The Topeka state journal., 1904-02-19

been made regarding the report from
Toxic of a second Japanese torpedo
attack at Port Arthur. There are re-
ports here, but they lack official con-
firmation, that an attack made on Port
Arthur February 16 was repulsed after
heavy firing on both sides. According
to the story, this attack was intended
as a feint to cover landing at Talien-
wan bay, but it failed because the
Russian guns were placed with great
foresight to command the shore. A
Russian expert says the Japanese evil
IDENTIFY hoped the adjacent group of
Eliot islands would cover this move
ment, as they did the same thing dur
ing the China-Japanese war, landing
simultaneously at Talienwan and Kin
chow, thus cutting off Port Arthur
from each side of the Lao Tang penin-
sula.
TT surprises me-" this expert con-
tinues, that the japanese should have
made such a foolhardy attempt to face
the Russians, as they must know from
their spies how strongly the peninsula
is mined and defended
The governments frank statement in
it's communication of this morning of
Russia's unpreparedness, owing to Jap
anese sudden precipitation of hostili-
ties, and warning the Russian public
not to expect immediate victories, con-
firms the opinion which has existed
here that Russia will act upon the de-
fensive until her army is fully mobil-
lied and the equipment of the COM
misserat in working order. There are
already over 100000 men in the field,
but this number will be largely aug
mented About so coo men are required
to guard the railroad
Almost all the private concessions
here, at Moscow and other large cities
which intended sending exhibits to the
ST. Louis exposition have decided not
to do so and all are donating the
moneys they would have expended to
the Red Cross society and other war
purposes. Commissioner Alexandrovsky
talked with the czar on the subject of
Russia's abandonment of her proposed
participation in the exposition, and his
jesty agreed with the views of the
commissioner that this be done. NJ.
Alexandrovsky smiled when he was in
formed by the Associated Press today
Of a printed report that Japan had ap-
piled for Russias space at the expo
sition.
Let them have it; we will compete
with Japan elsewhere" ne said.
The work of the Red Cross society
is being rushed with great vigor. The
donations already exceed $4,000. 900; two
or three Red Cross trains will be dis
patched to the far east each week. NJ.
Alexandrofvsky who will start next
Monday to take charge of the Red
Cross field work, probably will establish
his headquarters at Harbin. The gen
eral plan is to locate general hospitals
along the Amur at Khabarovsk Blago-
vestchensk, etc, and transport the sick
and wounded back to these points by
the river, thus avoiding interference
with the military traffic on the rail-
road. The feature of Red Cross op-
erations which has never been intro
duced during a war will be the or
ganization of small detachments to ac-
company the regiments into action.
Each detachment will consist of two
surgeons, four students and four body
carriers. First aid to the wounded will
be applied on the battlefield Baron
Korf, who was secretary to the st.
Louis exposition commission, is now
devoting his entire time to Red Cross
work, as chief Of the personnel divis-
ion. When explaining recently the ex-
tensive preparations of the society,
Baron Korf said:
we are preparing for long, hard
war"
Ambassador Mccormick has present.
ed to the authorities here the case of
the American ship Pleiadese reported
detained at Port Arthur, but they do
not know the circumstances of the oc-