The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-19
BLEW UP 1000
Chinese Version of the Port
Arthur Disaster.
Which Is Reported to Have
OVertaken the Japanese.
BUT SIX MILES AWAY.
MikadO's Army Is Slowly Ap-
preaching New ChWang.
Varying Accounts of the Fight
ing at Mo Tien Pass.

| Chefoo, July 19.-9 p. ma junk
with eight Russians and fifty Chinese
on board arrived here this afternoon,
| five days from Port Arthur. The Rus
slams refused to talk, but the Chinese
say that on July IL and IL the jap
anese captured and occupied with four
thousand men one of the eastern
forts. near Port Arthur. Before REIN
forcements arrived, the Russians cut
off the 1000 troops in the fort and ex-
ploded mines which resulted in the
killing of every Japanese soldier there.
The Chinese report also that the
night before they left Port Arthur
Russian torpedo boat sunk a merchant
ship near Port Arthur, mistaking her
for a japanese transport Many Chi
nese on board the merchantmen were
drowned, but the white crew of the
steamer and a number of her Chinese
passengers were rescued by the Rus
slams. If this story be true, the
steamer in question probably is the
Hipsang, belonging to the Indo-China
Navigation company, which yesterday
was AZ hours overdue from New
Chwang, and which was reported to
have struck a. mine. The local agents
of the Hipsang say they believe the
steamer to have been lost.
Japanese Take One.
Shanghai, July 19-The British steam
er Lien Shing, which arrived here from
Wei Hal Wei reports today that she
was signalled by the steamer Pei Ping,
owned by the Chinese Engineering and
Mining company of Shanghai, whose
commander asked the Lien Shing to adj
wise the owners of the Pei Ping that
the ship and cargo had been captured
by the Japanese cruiser Hong Kong and
that the vessel was proceeding to Japan
with a prize crew on board The news
of the capture of the Pei Ping was COM
municated to the British admiral, whose
squadron is anchored in Yung Ching
bay.
Russians Lost Over 1000.
ST. Petersburg, July 19.-General
Kuropatkin- reports that Lteutenant
General Count Keller lost 1000 killed
or wounded in tie attack on Mo Tien
Pass July IT.
StoesseI Still Confident.
Mukden, July ia letter received |
here from Port Arthur shows that the |
besfeged have implicit confidence in |
the ability of Lieut. Gen. Stoessel to I
keep out the japanese. The writer
says:
tory, has impaired equal confidence to
all the troops and inhabitants. Major
Gen. Foek is now engaged in resist
ing the pressure of the Japanese at
our advance positions and the siege
dratieff is adding to the Notifications
of Port Arthur, making them stronger
daily. On hills previously considered
to fortify batteries and en-
and guns of both large and
small calibre have been mounted. The
cooperation of the generals has made
Port Arthur an inaccessible fortress.
Find Cause for Rejoicing.
st. Petersburg, July 19.-Without
in
tional questions involved, the news
papers here are all rejoicing over the
exploits of the volunteer fleet steam
ars in the Red sea. The Novoe Vremya
says the work that they are doing in
dicates the wisdom of establishing
the fleet, which was begun by national
su Inscription when the country was too
to build the vessels after
the Turko- Russian war. 1t was the
pioneer subsidized line of auxiliary
cruisers which most countries have
since initiated. The Novoe Vremya
ntimates that there is plenty of scope
for the fleet in European, Atlantic and
Pacific waters. By threatening to de-
prive the Japanese of arms and muni-
part of the Japanese fleet. This is
why the appearance of the volunteer
feet in the Red sea is hailed with so
much satisfaction. Besides the Smo-
ensk, St. Petersburg and Orel, the
after now being fitted out as a hos
oital ship, only the Kherson, Saratoff
md Moskva have a speed of 19 to
20 knots. The other eleven vessels of
he fleet register about 3 knots. Some
If the recently purchased trans
Atlantic liners might, however be
as commerce destroyers, and
;ix weeks ago the Associated Press
vas informed that such was the pur- ,
pose of the admiralty. ,
Russians Hang On to MaIacca. i
Suez, July 19.-The Peninsular and J
Oriental company's steamer Malacca,
.aptured by the Russian steamer st.
Petersburg in the Red sea while on :
he way for Japan, entered the canal {
oday on her way to Libau on the l
Baltic. The company's agent attempt
d to board the vessel, but the Rus
ian commander refused him admis- 1
ion.
Six Miles From New Chwang.
Tien Tsin, July 19.-About 1900
Russian troops returned to New '
|hwang Monday. The Japanese forces
ire reported to be six miles distant. |
The Russian gunboat Sivouch is now =
ligh and dry in the upper reaches of a
he New Chwang river
Japanese Losses. h
Toxic, July 19.-5 D. m.-The jap t
nese losses in the fighting at Mo Tien f
,ass and its vicinity Sunday were 299 Il
.flled or wounded General Kuroki f
stimates that the Russians lost more
Leavily-