The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-07
UNDER LAND FIRE.
Four Russian::WArships in Port
Arthur Harb0r
Reported to Be Badly Damaged
by Shore Batteries.
LOOK FOR LONG WAR.
Both Sides Are Preparing for a
Lengthy Struggle.
Blockade of Russian Gibraltar
Is Proving Ineffective.

No information bearing on the mili-
tary situation in Manchuria is contains
ed in todays dispatches either from
Toxic or st. Petersburg. From Toxic
comes an official report of the recent
skirmish affairs that have taken place
along the extended front of the armies.
but none of them was of an important
character. Toxic also reports that four
Russian warships were damaged by the
fire of a Japanese land batteries during
recent fighting at Port Arthur. one of
the vessels being completely destroy
ed. The Russian admiralty continues
without news of the reported sea fight
off Port Arthur. lieutenant General
Hasegawa goes to Korea to assume
command of the Japanese forces there.
1t is probable that his appointment
foreshadows a movement to expell the
Cossaclxs now operating in northwest
ern Korea. 1t is reported from Vladi-
vostok that General Kuropatkin has
been i'll and unable to personally COM
mand his armies since the battle Of
Lao Lang. The report, however, lacks
confirmation.
Toxic, Oct. 7.-2:30 P. Mt is re-
ported here that the fire of the Japa-
nese land batteries severely damaged
four Russian warships in the harbor OF
Port Arthur. 1t is stated that one OF
the vessels was completely wrecked.
The names of the ships were not given.
To Command in Korea.
Toxic, Oct. 7.-3 P. M.-Lieutenant
General Hazegawa, late commander
in-chief of the imperial guards division,
will depart for Korea today to assume
command of the japanese forces there.
1t is probable that the Korean army
will be disbursed or brought under q
Japanese command. General Hazega-
wa is expected to effect this change at
! III hat hi
Japanese move is made in order to eS-
pei the bands of CossackS now operat-
ing in western and northwestern Korea.
s'There viii Come Time"
ST. Petersburg. Oct. 7.-While not
withholding praise for the American
spirit of desiring to do things, the
Bourse Gazette today expresses graft
fication that president Roosevelts
idea of calling a peace conference 10
an accompaniment of the thunder OF
cannon has apparently been ship
wrecked"
eve hope" the Gazette says, that
this will induce the American jour
nails to give UP the discussion of un-
solicited Intervention in the Russo
Japanese war in any shape or FORM
1t is a mistake to suppose that we are
longer in the same position as in 1871
when we had the enmity of Austria
and could not rely upon the friend
ship of Germany. The attitude OF
Austria, Germany France and Italy
is no longer cause for anxiety. No
one knows when the war will end.
There will come a time when Japan
will be confronted with the might of
the whole Russian nation; then she
will meet the fate of Genghis Khan.
The question of sending the Baltic
sea fleet to the far east by way of
Cape Horn is advocated by a strong
party at the admiralty the ground
that after passing the straits of Magel-
Ian their progress could not be dogged
and reported by cable. The golfers
v<or1 1aeyx at 10 nd
other smaller Pacific islands. The
main risk would be that in the vast
stretch the vessels might be beaten
off their track and the danger of a
serious breakdown of some of the
ships, although the transport Kam-
chatka is equipped with appliances for
the making of extraordinary repairs.
The selection of this route would
be tantamount to decision not to
reach Vladivostok until spring, a long
voyage requiring economical speed for
at least four months.
Blockade Is Ineffective.
st. Petersburg, Oct. THE only
reference to the reported sea fight
off Port Arthur is contained in a de-
layed dispatch from Chefoo which
says that on the night of October 5,
the sound of firing was heard in the
direction of Port Arthur and that
search lights were seen to be work
ing in that vicinity It is thought
there may have been battle, but no
confirmation of the report of one has
been received. The dispatch further
states that in spite of the Tightening
of the japanese blockade, junks are
still arriving from the fortress bear
ing refugees who say that all the at
tack5 of the Japanese have been re-
pulsed, that it will be necessary to in
stitute long siege and a complete
blockade in order to reduce the fort
ress. The blockade, according to the
refugees, is not completely effective,
junks continually arriving with food
supplies and munitions for the garri-
close patrol over the entire yellow sea,
stopping every vessel sighted.
The captain of the British steamer
Chenan. which was stopped by Jap
anese cruiser while on her way to
Chefoo from Taku, but was allowed
to proceed after her cargo had been
examined, has made protest against
the way he was boarded and searched
on the high seas.
Easy to Dodge japanese.
Tsingtau, Oct. THE German
steamer Progress, chartered by a local
German and which left here with a
general cargo consigned to Vladivostok,
from that port today and re-
ported that she found il easy to elude
the japanese ships in that vicinity. She
tnat a number of large ships
have been there recently with stores of
coal and ammunition The city of
Vladivostok is quiet and the Russians
seemed depressed over their land and
sea reverses.
Vladivostok is being heavily fortified.
the harbor is being mined and repairing
Of the damaged ships is going on. 1t
is believed that it will be impossible to
put the armored cruiser Rossi in a sea-
condition. 1t is stated in Vladi-
vostok that General Kuropatlxin has