The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-12

anese forces
All the answers to Secretary Hays
proposition are not yet in, but it is
| hoped that they will be received with
| in the next "a hours.
A cablegram received at the navy de-
| partment announces the departure OF
the gunboat Wilmington from Hong
! Kong to Che Foo, just opposite Port
Arthur. She viii remain at this neu-
trail port ready for service at any
moment as a dispatch boat to commu-
nicate with the American ministers
and consuls in case of need.
| JAPANESE LANDING PROCEEDING
London, Feb. 12.-The Japanese min
ister here, Baron Hayashi, has received
a dispatch from the government at
Toxic announcing that the latter has
! not yet received an official report of
the battle fought off Port Arthur, and
adding that apparently the disembark-
alton of Japanese troops is proceeding
satisfactorily and without disorder at
! Chemulpo. the port of Seoul, Korea,
and elsewhere
HEAR STORY OF CHEMULPO.
st. Petersburg, Feb. 12.-The ambas-
| sador of Russia at Paris has sent a full
story of the battle off Chemulpo, in
which he praises the heroic conduct of
| the Russian sailors. The newspapers
here today printed the foreign tele-
! grams telling of what has happened in
| Korea. Large crowds of people are
constantly at the admiralty, seeking
| information in regard to the fate of
! relatives in the fleet.
The movement of Russian troops
| eastward is being pushed.
| TRANSSIBERIAN TRAFFIC SUS-
PENDED.
st. Petersburg, Feb. 12.-Notice has
been given that emigration eastward is
suspended. In fact, the Siberian rail-
road is monopolized by the transporta-
ton of troops and war munitions. to
the complete exclusion of commercial
traffic
JAPAN'S WAR PLANS.
London, Feb. 12-Baron Hayashi,
summing up affairs in the far east so
far as they have gone, said to the Asso-
ciated Press today:
| Whatever may be the eventual re-
suit of the war, Russia, in allowing us
to occupy and fortfy Masampho, has
| created for herself another Dardanelles.
With the fortification of Masampho the
integrity of Japan is assured forever.
| No fleet can now pass there against
Japan's wishes. Even if we are beaten
we would not give up Masampho."
| The Associated Press understands that
! the japanese troops are advancing
| rapidly towards the Yalu river. There,
| it is expected, they will meet and engage
the Russian forces. The japanese de-
clare that the number of Russian troops
are greatly exaggerated. The plan of
/ the japanese appears to take the road
which leads almost straight to Mukden.
| They profess to have no doubt that they
will be able to drive back the Russian
forces towards Harbine. Baron Hay
| aShi points out that the Mukden road,
though nominally under Russian mill
tary control, will be subject to constant
raids from Chinese bands who will
swoop down from the hills.
Proceeding diagonally. the japanese
intend to cut the line of communica-
| ton between Port Arthur and the
mainland of Manchuria, not only pre-
| venting relnforceIaeTtS from reaching
/ the Port Arthur garrison but inflict-
/ inc hl Man0h11riar1 n raj
| road The British view that the Jap
( anese will in the meantime be able to
occupy Port Arthur is chiefly based
| on the latest information, that the Rus
sian guns can not be brought to bear
on any force landing at Pigeon bay,
| which is on the western side of Port
| Arthur, and it is believed that the jap
| anese admiral will follow tactics al
most exactly similar to those intended
to be pursued at Santiago, the troops
| Storming the batteries in the rear
while the Japanese fleet lies waiting
for the ships of Viceroy Alexieff, who
in the event of a land attack being
successful must either make dash
for liberty with his crippled fleet or
fight where they are against prac-
/ tically hopeless odds. Q
In spite of the lack of news it is con-
fidently held here that the japanese
! land forces are actively engaged in a
most important movement which will
come to a climax as swiftly as did
Japan's first naval attack
/ The Japanese minister said:
| "Only those who went through the
4 Chinese war can quite understand the
emulation which exists between the
/ Japanese navy and army. In the for
mer war the army was all to the fore
| and no little jealousy excited was be-
tween the arms of the service, al
| though our navy was then in it's in
fancy. Knowing the army as 1 know
| it, there must now be tremendous anxi-
ETY. to score a success equal to that
just made by the navy. You may look
for some very keen land fighting
! PREPARING FOR BLOODSHED.
St. Petersburg, Feb. 12.-In response
to the appeal of the Dowager Czarina,
several grand duchesses and numerous
other noble ladies have organized COM
mittees in st. Petersburg. The Official
Messenger daily prints pages of loyal
addresses from Zemstovs and munich
palities and governmental and private
! corporations. The car takes Pains to
personally think the senders of ad-
dresses in each case
The situation in financial circles here
is slightly improved, but is still very
critical. From all parts of the empire
come kilograms telling of the feverish
/ activity of ladies' committees, embrac-
ing various classes of the population,
who are preparing linen badges and
other supplies for the hospitals and the
Red Cross society.
/ London. Feb. 12.-Referring in the house
of lords today to the Russian charges on
the subject of Wei-Hai Wei, Foreign
Minister Lansdowne declared the report
that Great Britain had given Wei-Hai
Wei as a basis for the Japanese opera
tions against Port Arthur, was entirely
unfounded and so far as he could con-
| lecture, it was a malicious fabrication. "
Lord Lansdowne added that he had tele-
graphed to the British representative
there in order to ascertain if any acci-
dent had occurred to give the slightest
color to the report.
NEW STORY OF THE FIGHT.
Reported That Three Japanese Tor
nado Roats Ware Sunk