The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-29
Finishing Touches Given to Pre-
paratiOns for War.
Government Has Been Given an
Unlimited Credit.
ALL EMERGEN CIES
Are Believed to Have Been
Thoroughly Provided For.
Russia Preparing to Send More
Artillery Eastward.

Toxic, Dec. 2s-An emergency ordi-
nance promulgated last night invests
the government with practically un-
limited credit for the purpose of mill
tary defense. Three other ordinances
were issued relating first to the Seoul
Flu San railway, which is brought closer
under official control; second, to the re-
vision of the organization of the i'm
perial military headquarters in war
! times. Third to the creation of a coun-
Gil in war times. These ordinances, it
is considered, completely provide for all
emergencies.
RUSSIA HAS NEW GUNS.
Moscow, Dec. 29.-Twelve batteries of
the four grenadier brigades of field ar
tillery, stationed in and around Moscow,
have been selected for service in the far
east and have received new guns which
the Russian artillerists claim are super
ior to the French field pieces. The early
departure of three cf these batteries is
expected, which will place 10S field guns
with the latest equipment at the dis
posal of Viceroy Alexieff 1t is said
here that all the volunteers living at
their homes who, as graduates of high
schools, are privileged to serve only
year with the coIors, have been ordered
into barracks
| No extensive movements of troops
eastward have been reported here up to
the present.
The government is considering max
| ing the sale of tea and sugar a state
| monopoly, as proposed by M. Witte
While finance minister. There is much
opposition to the proposal on the part
of tea trade and the grocers, but the
growing needs of the treasury and the
condition of other resources as pointed
out in M. Wittes last budget. It is
| believed in well Informed circles to
| make the adoption of the proposition
| probable.
The present brandy monopoly yields
about one-fourth of the revenues of
the empire and the monopoly of tea
and sugar is expected to be even more
/ profitable, as the expenses of its oper-
| alton will be small.
JAPAN WILL INSIST.
Seattle, Dec. 29.-Japan will insist
on her demands that the integrity of
China be preserved and that Korea
must remain an independent kingdom
and will refuse to compromise with
Russia on the basis of Russian supre-
macy in Manchuria and Japan control
in Korea, according to Hajime Ota,
Japanese commissioners to the st. Louis
exposition, who arrived today from the
orient He says that such is the Japa-
nese position and that Japan feels that
she has the moral support of all the
other nations of the earth. He says
| that the Japanese government can be
depended on to maintain it's conserv-
ative attitude despite the popular cla-
| NOR for war until hostilittes are forced.
CHINA WILL HELP.
| London, Dec. 29.-The Daily Mail
Pekin correspondent send an uncon-
firmed report that in the event of war
China will join forces with Japan and
that Japan will send an army corps to
Pekin.
Runor continues busy with the
Russo-Japan crisis.
The latest report credits Japan with
insisting that Russia shall reply to it's
last note before January 10 on the
ground of rapid approach of Russian
naval reinforcements to the scene of
action. Inquiry in the best informed
Japanese quarter however, fails to
find support for this statement.
TOO COLD TO MOVE.
Pekin, Dec. 29.-Lien Fang, first sec
retary of the board of foreign affairs,
visited Russian Minister Lessar today
and requested information concerning
the intention of the Russian govern
ment regarding the evacuation of Man
churia
Minister Lessar in reply said that
nothing could be done at present with
a view to evacuate, for two reasons.
In the first place, the minister pointed
out the cold weather made it impos-
sible to remove the troops from their
present positions, besides which there
| were no barrack accommodation to be
had elsewhere; and in the second
place he said it would endanger Rus
sian interests to undertake evacuation
/ during the progress of negotiations be-
| tween Russia and Japan, for the rea-
son that Japan might seize the oppor-
| tunity to invade Manchuria-
| The Chinese government is so
| alarmed at the prospect of becoming
/ involved in the seemingly prospective
war that it would prefer that Russia
! should remain in control of Man
churia-
AS an alternative the foreign office
| has indicated to the ministers that a
settlement satisfactory to China would
be that Russia and Japan should re-
! tain their respective treaty rights in
| Korea and Manchuria, if they agree
not to attempt to obtain further ad-
vantage in either country The Rus
sian commander imperatively request
ed the Tartar general to disband his
militiamen and to disarm them.
The Tartar general issued an order
in accordance with this request but it
is Understood the men are concealing
their arms, supposedly with the Tartar
generals connivance-
FLOUR FOR JAPAN.
ST. Paul, Dec. 29.-Within the past
eight business days Minneapolis mills
have booked almost 100000 barrels of
further inquiry reported today, and it
Is not unlikely more business will re-
suit.
For some time Japan has been a
heavy buyer of American flour. The
millers are reticent about discussing
the Japanese business, but admit that
the orders are still coming. One large
company alone is known to have
booked close to $4,000 barrels within a
day or two. The japanese government
has bought no flour direct.
Weather Indications