The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-04
RUSSIAN ARMY
FALLING BACK.
Continues to Retreat Before the
Japanese Advance.
EikadO's Soldiers Within 40
Miles Of Win.
NO MORE OPPOSITION
Is Looked for South of the YalR
River.
Ice in the Stream Is Reported
Broken Up.
10 MORE OPPOSITION

Toxic April 4.-The advance guard
of the japanese army in Northwestern
Korea occupied the town of Sens
Cheng without opposition. Seng Cheng
Is on the Pekin road, 1S miles west Of
Chong Ju and about 40 miles south Of
Win.
When the japanese drove the Rus
SLAMS out of Chong Ju last Monday
the Russians withdrew in two col
umns, one going over the KOak San
road and the other over the Pekin
road. The japanese advance from
Chong Ju was made very rapidly. 1t
was anticipated that the Russians
would resist this advance, but they
failed to do so and it is now not pro-
bable that there will be any further
opposition south of the YaIu river.
Chong Ju, because of its superior
natural surroundings. is the strongest
place between Ping Yang and Wiju.
Besides these natural advantages there
is an old Korean fort there, which,
had it been defended with spirit would
have been hard to take The japanese
are gratifed at the comparative ease
with which they drove the Russians
from this fort
Russian patrols are reported to be
in the country east of the Pellin road,
but it is not probable that there is
any considerable force of Russians in
that section. The patrols are with
drawing gradually to the northward,
toward the Yalu.
It is reported that the ice on the
Yalu is well broken up, and in the fu-
ture the river must be crossed either
in junkS or over pOntOOn bridges.
dispatch to the Associated Press
from Toxic dated April 1 said informa-
ton had been received there from a
private source that the Japanese. af-
ter dlsiodging their enemy at ChOng
Ju, had advanced to Yong Chun (about
45 miles west of Chong Ju) from which
place also they drove the Russians af-
ter brief engagement. 1t is possible
that the many different spelling. gfv-
en- TO Korean names in gazetteers and
on maps has led to confusion and that
the Seng Cheng mentioned in the
above message and Yong Chun referr-
ed to in the dispatch of April l should
be the same place. The two towns.
however, are quite distinct beiug
about 20 miles apart.
Believe New Chwang is Safe.
Tien Tsin, April At is stated that
Niceroy Alexieff, who for the past four
days has been at Port Arthur on a
visit OF inspection, has found every
thing highly satisfactory. The damage
done by the bombardments of the jap
anese fleet is said to have been insig-
nificant. Viceroy AleXieff will return
to Moukden Tuesday.
The coal scales of the Haiping Min
ing company for the past week show
q record of over $4,000 tons, which con-
sidering the existence of war, is re-
garded highly satisfactory. It is gem
orally believed that the japanese will
not attack New Chwang. 1t is thought
that their opportunity has passed. The
Russian forces are ready and prepared
to defend the place. The task of the
japanese. if they should be eventually
successful, is becoming daily more
difficult.
Buy Farmers Crops in Advance.
New York, April 4.-Supplies are
plentiful in Manchuria and the Rus
slams are doing everything to encour-
age the natives to furnish provisions In
the future, says a World dispatch from
Yin Kow. It is said they are even
paying farmers half price in advance
for this years produce. The Russians
are paying well also for transport Civ
ing five Todbles $3.50 a day for carts
and 40 rubles for cart hire from Lao
Yang to the Yalu river
There is not the slightest sign. the
correspondent AYERS, of i'll feeling
toward the Russians among the ma
tives.
S2O,OOO,OOO for Warships.
New York. April 4.=Rumors are
again in circulation. according to
Herald dispatch from st. Petersburg
to the effect that four ships of tn,
cruiser type built in Germany for tn,
Turkish government and also TIVE
cruisers built in France, have beer
purchased by Russia at the price O.
$40, 100000. All are to be delivered
a