The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-22
CHINA MAY FIGHT
Declaration of Neutrality Is
Said to Be Temporary.
10000 Troops Ready to Move
on Short Notice.
HEAVY GUNS PLACED.
Russia Is Fortifying Points on
the Black Sea.
Russian Warships Are Report
ed in Korean Straits.

New YORK, req. lG--fAl AA4tCA view r1l
tributed to the Chinese minister here
quotes that diplomat. says World dis
patch from Berlin, as having proclaim
ed that China's neutrality is only tenn
porary; that no one. even the astutest
diplomats. can tell what another day
will bring forth in China's attitude. The
minister is quoted as having said:
1T should never be forgotten that
the war will be fought out in Man
churia. on Chinese territory, and that
the excitement of the Chinese people
will increase as the war progresses.
Naturally therefore. the Chinese gov
ernment may be expected on any one
day to decide that its continued neu-
trality is neither possible or desirable.
Thirty thousand well drilled Chinese
troops are already stationed in the prov
ince of Chi Ii ready at a moments no
tice from Pekin to enter Manchuria-
"Our nation adnires the Japanese and
sympathizes decidedly with their eff
HEAVY GUNS PLACED.
New York, Feb. 22.-Heavy guns are
being put in position on the coast about
10 miles from Odessa, covering the ap-
proach to the port, according to a Times
dispatch from Warsaw. The CORE
spondent points out that these prepara-
tions are being made in view of pos
ElDle u0tOWdIQ happenings AROUND Ine
Black sea. The effect of war in the far
east upon the Balkan situation is the
chief diplomatic topic in many Euro
pean capitals.
BLACK SEA FLEET MAY COME
OUT.
New York. Feb. PA dispatch to
the Herald from st. Petersburg re-
CARDS the forecast that some morning
the Russian Black sea fleet may be un-
expectedly found in the Mediterranean,
Turkey being assured that this once
an accomplished fact, none of the
powers would have a word to say in
objection.
Diplomatic negotiations towards this
end are alleged to be progressing. Such
egress from the Black sea would re-
lease the II big armored ships and
about % torpedo boats.
RUSSIANS IN THE STRAITS.
New York, Feb. 22-Russian war
ships are reported between Japan and
Korea, says a Toxic dispatch to the
American. Transports carrying troops
across are heavily conveyed in conse-
Quence.
The prefectural office has received a
telegram from the chief magistrate of
the island of Mayik, south of the gulf
of Korea, reported that u Russians de-
barked in a boat from a vessel in the
ofing on the 18th. The subsequent
movements of this mysterious party
are not reported, but inquiry is under
way.
OZ4<aG w ILL fA0I.
St Petersburg, Feb 22-Carnival
week closed on Saturday night. and
yesterday all classes of the populace
from the highest to the lowest began
the Observance of Lent with even more
than the customary rigOr, doing pen
anCe and praying for the success of
the Russian arms.
The car will pass the week fasting
at the winter palace, and Immediately
afterward the court will remove to
Tsarzkoe-Zelo, the czar's favorite
abode.
The Novoe-Vremya commenting
upon the report of NJ. Pavoloff who
was Russian minister at Seoul. on the
fight at Chemulpo, declares that
Japans action there has stricken her
from the list Of civilized powers. and
predicts a revival of European soli-
darity against the wild Asiatic
enemy
The paper re-emphasizes the newt
apiilty OF long delay before extensive
military operations will be possible,
Tended and the rigors of the climate
JAPANESE WILL GO SLOWLY.
LONDON, Feb- 22.-The latest advices
OF Baron Hayashi. the Japanese min
ister 70 Great Britain, led him to be-
heVe that the Japanese troops NAV
now wait possibly two or three months
before undertaking aggressive opera-
tlons In Manchuria. He said:
we nave found that Russia is so
not be surprised If the Japanese land
forces contented themselves with estab h.
fishing thorough organization and ad-
.ahclhg as the construction of
river progresses. Russia an
pears to be less prepared than
was China in 1895. I believe that only
three trains a day can be run through
Aanch9rla- Supposing these are equal
" ulNlded between troops and suppIies
as would be necessary, Russia could
not perceptibly strengthen her land
forces before April. Japan's naval
coup mas been so unexpectedly success
ful that ] rather think our troops will
take their time. The shallow inlets arc
now frozen over, retarding the diser,
barkation of our forces. This is espe-
cialy true at Port Arthur, where a
landing or troops is impossible ov-ing
to the ice"
Baron Hayashi does not credit the
repors Shat $500 Russian soldiers have
been killed in an outpost enga cement
at the Yalu river. He saws there is no
japanese force in that vicinity large
enough to infiict such a loss. The on7v
naval development Baron Havashi ex.
poets in the near future is a possible
attack upon the japanese fleet by the
powerful Russian torpedo fotilia at
Port Arthur and hitherto unused On
TIE japanese side. except possible ac-
tions against the Russian Vladivostock
squadron, the Japanese minister does
liOA tOOfA 1OL OtN6lOpf0eQtS at
believing that Admiral Togo will be
satisfied to keep the disabled Russian
squadron prisoners at Port arthur.
The minister credits the Russian with
having barely 100000 troops in Man
churia.
PORT ARTHUR OUT of MEAT
Chefoo, Monday, Feb. % SThe captain
of the German steamer Prbnto inst ar
rived from Da1ny. says pbsitiveIv that
beside the torpedo gunbokt Yenezi. ac-
cicentally destroyed by dne of her own