The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-06
SUNK four SHIPS.
Port Arthur Squadron Caught
Japanese Off Their Guard.
Report Of SOrtie Emanates From
u Russian Source.
JAPANESE CLOSING IN.
Advancing Southwark Along
Both Coasts Of the Peninsula.
Heavy Firing Is Reported in
Various Quarters.
JAPANESE CLOSING IN.

! Lao Yang, June ct is persistent
ly reported here that the Port Arthur
squadron made a sortie shortly before
dawn Saturday with the torpedo boat
destroyers leading, and found the Jap
anese fleet quite unsuspecting the
presence of hostile warships with the
result that four of the Japanese ships
were sunk during the attack.
Heavy Firing Heard.
Tien Tsin, June 6.-Heavy firing was
heard at New Chwang this morning,
coming in the direction of Lao Yang.
Trying to Draw China In.
Tien Tsin, June 6.-M. Uchida, the
Japanese minister to China, came to
Tien Tsin yesterday from Pekin to con-
fer with the viceroy and returned to
the capital today.
Japan, it appears to be confirmed, is
trying to induce China to occupy the
territory conquered from Russia, thus
inveigling China into a breach of neu-
trality and giving Russia the opportun-
ity of attacking China, who claims she
will maintain ner neutrality until the
termination of the war.
Saw a GunbOat Explode.
Toxic, June 6.-11 a. m.-The destroy
er fotiIla engaged in watching Port
Arthur from the eastward reports that
!
/ boat of the Gilfak type was seen to ex-
plode and sink near Chentao-Shan. The
vessel, with another gunboat,a destroy
er and other steamers was evidently
engaged clearing the vicinity of mines.
When the explosion occurred the otn-
| erS hurried back into Port Arthur. Vice
| Admiral Togo expresses the opinion
| that the explosion was caused by
! japanese torpedo. The name of the
gunboat destroyed is unknown, but it
had been seen before upon several oc-
casions by the japanese acting as
| guardship at the mouth of the harbor.
His Second Visit.
Port Arthur, Sunday, June 5.-Among
the documents found on the steamer
Yeddo. one of the vessels sunk at the
mouth of the harbor, the following de-
| fanee was discovered fastened on the
rail of the bridge:
Remember, my dear Russian sailors,
my name is Lieutenant Commander
! Kerizo. This is my second visit; my
| first was on the KossukO. I will come
| again."
This threat was not carried out, how
ever, as Kerizo was found among the
| dead.
Koreans Fight COssacI1s.
Seoul, June 6-The Japanese consul
at Cfensan wires that during a skirmish
| which took place on the Sd inst, 80 Jap
| anese soldiers and one lieutenant were
| killed and three men were severely
| wounded. The Russians in retreating
/ burned a number of Korean villages.
/ The natives, seizing old f1intlocks and
| weapons of all sorts attacked the Cos
| sacks, killing two and Wounding sew
!. eral. There are about 1000 japanese
troops now at Gensan. The merchants
| there have not left.
Publishes Old Treaty.
Vladivostok, June 6-United States
| Commercial Agent Richard T. Greene,
has caused to be published in the local
! newspapers for the benefit of the native
merchants, the provisions of the treaty
| of 1854 between the United States and
| Russia, respecting neutrality of goods
with a view to facilitating trade, which
is almost paralyzed.
Togo Given Highest Rank.
Toxic, June 6.-Vice Admiral Togo
the navy have been promoted to the
rank of Kaigun Taisho, the highest
| rank in the navy. Lieutenant Generals
| OkasWa, Hasegawa, Nogtishi and NOgi
Nishi and Kodma have been made gen
erals. Okaswa is the emperor's chief
aide de camp. Hasegawa commands the
imperial guards division. Nogi is not
4 assigned but probably will be given an
important command. Nishi commands
| the second division and Kodma is vice
chief of the general staff and with Gen
Fukishimi is largely entitled to the
credit for the organization and trans
portation of the army and the conduct
of the war. The promotions are all in
recognition of services.
Advance Along Both Coasts.
Chefoo, June GA japanese cores
pondent from Dalny confirms. the re-
Il ported advance of the japanese army
u on Port Arthur, news of which was
i brought here today by the Chinese
i The correspondent states, however, that
there are Is miles between the Japa-
nese and Port Arthur instead of seven
\ as reported by the Chinese. The Japa-
nese army is advancing along both
81 coasts. It is reported that the PENN
sular division on the east coast. fought
a battle within Is miles of Port Arthur
June 3. The result of the battle has
not yet been learned.
A junk which lay off Port Arthur
June g. because of a lack of wind heard
81 desultory firing on the morning of the
4th and saw five Japanese torpedo de-
strOyers as they disappeared below the
! horizon. Afterwards a tremendous eX-
4 plosion was heard and it was thought
by those on the junk that possibly one
of the destrOyerS had struck a mine
On the night of June 3 immense col
umns Of flame and smoke were seer
1 from the junk in the direction OF
Dalny.
Sunk BY a Mine.
Chefoo June 60 P. M.-The Russian
consul here has received news that a
large japanese vessel has been sunk
by mine off Talien Wan. The news
: has not been confirmed
) Stern Rode the Winner.
Paris. June 6.-The. American jock