The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-20
TOLD TO LEAVE.
Russian Warships Must Quit
Harbor of Shanghai.
Peremptory Orders from Repre-
sentative of China.
A HINT FROM JAPAN.
Was Sufficient to Cause the De-
cisive Action.
Reported Repnlsed i'm
Port Arthur Assault.

| torpedo boat destroyer Grozovoi has
been ordered to stop repairing and
! either to leave this harbor at once or
to disarm. The Russian cruiser Askold
must leave here Monday at noon.
These orders were issued by the taotai
of Shanghai. 1t is believed in Off
| cial circles that both warships will
disarm.
| The taotai notified the Russian con-
sui general here that if his orders for
| the two vessels to leave port or dis
| arm were not at once obeyed the
Chinese government would effect the
disarmament of the ships and that
their crews would be held in custody
until the termination of the war.
Permission to repair the boilers of
the Askold was refused. The taotai
contends that the Askold came into
port with two engines and two sets of
boilers in operation and that she must
leave port in the same condition. The
change in the date set for the depart
ure of the Russian ships, it being pre-
viously announced that the Askold
would be permitted to remain at
Shanghai until next Tuesday, is due
to an intimation from Japan that
China was siding with Russia and that
China'S responsibility in the matter
was serious. China disclaimed re-
sponsibility if Russia failed to OBJ
serve her neutrality.
The consul general here declares
that the Grozovoi and Askold are sea-
worthy and that they have been gain
ing time to repair to their full fight
ing capacity
Japanese Repulse Reported.
Chefoo. Aug. 2O.-7:30 p. m.-There
is rumor current here the source of
which can not be learned, that the
Japanese have been repulsed at Port
Arthur.
Major Hoffman Lands.
Tsingtau, Aug. 2o.-4 p. m.-The
has just anchored here and landed
Major Hoffman, the German military
attache, who was at Port Arthur. The
major left the fortress in a junk at
the German emperor's orders. The
Japanese cruiser picked him up 80
miles out and, it is reported, confis-
Gated his papers. Major Hoffmanfs
personal baggage was left on the junk.
A Crumb of Comfort.
st. Petersburg, Aug. 2O.-12:50 p.
m.-The report from Chefoo that the
Russians have driven the Japanese out
of the position at Palichwang (Pa-
lung-Chang?) whence they had been
bombarding the forts of Port Arthur,
was received with considerable graft |
1cation at the war Office, where it was
regarded as evidence that the defend |
erS are strong enough to take the Of |
fensive when the occasion demands. |
For this reason the war office is not
inclined to credit the reports that the
japanese have captured forts mo. 81
and mo. A." just beyond Nagoushp |
hill, five miles north of Port Ar |
thur. 1t is admitted that the possess |
sion of these forts would render the |
situation of the besiegers desperate. |
nation from the fortress going be- |
yond August 8, and 10, which prob /
ably was sent through the captured |
Russian torpedo boat destroyer Rye |
shitelni, although this is not admitted. |
This report tells of the desperate |
character of the Japanese attacks |
which continued practically without |
intermission forty hours. General |
StoessePs reports of the assaults of |
August IA and 3 are expected at any |
hour.
Grand Assault in Progress
Chefoo.Au 20.-4 p MN. H. Ijuin
Tsin, who arrived here today on the |
British steamer Pc Chi Lii and who !
had a conversation lasting 40 minutes
with the commander of a Japanese tor
pedo boat destroyer, which overhauled |
the steamer off Liaoti promontory last
night, says that today's battle, which
began at daylight. is directed against
the fortress itself. 1t is taking place
along the entire line, and it is Japans
supreme effort to which the recent bat
ties were but preliminary contests. He
added:
''I firmly believe that you can safely
say that Port Arthur will soon be in
our hands One after the other of the
outer defenSes have been taken by the
Japanese and when the latter had
completed their preparations for the
grand assault General Stoessel was
asked to surrender. He refused. Now
comes the final test
Novik and Diana Safe.
Mukden, Aug 20.-Conf1rmation has
been received here of the report that
the Russian cruiser Novik has entered
the harbor of Korsakovsk, island of
Sakhalin and it is announced that the
Russian cruiser Diana, recently sight
ed off Hong Kong has arrived at Sal
gen, capital of French Indo China.
Have Built Two Forts.
Chefoo, Aug 2O.-7:35 P. M.-Chinese
who left Lao Tie Shan promontory at
rived here and say the Japanese have
built two forts at Shushiyen. They
confirm previous reports that the Rus
sian Warships now at Port Arthur are
in comparatively good condition. They
heard nothing of the sinking of a Rus
sian gun boat off Liaoti Shan promon-
tory last Thursday night
Gar CongratuIates StoesseI.
st. Petersburg, Aug 2O.-The en-
peror has telegrap phed Lieutenant Cen
eral Stoessel in command of the milf
tary forces at Port Arthur as follows:
Il direct you TO congratulate in my
name and on behalf of the whole of
Russia the troops sailors and inhabi-
tants of Port Arthur on the successes
and IS. / am fully convinced of their
absolute readiness to uphold the glory
of our arms by their unbounded bray
cry. 1 warmly thank all