Phe fighting lines of the First and Second Armies now extend over 120 miles, from Saimachi to ing. General Baron Kuroki's right wing now rests on Saimachi, while his centre presses on the front of Lienshankuan. A detachment of the First Army has also occupied Huaijén apparently with the of preventing any Rus-ian raid on the rear from the Tumen direction, The Takushan landing force recently occupied Hsuiyen and has now taken possession of Fénsuiling (nek-to be- confounded with the place similarly named north-west of Saimachi). A portion of this army surprised and routed the enemy at Santaoho on the Tashihchiao road on the 28rd June and this movement was probably sufficient to the flank of the Second Army, which has lately been marching northward along the railway and now threatens the enemy at Tashihchiao. Five battalions of infantry and -two batteries of artillery, comprising sixteen guns, formed the mixed brigade repulsed by the Takushan force on the 27th June. This defeat cannot but materially affect the flank defence of Liaoyang and Haicheng.
Sending off the Commander-in Precautions.
Telegrams from Hokkaido stated that on the 27th of June three warships of unknown nationality appeared to the north-east of the island. Another message reported that some vessels passed La Perouse Strait on the forenoon of the 27th. It is certain that about the same time one Japanese and one British steamer passed through the strait, but nothing could be definitely ascertained owing to the dense fog." Novertheless as a matter of precaution shippers were officially warned against navigation in these and adjacent waters. The reports were all contradicted to-day from reliable sources.
Chief.
To-day there was an Imperial tifin at the Palace in honour of T-ILI. Major-General Prince Kanin and Commander Prince Tamashima.
Marquis Oyama, the new Commander-in-Chief, Baron Kodama, his chief-of-staff, who leave Tokio on the 6th July, were among the guests. The Elder Statesmen, the principal Cabinet Ministers, and the members of the naval and military staffs were also present. The Premier (Count Katsura) gives a dinner in honour of Marqws Oyama and Baron Kodama on the 2nd July.
The Port Arthur Sortic.
After the gloom caused by the losses at Okinoshima, Admiral Togo's report on the attempted sortie by the Russian squadron from Port Arthur on the 23rd June is widely welcomed. -'The Tokio newspapers unanimously eulogiso the promptness of the expeditionary fleet in checking the enemy. This venture by the patched-up vessels confirms the recent rumours that the Port Arthur authorities have been blasting away the obstructions at the harbour mouth, bat it is noticeable that the Russian vessels which emerged on the 23rd availed themselves of the full tide and were obliged to anchor outside in face of their enemy. This shows that the blocking has been far from failure. The Russian squadron was corked up for over fifty days, during which time the Japanese were able to effect in security all their most important operations in transporting and landing troops. What did the Russians intend by their sortie? Admiral Togo seems to think they contemplated a dash for liberty in a southern direction.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.