The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-24
Left Her Anchorage to Bombard
Japanese Position.
CITY BADLY WRECKED.
Scarcely a Building in Port
Arthur Remains Undamaged.
Town Hall Used as a Magazine
Has Been Destroyed.


Russian battleship Sebastopol was
bombarding the japanese land positions
yesterday from outside the harbor at
Port Arthur when she struck a mine,
besides a list to starboard, the battle
ships bows were submerged
Port Arthur Badly Wrecked.
Chefoo. Aug. 24.-9:50 a. ma junk
which left Lao I'll promontory the
night of August 21 has just arrived
here. She reports that the Japanese
have succeeded in occupying Antszshan
forts as well as another fort, probably
Etoshan, about mile southwest Of
Antszshan. They have driven the Rus
slams from the parade ground (Which
lies about two miles north of the har-
bor) they have destroyed two forts at
Chaochanko. which is within the east
ern fortifcation and they have ad-
vanced to a point near Chaochanko-
This news confirms information received
here previously in which the local Jap.
anese were not inclined to believe.
The junk heard firing until midnight
of August D.
Scarcely building in Port Arthur re-
mains INDIANA ged. The town hall, which
was used as magazine, mas been de-
stroyed.
Four large warships. unable to fight,
are at Port Arthur. Only one ship, a
NeSSel Win Two maStS ana Two IuIlneAS,
has guns on board
The fire of the forts not captured by
the Japanese together with the effect
of land mines, is given as the reason
why the Japanese have not yet con-
ouered the Russian stronghold
Russians Hear Good News.
Lao Yang. Aug. 24.-According to
the latest information from Port Ar
thur. furious Japanese attack
throughout August 19 and 20 was
repulsed with terrific loss. This news
was received here with the greatest
JOY.
in this region, but some skirmishes at
Anshanshan where Japanese troops
attacked a Russian outpost and were
driven off with a loss of six killed
Lao Yang has experienced two
days of bright weather, and there is
n touch of autumn in the air The
rainy season has apparently termi-
mated.
The military inactivity is credited
here to the fact that the Japanese are
concentrating all their attention on
Port Arthur.
Chinese Fleet Leaves Shanghai
London. Aug. 24.-The Standard this
morning, unable to conceal its disap-
pointment that the United States is
not prepared to protect the neutrality
OF China at Shanghai, editorially con-
tends that the United States could have
taken the lead in the matter without
arousing the jealousy and suspicious
which must follow Intervention by any
European lower The Daily Telegrap phi
publishes a strong editorial demand
ing the government adopt rigorous
measures to stop the molestation of
shipping by the Russian volunteer
fleet vessels declaring that IF diplO-
macy fails the British navy must clear
the high seas of offenders"
The other morning newspapers show
less excitement because it has not been
proved whether the vessel that stopped
the Comedian was really the auxiliary
cruiser SmOlensk.
The outcome of the. serious situa-
tion at Shanghai is watched with the
greatest anxiety. According to the
Daily Telegra ph's St Petersburg cor
respondent. the Russian government
supports. the refusal of the Askold and |
Grozovoi either to disarm or to treat |
China as power capable of enforc- |
ing neutrality.
The Daily Chronicles Chefoo cor
respondent says:
The entire Chinese squadron has
left here, doubtless in order that it |
shall not be mixed up in further in
cldentS OF the Ryeshitelni kind
n Matter of Duty.
San Francisco. Cal, Aug 24-Baron |
MatSudaira, member of the house of |
peers OF Japan. and vice president of |
the imperial Japanese commission to |
the St Louis exposition is here on
his way home. In an interview he is
quoted as saying:
The true cause of the present war
carry western Civiliza ton into the
Orient-into Manchuria and into Chi
ma proper She feels it her dutv to
do for the Orient what America has
done for her"
Repairs Ordered Stopped.
Washington, Aug. 24.=ConsuI Cen I
eral Goodnow at Shanghai TODAY
cables the state department that the
Chinese taotai fShanghai through |
the British consul has ordered that !
the repairs to the Russian cruiser Ask |
old and the torpedo boat Grozovof be
stopped. The order was made through
the British consul because the repairs
were being made by the British dock
company at Shanghai
Russia Will Disarm.
Paris Aug. 24.-There is reason to be-
lieve that a decision is about to be ia
ken providing for the voluntary dis
armament of the Russian cruiser Ask
old and the torpedo boat destroyer
GrOzovoi. now at Shanghai and the
Russian cruiser Diana at Saigon This
will be done primarily to avoid inter
national complications and will have
the effect of reducing the Russian
strength by three strong units, but the
Russian authorities consider that this
will be offset by the avoidance of the
possible capture of the vessels named
by Ihe Japanese Advices received here
from Saigon show, contrary to previous
announcements that thu Diana is in a
very bad condition. She has one large
hole in her hull below the water line.
Her injuries will take weeks to repair
This wcEid have permitted an exten-
sion of her Sojourn in a neutral port
beyond the "a hours which expired yes
~1,r~& H. /