The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-18

was light compared to what 1t viii be
when the japanese forces closely m
vest Port Arthur.
| one of the reasons for the desperate
efforts of the Russians to get to Port
Arthur what is officially called an am
munition train has been revealed by in
formation which leaked out today.
There was little need it appears for
| more ammunition, great quan Sl@es be-
ing stored in the fortress, but General
Stossel was exceedingly anxious to be
provided with balloons. The highest
point of the fortress is the Eagles Nest
from which much of the surrounding
| country can be seen, but balloons will
facilitate observation. Before the war
| the Russian authorities loaded on
vessel complete balloon equipment
for Manchuria, but it was captured by
/ the Japanese, who will use it perhaps
in their operations against Port Arthur.
/ Recognizing the need of providing Gen.
/ StOssel with all the requisite fnstru-
nents with which to conduct the de-
tense of Port Arthur, General Kuro-
/ patkin is believed to have sent balloons
on the ampunition train" The Rus
I sian balloons are stationary. If the
Japanese try to drift balloons over Port
Arthur and drop explosives on the
/ fortress, an officer said today, the
world will hear of the first battle in
the air.
Daily SI1irnlishes.
| Washington, May 1S.-The Japa-
nese legation has received the fol-
I
The commander of the landing
force in the Lao Tung peninsula re-
! ports that between the 5th and 9Th
/ instant there have been daily skirm-
ishes, Japanese detachments success
fully driving the enemy back and de-
stroying the telegraph and railways.
/ At Pulatin and vicinity, on the 18th.
after serious fighting the Japanese
4 occupied the heights three and one
/ half miles from King Chow. The
! japanese casualties were 146, includ-
/ ing nine officers killed.
Failed to Blow Up Docks.
Chefoo, May 1S.-11 p. ma fleet
of junks has arrived here from Port
] Dalny. They bring reports that 200
/ Chinese and a number of Russian
refugees left there Tuesday morning.
The attempt to blow UP the docks and
piers at Port Dalny was not success
full. but the iron pier at Talien Wan
was destroyed.
Heavy firing was heard north of
Port Dalny on Monday.
Sure Togo Has Submarines.
st. Petersburg. May 1S.-.The ad-
miralty is now convinced by mail re-
ports received from Port Arthur that
| Vice Admiral Togo used submarine
boats in his operations. A letter from
Lieut.. General Stoessel say that he
was standing on Golden hill when the
Russian battleship Petropavlovsk went
! down, and he saw a submarine boat
1 torpedo the battleship. The lieutenant
periscope of a submarine boat and
could trace the course of the vessel.
officers of the Russian battleship
Pobieda testified that a submarine
their ship and they fired at the sub
marine boat, hoping to sink it, but
failed.
The same letters describe the rev
erance of the Russians for the over
coat of the late Vice Admiral Maka-
roft when Il was taken from the water.
| 0ia=sits approach they barred their
/ heads, made the sign of the cross and
prayed for the repose of the admfral's
soul. It is officially denied that Vice
/ roy AIeX1eH has gone to Lao Yang to
assume command of 10000 troops
| there and that General KurOpatkin
/ has left Lao Yang for Harbin. It is
| said that Kuropatkin is either at Lao
Yang or in its vicinity.
Russians Driven Out
Chefoo, May 1S.-As a result of the
engagement which the Japanese had
on Monday with the Russian garrison
at kai Chou. on the west coast of the
Lao Tung peninsula, the Russians
were driven out of Kai Chou, which is
! the nearest point to New Chwang
with the exception of the Lao river
where there is sufficient water to allow
the landing of troops. The Chinese
! who recently arrived here from New
| Chwang While confirming the above
also say the Japanese are sl1irmishing
on either side of the railroad north
and south of Kin Chou.
/ Circulars have been posted at New
Chwang and in its vicinity, signed by
the chief of staff of the Japanese
army, advising the Chinese to main
tain order and secure stocks of pro-
visions and transport wagons, for
which the Japanese will pay full
value.
The small Russian guard remaining
at New Chwang is ready to leave on
the near approach of the enemy
Quantities of wood and oil have been
placed on board. the Russian gunboat
Sivouch in New Chwang waters to be
used in destroying her by fire when
the last Russians evacuate New
! Chwang.
Railroad Cut in Five Places.
Toxic, May 1S.-S p. m.-An official
report from the second japanese army
shows that the railroad to Port Ar
thur has been cut in five places.
Between May 5 and IT the Jap
anese losses have been LAG men.
Opened to the World.
Pekin, May 18.-An imperial edict
voluntarily issued today opens to the
commerce of the world the ports of
Gilman Foo, Hei Shi En- and Chou
Tsun on the Shan Tung peninsula.