Everything is quiet in Port Arthur, Newchwang, and the Primorski district (Vladivostock). The natives are quiet near the Russian froutier in North- west Mongolia, and are very friendly to the Russians.-(Sd.) Major-General Flong."
"Later. After the occupation of Keng- shen (Kyongsyong, in N.E. Corea) by a detach- ment of scouts of the 1st Regiment of Cossacks of Nertohinsk, under the command of Captain Bolchakof, the latter sent a detachment of his troop farther southward, under the orders of Captain Raddaci. The detachment arrived at Shendjin (Syongchin), where it destroyed ten Japanese stores of beans and seized the tele-
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