The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-08
FIGHTING STOPS.
Russians Regard the LuIl as
Preceding a Storm.
Believe Decisive Battle Is I'm
pending in North.
NOTHING is KNOWN.
In the Dark Concerning Opera
tiOns at Port Arthur.
Probable That Battle Has Been
Going on All Week.
IS KNOWN.

st. Petersburg, June s.-2:O7 P. Nj
The reports of sorties from and attacks
on Port Arthur coming in from foreign
sources arouse the Hveliest interest.
The government not having means of
communications with the fortress ac-
cepts them with reserve. The tension
over the situation at the theater of war
is manifestly Increasing. The general
staff is beconing reticent and the pub
lie is convinced that an important bat
tie which may decide the fate of the
campaign is impending. The outpost
engagements between the main armies
of Generals Kuropatkin and Kuroki
have suddenly ceased
Such a lull frequently occurs after
two armies have been for some time in
touch and just before they are ready
to strike. Kuroki has not yet moved,
according to the latest adVices, but is
drawing in his skirmishers as if prepar-
ing to do SO. Developments on the low
er part of the Lilo Tung peninsula may
determine when and where the two
armies will come in collision.
kurOpatkin has elabOrateiy fortified
his position at Lao Yang, in anticipa-
tiOn of a possible forward movement on
the part of Kuroki and the army land
ed at @S,Eu Shan. But KurOl1i's failure
to assume the aggressive and the ap-
proach of the rainy season, which would
stop operations, as well as the pressure
to impede General Okus army may
have been determining factors in dis
patching force southwark, the
strength of which is as much mystery
as ever
The Japanese apparently are not
aVerSe to this advance, having already
withdrawn before it to below Wafan-
dian. If Kuroki should now push in
behind this force across the head OF the
Lao Tung peninsula Kuropatkin, in the
opinion of military experts with moth
ing to fear on his flank is certain to
come down from the north and a decis-
i've battle might occur in the neighbor-
hood of Hal Cheng.
The admiralty is convinced that eth
er the battleshfps- y asthma or the bat
tleship ShigishiIna has been lost off
Talien Wan.
Gar Hears From AIexieff.
St Petersburg. June S.-Emperor
Nicholas has received the following
dispatch from Viceroy Alexieff:
According to the report of Rear
/ Admiral Wittsoeft on the battle of
/ Kin Chou our right flank was strong
/ ly supported by the, gunboat Bobr and
/ the torpedo boats Burni and Boiki,
which afterwards returned to Port
Arthur.
ION the night of May &c ten tor
pedo boats were sent out against the
japanese boats operating in Kin Chou
bay. One of the torpedo boats struck
the rocks and sank. Her crew were
saved.
1.-The casualties among those serv-
! ing the naval guns were sub-Lieuten-
ant ShimanobOvsky missing and six
sailors wounded"
Gunboat Hit Eight Times.
Toxic, June g, 1890 a. m.-Four
close reconnaissance of Port Arthur
! harbor at midnight on June 6, for the
! purpose of examining the entrance,
were exposed to a severe cannonade.
/ Gunboat No. 4 was hit eight times
and sustained some damage. One OF
her sailors was killed and two others
| We're wounded.
AIexieff's Proclamation.
Pel1in, June S.-Viceroy Alexief recently
! issued n proclamation stating that he had
/ instructed the troops not to engage the
churia being thereby kept free from ac-
| tual warfare, the Chinese inhabitants are
usual avocations. Those caught helping
the Japanese or acting against Russia are
| ed that they will be held responsible for
| tho preservation of the railways, the re-
spOnsibility resting upon villages located
! within 70 miles from the point where there
has been any destruction of this class of
/ pie of such villages viii be fined, for the
| second Offense the villages will be de-
the sword, not soul being spared. Not
| only viii the common people be held re-
! Manchus and local officers. The procIa-
nation also charges the inhabitants to
make q. strict search for all suspicious
| characters
! Sister Wants the Body.
Washington June S.-Secretary Hay
! received a telegram from Miss Anna
Etzel, in Denver, Col, a sister of Louis
Etzel, the newspaper correspondent.
who was killed by Chinese soldiers off
the coast of the Lao Tung peninsula,
! asking the secretary to endeavOr to
have his body recovered and returned
to the United States for burial. The
state department has heard nothing so
far officially of the killing of Etzel,
fact probably accounted for by the re-
ported departure from New Chwang of
| Consul General Miller for the scene of
the killing. Therefore it has not been
\ possible to make any representations
on the subject to the Chinese govern
/ meQt.