The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-25
ACROSS THE YALU
Japanese Scouts Report Large
Force of Russians
Has Been Discovered South of
the River.
PORT ARTHUR CLOSED.
Another Report That 1t Has
Been Shut Up.
Seven Merchant Steamers Sunk
in Channel.
ORT ARTHUR CLOSED.

Seoul. Thursday, March 25-Japanese
scouts report that they have discov-
cred that the Russian troops are south
of the Yalu in much stronger force
than was thought.
New York, March 25.-De1ay on the
part O. the Russians in giving effect
to the arrangements for dismantling
the gunboat Mandujar are causing in
creased irritation to the Japanese and
difficulty with the Chinese officials,
says a Times dispatch from Shanghai
A japanese cruiser is in consequence
retained at Woo Sung.
M. Pavlof, lately Russian minister
to Korea, is still here, but it is said
that he will go north soon.
IS PORT ARTHUR CLOSED?
London, March 25.-The Daily Tele-
graph publishes a dispatch from it's
Toxic correspondent under yesterdays
date which says:
"On the night of March % the Jap
anese fleet renewed the attempt to
bottle up Port Arthur. Sixteen war
ships escorted seven merchant steam
ers to the mouth of the harbor and
under cover of the bombardment the
steamers ran in and were sunk in de-
sired positions. Three hundred Jap
aneSe officers and blue Jackets voIun-
|
is expected this evening""
The Daily Telegraph report is not
confirmed from any other quarter.
The special dispatch to other morning
papers announce no new development
in the situation but throw few side
lights on the operations.
The Daily Mail correspondent from
Japanese sources gives some details of
the condition of Port Arthur which were
gathered during recent visit Of a Chi
nese junk there. 1t is asserted that a
boom had been placed across the en-
trance to the roadstead which was alive
with mines so defective and so careless
ly laid as to equally endanger both Rus
sian and japanese vessels.
The DANA ged Russian warships, these
reports say, were repaired with such
haste that it is dangerous for them to
leave their anchorage. Eight battle
ships and cruisers and ten torpedo boat
destroyers are now uninjured and often
leave the harbor, but never go far from
the forts japanese naval officers praise
the quality of the Russian torpedo boat
deStroyerS, which, they confess, have
done excellent work, but they declare
that the Russian shells are badly fused
and fail to explode except when they
strike direct upon armor and that their
charges of gun cotton are insufficient
to cause serious damage.
The Daily Mail Shanghai Kwan cor
respondent says that the Japanese are
secretly engaging Chinese to act as ir-
regular corps.
| RUSSIA BUYS THE KAISER Will
HELM.
Paris, March 25.-The St Petersburg
correspondent of the Echo de Paris
says it is affirmed that the Russian
admiralty has bought the North Ger
man Lloyd steam Kaiser Wilhelm
der Crosse.
WEATHER BEATEN SOLDIERS.
| Vladivostok, March 25.-The troops
arriving here are in good health and
spirits, weather-beaten and in soule
cases with frost bitten faces, but the
only other indications of their 1000
miles journey are their fur coats and
felt boots, which they brought with
them, though no longer necessary as
spring is setting in with sunny days.
FOOD IS HIGH.
ST. Petersburg, March 25-1:45 P. M
A correspondent on his way to the far
east writes that Chita Siberia, (which
formerly was populated by dogs, is
now alive with troops" He a
mounted battery drawn by tiny Mon
!, golian ponies. Prices are very high
and the supplies can not last more
, busy with troops transportation to
haul provisions. The military trains
are proceeding with clockwork regu-
larity.
Toxic, March 25.-The house of rep
, resentatives today listened to a signifi-
cant speech by M. Yamamoto, the
minister of marine, and passed with
voice vote of thanks to Vice Admiral
Togo and his officers for their service
, to the country. When the vote was
! taken the members of the public arose
and cheered the navy.
In the course of his remarks the
minister of marine said it was no new
thing to be prepared for emergencies
r in time of peace, but since last october
: the Japanese navy had been under the
I necessity of increasing it's strength,
and had been constantly ready for ac-
tion on account of the actions of Rus
: STA. This, the minister regretted.
Continuing, he said it had been man
: ifest to every observer that Russia had
: constantly increased her strength in
the far east and that had Japan not
z purchased the cruisers Nisshin and
Kasuga from Argentine, her naval
strength would have been below that
1 of Russia.
Referring to the result of the work
d, of Vice Admiral Togo and his fleet, NJ.
e Yarnamoto told the house of repcesen-
tatives that to blockade a port sue
cessfuIly the blockaders should be at
least twice as strong as the defenders
l of the port. He said the latest re-
2 ports showed that the Russians had
4 four battleships, five cruisers and ten
$ torpedo boat destroyers afioat at this
time from which it must be conclud=
ed that the work of repairing at Port
Arthur was being carried forward eff
l GENTLY The latest attack on Port Ar
thur had enabled the Japanese to OBJ
serve the actual strength of the en-
emy.
Continuing. the minister of marine
said that while he hoped for a speedy
: termination of the war, he must warn
the members of the house not TO De
Z over sanguine- The united efforts Oh
]. Japan's soldiers and of sivilfans efhign
: degree. he concluded, would surely
carry the war to a glorious and sue
c cesSful termination.