The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-15
Fired on by Guns from Fort
Arthur Battery.
They Were Mistaken for Part OF
Japanese Navy.
JAPANESE REPULSED.
Six Hundred Attempt to Land
at TaIien Wan.
AlO Are Sabered to Death by
Russian COssacks.
PORT ARTHUR SEALED.
Russian Fleet Is Bottled Up in
the HarbOr.
Japanese Are Throwing an I'M
mense Army Into Korea.
AIO Are Sabered to Death by
Russian COSsacks.
PORT ARTHUR SEALED.
Russian Fleet Is Bottled Up in
the Harbor.
Japanese Are Throwing an I'M
mense Army Into Korea.

Chefoo. Feb. ia reliable authority
SAYS that three Russian torpedo boats
have been sunk by guns from the
forts. They were mistaken for Japa-
nese vessels.
New York Feb. 15.-Martial law has
been proclaimed here, says a World
dispatch from Vladivostock dispatch
by way of Shanghai. Russians having
provisions enough to last eight months
say
London, Feb. 15.-The Daily Nails
Port Arthur correspondent, under date
of February Is, says:
Official advices state that the Japa-
nese landed 500 soldiers near Talien
Wan with disastrous results, 40 being
sabred by Cossacks. The remainder
escaped to their ships. 1t is further
stated that the japanese landed at
Dove Bay, where 30 of them were killed
and the remainder retreated.
London, Feb. 15.-The Daily Mails
Newchwang correspondent, under date
of February II, cables:
According to official Port Arthur tele-
grams the Japanese landed a force yes
terday at Pigeon Bay. west of Port
Arthur. They were then attacked by
troops and by the land batteries and
were defeated with heavy loss.
Toxic, Feb. 15.-The Russian vladi-
vostock squadron is still in sight.
cruising In the sea OF Japan. A report
to the effect that Matzumae, on the in
land sea, has been bombarded by the
Russian squadron is untrue.
RUSSIAN FLEET BOTTLED UP.
Washington, Feb. 15.-Information has
reached here that nearly 10000 Japanese
troops were landed at Chemulpo yester-
day, the first division of a large number
which will be thrown into Korea as
rapidly as possible. in the effort to thor
oughly occupy the strategic points in
the Hermit kingdom while the Russian
fleet is bottled up in Port Arthur. By
one conservant with the Japanese plans
it is said the repeated attacks on Port
Arthur are not for the purpose of seiz-
ing that place at present, until an un-
expected weakness in the fortifica tions
there should develop. They are part
of a well defined plan for the harrassing
of the Russian fleet until Korea can be
occupied. The bottling up of the fleet
Korea without the convoy of a large
number of warships. The reports OF
disorder In various parts of Korea
hastened the operations of the japanese
that they might obtain possession before
anarchy became prevalent and foreign
interests menaced in consequence.
The taking of Port Arthur will form
the second number of the war pro-
gramme. First, however, it is learned
that the japanese propose to cut the
line of communication well up on the
railroad running from Niuchwang to
Port Arthur. 1t is expected a large
japanese force will land shortly for
this purpose.
The navy department denies posit-
lively that any American naval officers
We're aboard the japanese ships in the
fighting at Port Arthur 1t is said that
our government requested permission
of both Russia and Japan to place an
American naval officer with each of
the fleets, not as a combatant, but
purely in the capacity of an observer.
While neither power refused the re-
quest, still they did not accede.
The war department is having equal
ly bad luck in trying to place Amer
lean military observers with the land
forces of Russia and Japan Eight
officers were selected for this dutv. and
requests were made that they be per-
mitted to accompany the forces in the
field. but favorable response has not
yet been received, and it is feared that
it will not be-
Mr. Takahira, the Japanese minister.
called upon Secretary Hay todav and
1t is understood the reported detention
of about 100 Japanese subjects in Port
Arthur was under discussion There
seems to be lack of positive informa-
tion on this subject, and until the facts
are known the state department is in
clined to go slow in making representa-
ttons 10 Russia. 1t is bound to do so
however, If Japan formally requests if
as the department has undertaken to
represent Japan so far as the interests
of japanese subjects in Russia are con-
cerned. Taking notice of the reported
escape from Port Arthur of the Amer
lean cargo ship Pleiades under cover
of storm, the department officials are
inclined to believe that she NAV have
brought away some detained Japanese
NO CONFIRMATION
ST. Petersburg, Feb. 15.-There Is M
official confirmation of the rumor from
Port Arthur of the landing of Japanese
troops at Shan Hal Kwan If the r,l
NOR should prove to be correct, it will
mean that the Japanese are trying 10
get in the rear of the Russians from
both tanks with the object of cutting
communications.
In military circles confidence is ex-
pressed that the forward movement
from Korea will be checked as soon as
the Russian advance is encountered.
The retirement of the families of
Russian officials across the YaIu river
from Yongampho is interpreted as an
indication that the news of the first