The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-28
FAILED AGAIN.
Japanese Assault on Port Ar
thur Reported RepuIsed.
AssaiIants Are Said to Have
Suffered Enormous Losses.
kUROPATKIN'S AUTO.
The General Goes About in 90
Horse Power Machine.
Chinese Regard 1t as "FOreign
Devil" in Aggravated Form.

st. Petersburg, Nop. 2S.-7:25 p. M
The war office has received informa-
ton from Chefoo thas the Japanese as
sau1t upon Port Artaur Saturday was
repulsed with enormous losses.
Chefoo, Nov. 2S.-Ganeral Kuropatkin
is the possessor of a new 20 horse power
automobile with which he is able to
rush at high speed from one part to
another of the line, 25 miles long, ac-
cording to NJ. Ravoir who reached here
from Mukden. NJ. Rsavoir spent three
weeks with Kuropatkin, who wished to
secure 20 automobiles specially con-
structed to carry ammunition speedily
in emergencies. He will use them only
in winter when the Manchurian roads
are in excellent condition. On his first
trip pin the new automobile Kuropatkin's
only comment was: II have the advan-
tage of General Shafter.'
The Chinese now regard Kuropatkin
and his machine with superstitious awe,
believing the latter to be an atroclous-
ly powerful specimen of the foreign
devil
M. Ravior said: 1.-The two armies lie
facing each other. each having three
fortified lines. The soldiers of both
armies live mostly in caves, behind
their trenches, which when covered
with snow have the appearance of
great host of Polar bears waiting to
spring at one another. The caves are
warm even without fire. The Russian
troops are in the best of spirits and
have unlimited confidence in their
leaders. They expect kuropatkin to
attack during the winter. The Rus
sian forces now number 300, 600 men.
The cavalrymen from the Don district
are superior to their Siberian comrades.
The former are intelligent, brave and
active and have fine powerful horses.
There are only a few hundred
wounded at Mukden and thirty thou
sand wounded at Harbin.
II came out on the Siberian railway
which seemed to be doing its tremen-
dous work smoothly. The warehouses
along the railroad between Mukden and
Hardin are full of supplies which are
almost untouched as up to the present
the army has subsisted chiefly on the
country.
! s.The handling of t4ae-Russian artil-s
lery is improving while the japanese
artillery fire seems less effective. Orig
inally the Russians did not conceal their
artillery which the Japanese quickly
disabled. Now the Russians handle and
conceal their guns with perfect science.
''The belief is general at Mukden that
Port Arthur will hold out until relieved,
no matter how long the much expected
Russian second Pacific squadron may
take in reaching the far west.
General Kuropatkin is not talkative.
His only reference to the situation
was:
" The war is progressing as I wish
He still lives in his railroad car and
the light in his office is burning night
and day. 1t is commonly stated that
the general never sleeps His officers
are not surprised at being called TO
conference at any hour of the night.
The generals only relaxation is at din
ner time when the officers who are his
&c
full but Kuropatkin drinks mineral wa
ter. Every Russian officer seems to
have an unlimited supply of money,
the government being lavish in its ex-
penditures.
''It is my opinion that Kuropatkin
will never retreat from Mukden unless
decisiveIy and I think the next
battle will be a Russian victory"
Stores Disappear.
Moscow, Nov. 2S.-People arriving
story of the mysterious disappearance |
from the trunk line of $50 car loads
of stores and warm clothing belonging |
to private consignees and officers.
Look to Baltic Fleet.
Berlin, Nov. 2S.-A dispatch to the
Lokal Anzeiger from Mukden under
yesterdays date says:
1t is believed about headquarters
that the Japanese will make extraor-
binary efforts to win a land victory
ond Pacific squadron. The movements |
of the fleet are reported in each issue
Of the Army Gazette, the one hum |
9redth number of which was printed |
Sunday.
The paper is circulated throughout |
the army and is the only medium of
news from the outer world. As soon
rs it appears, the privates gather in |
while one who can do so reads
the whole paper. the soldiers listening. |
The soldiers are convinced that the /
arrival of the second Pacific squadron /
will end the war, as they believe the
Japanese will be beaten on the sea and /
seek peace.
Severe measures have been taken /
gainst marauders. Twelve Cossacks
Of one regiment were sentenced to I
1eath. One was shot in front of the
brigade, while the sentences of the re-
eleven were cOmmuted to
penal servitude. Discipline generally
s good. Patriarchal relations exist
between the officers and men and the
former are doing everything possible
,or the latter.
Second Division Sighted.
Cherbourg, Nov 2S-The North German
Lloyd steamer Kaiser Wilhelm Der
lere today. reports that she sighted the
second division of the Russian Second /
Pacific squadron at a. m 20 miles south
4ast of Start Point, bound west.
Fighting Lasted Three Days.
ST Petersburg, Nov. 2S.-General Kuro-
1atkin under yesterdays date reports
hat the Japanese offensive which began
Iachen on the front of the left flank
vas OF an indecisive character up to p.
L., November rs, and was checked by
ne Russian fire Although the fighting
lad then lasted three days the Russian
roops were in excellent spirits.