The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-23
SHORT WAR.
Russian Official Fixes Limit at
August or September.
Will Then Drive the Japanese
Into the Sea.
JAPAN is STILL BUSY.
Captures Four Torpedo Boats of
Port Arthur Fleet.
Alexieff Has Established His
Headquarters at Harbin.
Russia Will Conduct Only a De-
fensive Campaign.

st. Petersburg. Feb. 23-"The war
will end in August or September, in
the complete defeat of the Japanese
was said to the Associated Press by a
high authority in touch with the Rus
sian war plans, whose opinion can be
taken faithfully to reflect the belief
| in the highest official quarters. He
| added:
| How the Japanese can hope to sue
ceed when army in the east is
strengthened to point equal or su-
perior in numbers to that of our adver
saries, we are honestly unable to COM
prehend. 1t will not be difficult to
place two, four or even six hundred
thousand additional men in the field if
/ necessary. When our forces are con-
centrated and ready they will finish
by driving the Japanese into the sea-
Frankly, it seems to us that the Japa-
nese either have utterly failed to ap-
preciate Russia's resources or have
counted on the aid of Great Britain or
the United States, neither of which
ever contemplated becoming involved.
So far as Great Britain is concerned
we do not believe any hallucinations
existed there. We think the British
statesmen who did so much to push
Japan into war realized that with ia
pans defeat they would accomplish two
things for Great Britain-first, to give
! Russia a check, for of course the war
must impede our progress temporarily;
second, to cripple Japan's maritime
| power, which was beginning to be
greatly felt in the Pacific"
1t can be said with the utmost posi-
tfveness that Russia will bide her time.
! She will act on the defensive until she
is confident that her preponderance of
numbers will leave no doubt as to the
| result. Reinforcements are going for
ward at the rate of 5000 per day. Pro-
bably sometime will elapse before Rus
sia feels prepared to assume the often
sive.
The conviction is growing here in Of
fetal circles that in spite of Japanese
denialS the Japanese fleet was severely
crippled off Port Arthur in the engage
Il mentawhfch began February g. The ad
miralty has no direct official informa-
tion to support this except the manner
in which the Japanese abandoned the
attack at the end of 45 minutes. 1t
is pointed out at the admiralty that
two weeks have now elapsed without
the Whereabouts of the Japanese fleet
being definitely reported and the opin-
ion is gaining ground that it has gone
to a Japanese port for repairs.
1t is pointed out also that it has al
ways been the japanese policy to an
nounce only victories to the admiralty
adding:
I'VE know they sustained losses in
the China war which were never ad-
mitted.'
General Kuropatkin will not leave
for the front for another fortnight. In
the meantime he is going to his coun-
try estates to bid farewell to relatives.
His status has not yet been fully set
tied. By the terms of his appointment
the general will command the Man
chuFian army, subject to Viceroy AL
exieff; but his powers will probably be
extended to include the troops north of
Manchuria. The official view of the
status is that Viceroy Alexieff will
main in supreme commando; but the
viceroy being a sailor, General Kurop-
atkin will be appointed his lieutenant
for the army as Admiral Makaroff is
for the navy.
The viceroy's departure from Port
Arthur was not due to apprehension of
the possibility of it's investment, but
!. simply to the requirements of the
strategical situation so as to enable
him to direct the preparations now in
progress along the Korean frontier
from more central point. Possibly he
will not remain at Mukden, but will go
from place to place as circumstances
demand.
Speaking on the subject of the possi-
BILE investment of Port Arthur, the mill
tary authorities here do not believe the
Japanese will attempt to make a land
ing in force on the Liao Tung peninsula.
Russians would like better, as such an
attempt is doomed to certain failure.
The authorities here assert that the
southern portion of the peninsula is
strongly guarded and that the northern
shore presents obstacles. The only
, chance of the japanese, it is claimed,
would be marching down from Korea,
but to do this. it is added. they must
first defeat the Russian army on this
side of the Yalu river and even if sue
!, cessful they would be face to face with
an inpregnabfe stronghold.
! The Associated Press now understands
that Grand Duke Alexis, uncle of the
czar and high admiral. has reconsidered
! his determination to go to the far east.
: He is extremely anxious to go but the
, grand duke felt that his duties here
would necessitate his remaining in St.
Petersburg.
The Russian government has no Off
cial confirmation of the report that the
foreign commanders at Chemulpo ex-
J cept the commander of the United States
gunboat VicksbuTg protested against
! the Japanese entering the harbor of
Chemulpo A parliamentary report
t from Captain Roudnof of the sunken
Russian armored cruiser Variag, the
: | senior officer, says Admiral Uriu served
notice that if the Russians did not come
: to leave the harbor. Extended reports
f have been mailed by Viceroy Alexieff.
ANOTHER FIGHT AT PORT
/ ARTHUR
e Berlin, Feb. 23.-The Lokal Anzeiger
2 today in a dispatch from Toxic, says:
. "a fresh engagement took place at
2 Port Arthur Thursday last The details
f have not been announced by the gov
; ernment.