The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-24
PLANS CHANGED.
Indications That Japanese Will
Direct Their Energies
To the Reduction and Capture
of Port Arthur.
KUR1KO WILL WATCH.
VIII Remain With His Army at
Feng Wang Cheng
And Prevent a Union of the
Russian Forces.
KURIKO WILL WATCH.


prevailing opinion at the headquarters
of the general staff is that the with
| drawal of the japanese upon Feng
! Wang Cheng means that the enemy
has decided to devote himself to opera
tions against Port Arthur and the pres
! ent object OF General Kuriko with the
first army, supported by General Uad-
va, with the third army now landing
near Taku Shan, is to watch General
Kuropatlkin and prevent a move south
ward which would take General Olxu
and the second army, on the Lao
Tung peninsula, in the rear.
direct attack upon General Kurop-
atkins main force apparently is not
considered to be impending. Nothing
more than outpost affairs are anticipa-
| ted, although some of these may be
sanguinary. The Russian scouts are
keeping in constant touch with the
army and thus far the minor shiftings
OF the e1emyS detachmentS west of the
Tayang river and northward of Moi
I1nS-J ing are considered to be in the
! nature of screens. If the two armies of
the Russian commander -in-Chief are
Trying 10 work a force around in the
Iear of General KurikO or are planning
q surprise, of course the fact is con-
cealed here. Uneasiness is displayed
at the near approach of the rainy sea-
son which will retard if not completely
stop field operations, although this
plays directly into the Russian hands.
The Russians will continue to hold
| New ChWang, Kai Chou and Tashi-
| Chou until Il move in force is made
towards Hal Cheng with the object of
cutting off the retirement of the force
at Kai Chou, which is sufficient to
my and discourage the landing of
| troops there or at Hyung- -Yo-Chen. The
Japanese are not in force north of
/ Waffndian.
Apparently there is good warrant for
/ the belief that General Kuropatkin has
a strong line extending south from Lao
Yang and west of Hal Cheng, protect
/ ing ali advance upon Kai Chou and
New Chwang.
| The bourse Gazette insists that no
1 body in Europe knows whether China.
| VIII remain neutral until the end of
/ the war or whether two powers, one
| Japan ally and the other friendly, will
remain neutral during the peace nego-
tiations. The Russ says China's en-
trance into the conflict would be the
signal for an advance of the Russian
forces in central ASIA.
The report circulated by the st. Pc
tersburg correspondent of the Central
/ News that ten stOkers We're killed by
an explosion yesterday on board the
Russian battIeship OAel at Cronstadt is
! absolutely denied.
! The Novoe Vryema today prints the
Paris report of last week that Germany
is endeavoring to form an alliance be-
tween Russia, Germany and Austria.
Buying Up Shipping.
London, May IA dispatch to the
Daily Telegraph from Brussels says
that the Russian and Japanese govern
ments are competing sharply for the
| purchase of transports in Holland and
! Belgium. AS Russia has acquired al
most all the large ships which We're
for sale, Japan will have to be content
with the smaller vessels. The dispatch
adds Japanese agents purchased at
Antwerp yesterday several vessels of
. \
supposed that these vii lbe converted
into armed cruisers.
Russians Preparing to Retreat.
London, May 24.-A dispatch to the
Daily Mail from Yinkow says:
A Japanese third army is mobilizing
at Hiroshima. change in the Jap
anese plan arising from the naval dis
aSter involves the utilizing of the sec
ond army for the reduction of Port
Arthur, and therefore the first army
is entrenching at Feng Wang Cheng.
The Morning Posts Shanghai cor
respondent says it is reported Rus
slams are removing stores ind pro-
/ visions to Harbin and that one hun
dred locomotives and 500 cars are
| collected at Lao Yang in readiness to
convey passengers and goods. There
fore, he says, the conclusion is that
the Russians are preparing to re-
treat.
Explosion on the OreI.
London, May 24.-The St. Peters
burg correspondent of the Central
News says that there was an explosion
| today on board the Orel at Cronstadt
and that ten stokers were killed. The
vessel, the correspondent says, was
| damaged and it will take weeks to
| effect repairs. The explosion, accord
ing to the dispatch, was the result of
an accumulation of gas in the bunkers
Anju Destroyed
N1ukden, May 24.-The Russians on
May 16 made q sudden attack on the
town of Anju, Korea, from the village
of Hal Tichien, and captured the town
destroying it. The Japanese garrison
set fire to the houses and stores and
retired in perfect order
Says Port Arthur VIII Hold Out.
St. Petersburg, May 24.-Lieutenant
Saint Paire. the French naval attache
said today in the course of aninterview
with the correspondent of the Associ-
ated Press:
'The last Japanese disaster makes it
impossible for Vice Admiral Togo to
OverpOwer the Port Arthur squadron.
Port Arthur will hold out until the
Baltic fleet arrives and then the Rus
slams will be able to gain control of
the situation"
The foreign office states that it has
not received any protest regarding the
alleged planting of mines by Rear Ad-
miral Wittsoeft outside the marine
limit at Port Arthur.
The admiralty denies the report of
the capture of three Japanese cruisers
by the ylavidostok squadron, which
has not been outside the harbor for
tseveral weeks.
Cossaci Raids in Korea.
Seoul May 24.-3:30 p. n.-Further
reports are being received that the
Russians are advancing along the