4.
tice of the Sanitary Board here in authorising some half a dozen inspectors to institute and conduct prosecutions.
An eyesore in Queen's Roud Central is the matting sunshades protruding from above the windows of the school adjoining the Provost Prison. If the establishment cannot afford some. thing more respectable the authorities would confer a favour on the City by doing without sunshades altogether. While on this subject, I might also mention the matshed sentry-box, just inside the gate of the barracks compound. It looks rather a mean-looking affair.
I am afraid natural history is not studied very profoundly in Hongkong, and therefore it is useless for me to set questions on the ways of the white ant. But isn't it strang. that this destructive little insect should swarm into your gas globes in the summer, while in the winter they shun the light and burrow their way
into your
best. furniture? I am told that a swarm of white ants bodeg a rain-storm. should be glad to be assured on the point. W need rain badly, and I should like to know how long a time usually elapses between a swarmi of white ants and a fall of rain!
A
The Indian policeman is a fine-looking fellow. but who is his tailor? It is fortunate for him that the Chinese street gamin is not so caustic in his wit as the London boy of that ilk. observed a couple of Sikh policeman yesterday walking together along the Queen's Road. One had on "high-water pants," while the trousers of the other were fashioned like the bellows of a concertina. The sight was too funny for words.
BANYAN.
THE WAR.
OPERATIONS ON LAND.
[JAPANESE OFFICIAL DESPATCHES.]
JAPAN'S CASUALTY LIST AT
TELISSU.
TOKYO, 26th June, 9.50 p.m. General Oku reports that our casualties at Telissu were 217 killed, including 17 officers, and 946 wounded, including 43 officers.
[REUTER'S SERVICE.]
RUSSIA AND JAPANESE PRISONERS.
LONDON, 26th June. Reuter's correspondent at St. Petersburg wires that the women, children, and old men have been ordered to leave Vladi-
vostock.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
LATER.
Renter's correspondent at Lisorang wires that though General Kuroki and General Oku's forces have now joined and are co-operating, the advance is altogether suspended.
General
Reuter's correspondent a.t Kuroki's headquarters says that the Rus sinus are mounting heavy guns on the wall of Linoyang and entrenching themselves in the plain to the south of the city.
[JAPANESE OFFICIAL DESPATCH.]
A SIX HOURS' FIGHT.
Tokyo, 28th June, 10.50 a.m. Our Takushan army, after six hours' severe fighting on the 27th instant, occupied Fenshuiling 23 miles north-west of Suiyen.
The enemy consisted of five battalions of infantry, and two regiments of cavalry, with sixteen guns, and fled in disorder towards Tomuching.
Our casualties are estimated at 100.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.}
FURTHER JAPANESE SUCCESS.
London, 29th June, 10.45 a.m. General Kuropatkin reports that the Japanese have captured the Fengehuling. and Motienling Passes,
It is also reported unofficially at St. Petersburg that the Japanese have captured Kaiping.
}
(July 2, 1904. succeeded in surrounding the enemy, and finally took Fenshuiling on the 27th inst.
The enemy's dead found on the main road numbered over 90, while those left else- where have not yet been estimated.
Six Russian officers and 82 men were captured.
Our total casualties are estimated at 170,
NAVAL OPERATIONS.
[JAPANESE OFFICIAL DESPATCHES.]
THE PORT ARTHUR FIGHT.
SHANGHAI, 27th June, 10.50 a.m. the engagement of the 23rd instant, states Adiniral Togo, reporting the details of that from early morning the Peresviet, Poltava, Sevastopol, Bayan, Pallada, Diana, Askold from Port Arthur harbour led by steamers and Novik were observed trying to emerge clearing mines. Thereupon our
whole squadron from various directions quickly advanced and concentrated at the position pre-arranged for such an emergency.
At 11 a.m. the Csarevitch, Retvizan and Pobieda also appeared.
At 3 p.in, our destroyer and torpedo-boat flotillas, while obstructing the mine-clearing operation, fought and expelled seven Rus- sian destroyers. One of them caught fire and fled into the harbour. The Novik approach- ing, our flotillas returned and joined the fleet. The enemy was seen gradually advancing south-east, then south. third detachment tried to entice the enemy
[The Passes captured by the Japanese are in the Motienling range of hills, south-east of Liaoyang. and the probability is that they were taken only after very hard fighting.southward. as the Motienling pass especially has always }een regarded 18 a very strong position. No confirmation is yet to hand of the capture of Kaiping, but as a Japanese force was official ly reported on the 22nd inst. to have occupied Hsiung-yao, which is only 23 miles south of Kaiping on the line of railway, it is not by any means an improbable story that they have reached Kaiping by now -ED.]
ANOTHER STEP TO PORT ARTHUR.
Our
At 6.15 p.m. the enemy came within sight of our first detachment, which had been waiting their approach. Then we manœu- vred, constantly pressing the enemy's front. At 8 p.in. the enemy changed the course to northward, apparently for Port Arthur. At 9.30 p.m. our fourteenth torpedo-boat flotilla made the first attack followed by the fifth destroyer flotilla, Thereupon the enemy hastened in disorder towards Port Arthur, but being unable to enter the barbour, anchored outside at 10.30 Thenceforth till dawn our flotillas p.m. attacked them on eight occasions, repeatedly Severe fighting took place but the Japa-defying the searchlights and firing from the enemy's fleet and forts. The Shirataka dis- charged two torpedoes at a battleship of the Peresviet type, which was observed to be- come enveloped in flames and sink.
KOBE, 29th June, 6 p.m. The Japanese have occupied Chikwan, which is another step in the direction of
Port Arthur.
nese casualties are returned as not more than 100.
THE IMPENDING BATTLE.
LONDON, 30th June.
It is reported in St. Petersburg that serious fighting took place yesterday between the forces of General Kuropatkin and General Kuroki near Liaoyang.
[REUTER'S SERVICE.]
Reuter's Tokyo correspondent wires that į the failure of the Russians to furnish in- formation concerning Japanese prisoners is arousing strong resentment, and apprehen- THE ENGAGEMENT AT FENSHUI. sion is felt regarding the treatment of the prisoners. It is probable that the American Government will be asked to make a pointed enquiry to St. Petersburg regarding the present condition of the prisoners and to arrange a system of regular reports.
GREAT BATTLE IMPENDING.
LONDON, 27th June. Reuter's correspondent at the. Russian headquarters at Liaoyang wires that the united armies of General Kuroki and General Oku are now facing an immense army under General Kuropatkin. At least three times the number of troops engaged in previous battles are now prepared to fight. The proximity of the rainy season renders a great battle absolutely inevitable.
On the other hand a telegram from St. Petersburg asserts that General Oku is with drawing and has apparently abandoned the intended junction with General Kuroki.
LING.
A despatch from General Kuropatkin says that the Japanese on the 26th instant occupied Motienling, Taeling and Feushui- ling passes, engaging the retreating Rus- sians.
[This confirms the telegram from our own correspondent. ED.]
[JAPANESE OFFICIAL DESPATCHES.]
TOKYO, 30th June, 3.25 p.m. Our Takushan army reports the details of the occupation of Fenshuiling.
The army, forming three columns, com- menced the operation for Occupying Fenshuiling on the 26th inst., where the Russians had constructed a semi-permanent fortification with forts, entrenchments, wire entanglements, and abatis. They offered a stubborn resistance, but our de. tachments, after some fierce engagements,
The effects of our firing were not distinct- ly visible, but one battleship of the Sevastopol type and two first-class cruisers of the Diana type also were seen the next morning to have lost the freedom of navigation.
1
On the 24th instant till 4 p.m. the enemy gradually entered the harbour, some being towed.
Our damage was slight, as previously reported.
[REUTER'S SERVICE.]
RUSSIAN NEWS OF THE PORT ARTHUR FIGHT.
LONDON, 27th June. In St. Petersburg, the only official news of the naval fight is a despatch from General Witgert stating that the fleet had gone out and attacked the Japanese. The result is not known, but reports have caused the deepest dejection, mingled with hewilder- ment owing to six Russian correspondents having reported that the Russians were victorious.
COUNT TOLSTOI ON THE WAR. LONDON, 27th June. Count Tolstoi io ao extraordinary nine- column letter to the Times violently assails
#