The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-12
SCATTERED
Russfa's Port Arthur Squadron
Is DisIntegrated.
Effort to Leave the Harbor
Proved Disastrous.
SOME SHIPS RETURN.
Others Take Refuge in Ports or
Neutral Powers.
These Can Remain But "a Hours
without Disarming.
Japanese Board One in the Har-
Dor Of ChefoO.
Effort to Leave the HarboI
Proved Disastrous.
SOME SHIPS RETURN.
Others Take Refuge in Ports Of
Neutral Powers.

Dispatches from various points to-
dav indicate that the attempt of the
Russian Port Arthur squadron to
reach Vladivostok failed and the yes
sells have become widely scattered.
One torpedo boat destroyer put into
Chefoo, where she was boarded and
captured by the Japanese. The bat
tIeshfp Czarevitch, the cruiser Novik
and a torpedo boat have arrived at
Tsingchou, at the entrance of Kiao
Chou bay, the German concession on
the southern shore of the Shan Tung
peninsula. According to other dis
patches the cruiser Askold is also at
Tsingchou, but advices to the German
foreign office do not include her An
other Russian cruiser and torpedo
boat destroyer are reported as near
Shanghai and four battleships are off
Saddle islands. about seventy miles
southeast of that port. Chefoo reports
say that one Russian torpedo boat was
captured off the Chinese coast and
Toxic hears that number of the YES
sells of the squadron have returned to
Port Arthur.
The German foreign office has given
instructions that the uninjured Rus
sian warshfps at Tsingchou must leave
port within "a hours.
The Japanese system of communi-
cations has heretofore been so perfect
that there can be little doubt that the
government is thoroughly informed of
the position of the various vessels of
Of escaped fleet and will be able either
to drive them into neutral ports or
attack them with overwhelming force.
The Toxic Version.
London. Aug ia dispatch from
Toxic to the japanese legation here
says:
According to reports received UP to
the present the Russian squadron
emerged from Port Arthur and was
attacked by our fleet south of Yentao
and dispersed The Askold, Novik and
another cruiser and a destroyer took
refuge at Kiao Chou. Another de-
stroyer took refuge at Che1oo. On
August 3. five Russian battleships, a
cruiser-probably the DIANA hos
pital ship and several torpedo de-
stroyers, seemed to regain Port Ar
thur.
Our fleet is believed to be un-
damaged.
Enter Kiao Chou Bay.
Chefoo, Aug. IL D. m.-The re-
port that two Russian warships anc
one torpedo boat destroyer had en-
tered the port of Using Tau, KiaC
Chou bay, Thursday is confirmed. The
vessels are the cruiser Askold and the
battleship Czarevitch- The German
cruisers Furst Bismarck and Theis are
preparing to leave Chefoo for tina
port. Two Russian torpedo boats ar'
said to have been captured on the Chi
nese coast. 1t is believed that the
attempt of the Russian ships at Por
Arthur to join the Vladivostok squad
ron has been thwarted-
Can't Stay There.
Berlin, Aug. 1.-THE foreign offict
confirms the arrival last night a
Using Chou. at the entrance of kiat
Chou bay, the German concession OIL
the Shan Tung peninsula, of the Rus
sian battleShip Czarevitch, the pro
tected cruiser Novik and an unnamed
torpedo boat. The Czarevitch is in al
unseawOrthy condition. having beer
damaged in Wednesdays fight.
The foreign office is sending in
thorities at Using Chou to the effec
that the warships must leave the har
Dor within "a hours prescribed by in
ternational law.
German Cruiser Starts.
Chefoo. Aug. 12.-2 p. NTH
German armored cruiser Furst Bis
marck has just left for the port o
Using Tau in Kiao Chou bay. He
preparations were made in the great
est haste. Private interests seeking in
formation from Using Tau can get n
replies as the wires are jammed witt
official teiegrams to and from Pekir
AIexieff Tells About 1t.
St. Petersburg, Aug. 12-The EN-
peror has received the following dis
patch from Vieeroy Alexief, date
August IL:
According to a report from tn
commandant at Port Arthur, tn
squadro put to sea August 10. TIL
steamer Mongolia followed the squad
ron The following Japanese vessel
were on the horizon: Three frs
class cruisers, eight small cruisers an
seventeen torpedo boats. The por
had been bombarded with siege gun
for the past four days"
\ Critical Moment.
St. Petersburg. Aug. 12.-2:10 q. m.-
Everything else from military stand
point, seems to be forgotten in the gen
eral anxiety concerning the fate of tn
Port Arthur squadron. The futur
plans of the admiralty hang upon tn
preservation of the bulk of the squad
ron and it is not too much to say tina
the present is regarded as being tn
most critical moment of the war. Tn
admiralty till noon declared that it wa
without official adviceS as to the where
abouts of the squadron and could nc
confirm their report that the protecte
cruiser Novik and another Russia
warship. the battleship Czarevitch. ha
put into Using Chou. at the entranc
of Kiaochou bay, the German conces
sion on the Shan Tung peninsula
Nevertheless. as stated by the Assoc
ated Press last night, private dispatch
es seem to show that the squadron ma
have communicated with Russia afte
passing Shan Tung promontOry an
hope is high that the squadron success
fully + oke through the japanese ship