On the 28th inst. a combined detach-/ ment of our cavalry and infantry defeated the enemy outside the South gate of Chongju and occupied that place. The number of the enemy was about 600. They withdrew towards Wiju. The casualties on our part were: Lieut. Kano and four others killed: Capt. Kurokawa and eleven others wounded. In the infantry there were no casualties. The enemy left two of their dead on the field and in the city some seven or eight more were found. Most of their dead were rapidly removed either by the cavalry or beaters. Two oad officers were seen being carried off the field by ambulance parties. Besides this, bloodstained bandages were to be soon here and there. It may therefore fairly be assumed that the enemy's losses were at least equal to ours.
The next is Admiral Togo's report on Second Attempt at Blocking Port Arthur.
'The blocking fleet of four steamers arrived at Port Arthur at 3.30 am. on the 27th inst., under the escort of destroyers and' torpedo boats, making immediately for the entrance under the search lights of the enemy. When they reached a point about two knots distant from the harbour mouth, they were discovered by the enefny, and a brisk fire forts on both hips. In spite of this, they reached the inner roadstead and the Chiyo Mara anchored and sunk herself at a distance of half a cable from the shore to the west of Golden Hill. The Fukui Maru, endeavouring to anchor after advancing further to the front was struck by a torpedo from one of the enemy's destroyers when passing to the left of the. Chiyo Maru, and sunk, The Yahiko Maru was destroyed and sunk to the loft of the Fukui Maru and, finally, the Yoneyama Mara, after colliding with the stern of one of the enemy's destroyers passed between the Chiyo Mara and Fukui Maru and anchored midway in the road-stead. There she struck against one of the enemy's torpedoes and sank at her anchorage on the left shore. The above is the result of the attempted blocking, and itis regrettable that there is still a passage between the Yahiko Maru and the Yoneyama Maru, so that the fairway cannot be said to be completely blocked. The casualties were commander Takeo Hirose, one non-commissioned officer, and two men killed, and Second-Lieutenant Shimada was seriously wounded. Slightly wounded: Hent. Masaki, Lieut.-engineer Kurita, aid six men; all others are uninjured. The wounded were taken on board our destroyers and torpedo boats.
With a view to effecting the hazardous exploit of blocking Port Arthur, on the second occasion, the opinion was taken been made to resist any attempt that may of those who took part in the first at-|be made by the Jupanese forces to effect a tempt accordingly the officers and landing anywhere in Liaotung Peninsula. engineers were chiefly selected from General Kuropatkin telegraphs that those who were engaged on the first|two hundred and thirty thousand troops occasion, the men only being replaced are now concentrated between Harbin and by fresh volunteers. Among the killed Port Arthur.—Mainichi." the gallantry of Commander Hirose and Seoul, 20th March, of non-commissioned officer Sugino was The gist of the Imperial message from conspicuous. Sugino seems to have been th" Emperor of Japan to the Emperor of killed when the Whitehead torpedo of Cores with the delivery of which the enemy struck his vessel at the time|Ito was entrusted, is reported to be as that he was below in the hold preparing follows to explode its combustibles. Commander Hirose, after having seen to the removal The Emperor of Great Japan, who, by of all the crew, found that Sugino was oF a'lineal succession unbroken for ayes the grace of Heaven, ascended the Throne missing. He searched for him three eternal, respectfully conveys this message aboard out times but having failed to find him, got] to the Great Emperor of Corea, whom He _of the boats as his vessel is p'exsed to greet as a good friend distin-was foundering, and left under the heavy guished alike by the dignity of His high fire of the enemy. A shell struck him office and Hi personal virtues. It has given in the head and there was nothing left el Us the great pleasure to note the inereashis body but fragments. The Commander ing friendship shown since the signing of was a naval officer of the best type, and the recent protocol and have ordered She his glorious death shows the quality of nil Ito Hirobumi, President of Our Privy our navy's personnel.
Council, an official on hose judgment and When the torpedo boats Aotaka and abilities We rely, to visit your Majesty us Tsubame, protecting the blocking Our Special Envoy to inform your Majesty fleet, arrived at a distance of Of Our sincere desire.
We request your one mile from the entrance, they were Majesty 10 look upon Hirobumi la the met by a destroyer of the enemy, upon same light as Ourselves, What he may which they inflicted serious damage. It lay before your Majesty is what we would
there was a heavy discharge of steam. sppenred to have its boilers damaged, 88) Majesty to listen to him and accept what before your Majesty. We request your
The vessel retired.
After all those who he lays before your throne, In. con-took part in the attempted blocking of [ne sot Your Majesty and the prowperta of who clusion We pray for the safety and. happiie the harbour had been r-moyed in safety, Your Imperial lousehold.—'* Mainichi." our vessels withdrew to the open sea.
Thence they saw one of the enemy's ships 21st March. disabled under Golden Hill. Our destroyers and torpedo boats received north" occasion of Marquis Ito, Spot Envoy to Seoul, on hi second audience with injury, though they sustained a heavy fire the Corean Emperor, made the following until daylight.
"Ito, who was interesting himself in
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.