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THE WAR.
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.]
MAILS SEIZED IN THE RED SEA.
LONDON, 18th July. The Russian volunteer cruisers, patrolling the Red Sea, have caused a sensation by seizing two well known mail pacquets. The Petersburg seized the P. & O. 8.8. Malacca, bound to Japan, and brought her to Suez In the other case, the Smolensk overhauled the N. D. L. 8.s, Prinz Heinrich, also Japan- wards bound, and confiscated the mails.
LONDON, 19th July.
The Japanese mails, taken from the N.D.L. S.B. Prinz Heinrich by the Russian volunteer cruiser Smolensk have been returned. The P. & O. 8.8. Persia, the s.s. Woodcock, and the s.s. Dalmatia were also stopped in the Red Sea by the Russians. The Nagasaki mails were taken out of the Persia, and confiscated. The Mediterranean feet bas left for Alexandria. It is expected that some of the vessels will be detached for policing the mail route, as two more volun- teers are reported ordered to leave Odessa for the purpose of overhauling British vessels.
JAPANESE CAPTURE A STEAMER.
SHANGHAI, 19th July. The steamer Peiping has been captured by the Hongkong Maru, and has been sent to Japan in charge of a prize crew.
HONGKONG STORES SEIZED BY RUSSIA.
LONDON. 20th July. The action of Russia in the Red Sea con- tinues to give grave offence. The P. & 0. steamer Malacca has been ordered to Sebas- topol, although it is certain that the 300 tons of ammunition on board were govern- ment stores for Hongkong. Another
Russian warship has passed the Dardanel- les, and it is reported that the German steamer Sambia has been seized in the Red Sea. Chartering has quite ceased in the meantime. The American Government
maintains a watchful attitude, and there are indications of strong British action.
IN MINE-SOWN SEAS.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Russia prefers it to be remembered as the accomplishment of a coalition, rather than of one Power.-ED.]
TIENTSIN, 20th July. Messrs. Jardine, Matheson's steamer Hipsang, which {\left Newchwang for Chefoo, is four days overdue. There is a rumour that she is struck one of the mines known to be floating in the Gulf. The steamer Pechili is but searching for her.
BRITAIN DEMANDS IMMEDIATE RELEASE.
COUNTRY UNANIMOUS.
LONDON, 21st July. Great Britain yesterday officially de- manded the immediate release of the captured steamer Malacca, informing Russia of the very serious situation involved by persising in her action with respect thereto. The country is calm, and absolutely un- animous that the Government should insist upon this demand! The House of Commous sat twenty-six hours. The Finance, Bill was forward.
LATER.
The Malacca left Port Said to-day. It is supposed she has been taken to Žibau. The Malta fleet has sailed under sealed orders.
[This, it must be admitted, is ominous. It is devoutly to be hoped that Russia will close the incident by yielding the point; but those who read between the lines" fear that Russia is by no means averse to involving another Power in the war. The idea is that, foreseeing defeat,
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LONDON, 20th July. The authorities at Port Said are detaining the P. & O. steamer Malacca which the Russians intended taking to Sebastopol as a prize.
[It is probable that this means facilities for departure were withheld, such as coal. The Egyptian Government could hardly detain' hor.—ED.]
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[REUTERS SERVICE.]
VOLUNTEER CRUISERS BUSY,
LONDON, 13.h July. Reuter's Agency at Perim wires that the British steamer Menelaus reports that she and the S.S. Crewe Hall were stopped on the 11th instant, south of Jeddah by the Petersburg with eight guns on deck. The cruiser detaine the steamers four hours, overhauling their papers, and then steed away northward.
PORT ARTHUR'S FALL IMMINENT.
LONDON, 14th July.
A St. Petersburg communication from the general staff says that Admiral Alexieff's Military staff reports from Japanese sources that the Japanese attacked the positions at Port Arthur ou the night of the 10th inst- with losses 80 ant, and were repulsed enormous that they are difficult to calculate, but are estimated at 30,000. A previous unofficial report to the same effect stated that the losses were due to Russian mines,
LATER.
The report of the slaughter of 30,000 Jap- anese in a recent assault on Port Arthur is regarded in St. Petersburg rather as the means of softening the fall of Port Arthur which is said to be imminent.
STOPPING OUR LETTERS.
LONDON, 17th July. Two Russian Volunteer cruisers and a
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[July 25, 1904. SENSATIONAL RUMOURS.
LONDON, 19th July,
Sensational rumours of international com- plications owing to the Russian seizures in These rumours are without foundation, but the Red Sea are sending Consols down.
it is understood that Great Britain has approached the signatories of the Treaty of defines the status of the Volunteer cruisers Paris with the view of insisting that Russia
still in the Black Sea. Great Britain may claim demurrage and compensation for seizures already made, but proposes to con- fine action to the future.
JAPANESE OFFICIAL DESPATCH.]
RUSSIANS REPULSED A1 MOTIENLING.
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TOKYO, 18th July, 2.20 p.m. "General Kuroki reports that under cover of a thick fog at 3 a.m. on the 17th instant the Keller Commandɩunz of the Russian Army Corps, with about divisions, commenced a fierce attack at Motiealing and the adjacent_positious occupie 1 by part of our Army. The latter made a stubborn resistance, repulsing the enemy on all sides, and pursued as far Kunkeapaotzu. Our casualties are anʼier investigation."
WAR ITEMS.
LATE TELEGRAMS.
Tokyo, 17th July.-Three successful skir- mishes slightly to the east of Liaoyang and north of the Liaoyang highroad are reported. The Japanese damage was slight, and some The situation on the captures were made. Liaoyang highroad is unchanged. It is reported that our army has proceeded to a point 7 miles from Liaoyang and cut off General Kuropatkin's retreat. Chefoo, 17th July.-A traveller from the North states that on Friday last heavy firing was intermittently heard in the direction of Tashichiao.-(N.-C. Daily News).
The N.-C. Daily News Tokyo telegrams of the 12th inst. say that the Russian fire upon the torpedoer are cruising in the Red Sea, look-pursuing Japanese was silenced at 3 p.m. yester- ing, it is believed, for a particular steamer day. The total casualties are not yet known. bound for Japan. The British newspapers in the hip. It is stated in well-informed circles Major-General Koizumi received a bullet wound character of the cruisers, which passed the bably due to the earlier retirement of the are raising an outcry against the double that the capture of Kaiping so easily was pro- Dardanelles under the commercial, and are now flying the Naval flag and stopping British vessels. The Petersburg (one of the cruisers) has seized the P. & O. 9.8. Malacca, bound for Yokohama, in the Red Sea, and is now conveying her to Suez, and the Smolensk (the other cruiser) has boarded the German Mail Steamer Prinz Heinrich, compelling her to surrender 31 sacks of letters and 25 sacks of parcels for Japan. The German Government is awaiting ex- planations, but the Government Press is already minimising the matter.
A BIG ENGAGEMENT.
LONDON, 19th July. General Kuropatkin reports that General Keller attacked the Japanese positions around Motienling and was repulsed. The Russian force consisted of 18 battalions, ex- clusive of reserves, and attacked in three columns; finding, however, that the enemy was in an overwhelmingly superior force they retired. The Japanese then attacked them. Fighting began at 11 on the night of the 16th and continued until 3 p.m. on the 17th instant. The Russian casualties were at least one thousand.
THE "MALACCA.”
LONDON, 19th July. The Malacca has arrived at Suez flying the Russian Naval flag, commanded by Russian Naval officers and worked by a Russian crew.
Russians in the direction of Tashihchiao, owing to the pressure of the Takushan landing force. The evacuation of Kaiping the night before the decisive battle apparently implies that the Russians intend to make a stand at Tashihchiao, where they are hurriedly strengthening their defences. No battle is expected at Liaoyang - before Tashihchiao and Haicheng are taken, but meanwhile General Kuroki is closely pressing Liaoyang. The taking of Tashihchiao will make Yinkou (Newchwang) untenable, while the taking of Haichêng will make the defence of Liaoyang more difficult.
FALL OF PORT ARTHUR.
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A special telegram from Shanghai, in the Straits Times of the 12th inst., says-It is reported that the Japanese expect to capture Port Arthur by the end of July. The foreign attachés who are to be permitted to witness the final assault upon the stronghold are leaving Japan for the scene on the 20th inst. Non-Russian refugees that have arrived at Chefoo report that the belief is current at Port Arthur that, if the place is not relieved before October, the garrison will be compelled to surrender by that date.
The defenders are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Baltic Squadron. The ships that have been repaired there since February are found to be unable to withstand the strain of an actual engagement. Moreover there is a great shortage of ammunition. The Japanese and Russian outposts around Port Arthur are now facing each other with only 500 yards between them. On the 10th inst. 70 women arrived at Chefoo from Port Arthur. There are fifty more there who are unwilling to face the sea voyage in junks. The sale of intoxicants at Port Arthur has been prohibited.