The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-03
CLIMAX REACHED.
Japanese Officials Exasperated
at Russia's Delay.
Marquis Ito Summoned to
Toxic During the Night.
MAKES A WAR MOVE.
Russia Takes Her Fleet Out of
Port Arthur Harbor.
To Avoid Danger of Being Shut
Up Inside.
5000 TROOPS LEAVE.
Destination of Land Forces
Remains Unannouneed.
5000 TROOPS LEAVE.
Destination of Land Forces
Remains UnannOuneed.
Commercial Freight and Tel
egraph Business Stopped.

Toxic, Feb. 3-Events today indicate
that the prolonged tension has reached
a climax.
The Marquis Ito, president of the
privy council, was summoned from the
country during the night and today the
emperor received him and a council of
the elder statesmen was held with the
war minister and three admirals. The
highest officials make no pretense of
concealment of their evaporation at
the tardiness of the Russian reply.
An unofficial dispatch yesterday said
the Russian decision means war.
CRISIS IS AT HAND.
Toxic Feb. IA specially sum-
moned conference of the cabinet, elder
statesmen and military and naval
chiefs was held today at the residence
of Premier Katsura. The meeting is
believed to have been of much import
ance, though no details of the discus
sion have been made public. Possibly
it foreshadows energetic action on ac-
count of Russian proerastination.
Although the government officials
continue reticent, it is manifest that
the situation is of the gravest and that
a crisis is near at hand. The time in
which the Russian reply will continue
to be factor in the situation is mar
rowing.
The patience of the government is be-
coming exhausted, and if the expected
answer is delayed many days longer,
the issuance of an ultimatum by Japan
Will become ineVita Bile.
The IaDanese feel that the existing
conditions have entitled them to a more
prompt reply and are bound to infer
that the St. Petersburg government is
determined not to yield but is utilizing
the time to advance its preparations for
wax.
NO REPLY BEFORE FRIDAY.
ST PotarSh1Ircr Eoh
ment printed abroad that the Russian
reply is being held back while NJ
kurino, the Japanese minister, commu-
n1cates its substance to his government
The Associated Press is semi-offfcially
assured that the Russian response will
not be sent before February 5 at the
earliest. The tension unquestionably is
increasing and the bourse shows an ad-
verse feeling but beyond the decided
Russian military activity there is little
definite news.
RUssIA's WAR MOVE.
Port Arthur, Feb. 3.-In response to
the japanese war measure important
naval and military movements have
been effected here. The Russian squa-
dron heretofore inside the harbor, con-
sisting of the battleship Retvizan Of
12,70O, the battleShip Peresyiet of r.
674 tons, the battleship Czarevitch of
1910 tons, the cruiser Fremiaschek
the battleship Orle of 1860 tons, the
cruiser Smiley and the hattleship
Zevastopol, of 1850 tons, have Joined
the outside fleet consisting of the bat
tleship Probieda, of 2674 tons, the bat
tleship Petropavlovsk of TO- $50 tons; the
battleship Poltava of 10,960 tons, the
cruiser Diana of $3.50 tons, the cruiser
Pallada of $3.50 tons, the cruiser ASkOld
OF 6,100 tons. the cruiser Varyag, of s,
500 tons, the torpedo gunboat Balkan OF
$40 tons, and the cruiser Boyarfn, of
1920 tons. The last named vessel has
just arrived here from Chemulpo, Korea
with complete Japanese charts of the
Korean coast.
In consequence of the narrow and
dangerous entrance at low water it
took the warships three days to get
out of the harbor. The accomplishment
of this task is regarded as specially i'm
portant owing to the danger of the
ships being immured by an accident
in the channel The cruiser Digit, of
1,456 tons, the torpedo gunboat Gaida-
max, of 500 tons, the Sloop of war
Zabiyaka, of 1924 tons, four gunboaTs
and d torpedo fiotilla remain inside.
simultaneously the third brigade of ST.
berian rifles and two batteries of artil-
lery started for an unannOunced deSti-
nation from Tao Yang, South Mukden.
Altogether about 5000 troops have de-
parted leaving 1000 men at Port Ar
thur, exclusive of the troops manning
the fortifcations- The arrivals of Jap
anese coal have been stopped. In con-
sequence of the military authority
monopolizing the use of the railroad,
the latter has declined to transport any
more commercial freight. The tele-
graph company declines to accept any
more press or private messages, so
they will have to be routed via Che
Foo.
Forty-eight hours quarantine has
been ordered against Che Foo on ac-
count of the smallpox The authorities
declare the naval and military DISPOSE
tions should be regarded as precau-
tionary. not as offensive. Port Arthur
is quiet.
FU SAN RAILWAY OPENED.
St Petersburg. Feb. 3.-The Flu San
railway has been opened by Japanese
troops, according to a dispatch from
Vladivostocl1, which adds that the Jap
anese have taken field guns to Seoul for
the protection of their legation, and
that they are building barracks for the
accommodation of cavalry
KOREA INSISTS ON NEUTRALITY.
New York. Feb 3.-The Situation is
quiet here, but native disturbances
throughout the country continue
cables the Heralds correspondent at
Seoul. Korea. The efforts of the gov
arnment are entirely concentrated upon
obtaining recognition from the powers
of the neutrality of Korea, believing
that the notice of neutrality will lead
to treaty with other nations granting
Korea's permanent independence under
conditions similar to those protecting
Belgium and Switzerland. For this
| purpose Min Young Chul, the newly ap-