The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-10
+ SEALED ORDERS.
Destination of Russian Fleet
Was Kept Secret.
Russia Makes Extraordinary
Preparations for War.
1T is EXPECTED SOON.
Draft of Men for the East
Cripples Railways.
No Further Concealment About
Cars Intentions.

New York, Oct. 1o.-The Russian fleet
left Port Arthur Thursday with sealed
orders, according to a Herald dispatch
from Che Foo. Its destination is sup
posed to be Korea.
New York, Oct 10.-Information from
two sources says Times dispatch from
Vienna, is to the effect that Russia is
making extraordinary preparations for
the contingency of war with Japan
A we'll informed parsonage who was
lately at st. Petersburg says the, Rus
sian military authorities expect the out
break of hostilities within the next few
weeks. The whole trans-Caspian terri
tory as far as Samarcand is seriously
crippled as regards railway traffic by
the large drafts of men and material for
the far east. The Russian troops in
trans -Caspia are alleged to be embit-
tered in consequence of the manner In
which their province is neglected in fa-
vor of Manchuria and the Pacific coast.
New Chwang, Nanchuria, Oct. TO-
The troops of the Russian garrison.
headed by their band, playing national
airs, paraded the principal streets of
the foreign and Chinese settlement to-
day, ostenta tiously. as though to en-
phasize the fact that the Russians are
still governors of this port. The civil
administrator. NJ. Crosse, today stated
that he mad received no instructions re-
garding Withdrawals. His assistants
freely assert that permanent occuDa-
ton rs intended. In speaking with a
consul who called TODAY to inquire re-
garding Russia's intentions, the official
treated the question of evacuation as
joke.
Tae Chinese taotai of New Chwang
recently returned and tried to arrange
the transfer of government, but with
out success The Russian admins
traitor requested him to leave. which
he Hid
a Russian general who went home
f.n leave expecting to remain in Russia,
mas rented a house for the winter and
Will return with his family.
The Russian government is obtaining
much valuable real estate in the Chi
nese guilds at ridiculously cheap prices
by official pressure. All events sup
port the predictions that Russia in
tends to- remain here.
! The situation naturally offers oppoS-
RkGn1ty for constant friction between the
eonsuls and Russian officials. The for
eign residents under the treaties with
China are subject only to the laws of
their government administered by Their
consuls. If Russian sovereignty be
recognized the foreigners will lose their
extra territorial rights and become con-.
trolled by Russian laws. the prospect OF
which causes great dissa tisfaction.
The uncertainty regarding the future
is handicapping the commercial projects.
AlC 4A4CH complain In&I In01f gov
ernment appears to forgetS that New
chwang is fourth part of China In the
volume of its foreign trade and that their
interests require speedy settlement of
the existing anomalous situation which
has been prolonged three years and has
caused them great loss.
The scheme of the nlaneuvers about
Port Arthur is for the fleet and army
to prevent an attempt by hostile army
to make a landing. The maneuvers
occurring on the date that the other
government are looking for the evacua-
ton of Manchuria, are regarded sig
nificant and perhaps intended as an OBJ
ject lesson to Japansese of Russia's pre-
paredness to meet invasion. @
The leading Russian newspapers at
Port Arthur which is regarded as the
viceroy's organ and at any rate is .un-
der so strict a censorship that it can not
antagonize his policy challenges Japa-
nese to contest Russia's supremacy in
Manchuria.
Two japanese representing themselves
as merchants, were arrested on the rail-
way as spies a fortnight ago and are
now in prison at Port Arthur.
The japanese conSuPs request for
their release is ignored.
COMING TO A HEAD.
Yokohama, Oct 10.zThe Russo
japanese negotiations at Toxic do not
appear to be progressing rapidly. Baron
De Rosen, the Russian minister, up to
this afternoon has not replied to For
Russia should reconsider her views
which are at variance with Iapan's.
Mr.. Komura and Premierkatsuria today
conferred with the ministers of
and of the navy. Komura also visited
the Marquis Yamagata. chief of the
council of field marshals, causing the
suggestion in some quarters that the
crisis is coming to a head.
A petition signed by 10000 members
of the anti-Russian union protesting
against the Russian action in Manchu-
ria ard Korea, has been presented to
the premier.
RATHER FIGHT THAN YIELD.
Berlin, Oct 10.-The Colonial Gazette
today published a dispatch from st.
Petersburg. as follows:
Russia is not disinclined to accent
the modus vivendi in the Korea ques-
tion; but if Manchuria is brought into
the controversy by Japan, Russia
would rather that the dispute come to
war than yield her claims. A SIGN
that Russia is prepared for the worst
is that the officers families who are
preparing to go to Port Arthur have
been requested to defer going there be-
fore 1904, the ostensible reason being
that the buildings for their accommo-
dation are not yet completed. Japan
has brought together masses of troops
for purposes other than mere maneu-