The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-15

flagship.
JAPANESE REFORM IN KOREA:
Seoul, March 10.-The effect OF the
Japanese Korean protocol has already
been felt It was learned today that
sweeping changes will be made IN ine
Korean administration. Corrupt oHl-
cials will be cashiered. cruel punlsh-
ments will be abolished, and the poseai
system viii be extended. Japanese
officer is about to be appointed ad-
wiser to the war office, and projects
who have kept the money intended Tor
the peasants in payment for gram
bought for the japanese will be prose
cuted- Great preparations are pelng
made for the reception of Marquis Ito.
FIGHT LAST SUNDAY.
Tien Tsin. March ia foreigner
just arrived from Port Arthur reports
an engagement took place between the
Russian and Japanese fleets on sun
day last, the protected cruiser Diana,
belonging to the former, receiving some
injuries. About 20 shells were ex-
changed.
The imperial Chinese Royal Railway
company is considering the withdrawal
of it's station force and all of its NOV
able property from New Chwang.
A PROTEST FILED.
Tten Tsin, March 15-The haste OF
the British and American gunboats to
leave New Chwang, while the inten-
t1onS of the Japanese are unknown and
While consular jurisdiction and the full
treaty port rights of neutrals are un-
questioned, thus prematurely abandon
Ing the protection heretofore MAIN
tanned, has provoked the indignation
of residents and an official protest has
been made to the United States gov
ernment. This was done especially in
view of the action of the Japanese IN
placing their consulate and other prop
erty under protection, the example be-
ing Initiated by the Russians trans
ferring, as indicated in previous dis
patches, their extensive bank, consular
and also civil administration properties
to the French, thereby rendering Rus
sian, Japanese and other interests alike
neutral The protest was also sent be-
cause the manner of withdrawing a
British gunboat, and what is under
stood as the American intention of
withdrawal are regarded as palpabie
neglect, inviting depreciation on Brit
ish-American interests.
NEWSPAPER MEN RECALLED
Seoul March 15-The Japanese au-
thorities have ordered the newspaper
correspondents at Ping Yang and Anju
to return. They also refuse to honor
the permits foremrly given for CORE
spondents to accompany troops to the
frontier and are holding them at Seoul
This action is regarded as significant.
HOLDING UP MERCHANTMEN.
Port Said, March 15.-The Russian
armored cruiser Dmitri Donski is vis~
ible from this port, actively patrolling
in search of vessels carrying CONTRA
band of war. She mistook the Italian
armorc1 cruiser Marco Polo for mer-
chairman and stopped her by firing a
blank cartridge across her bows. On
discovering her mistake the Dnlitri
Donslxi signaled an apology. The
Dmitri Donski stopped the Norwegian
steamer Standard this morning. It is
said the Standard was within the three
mile limit The warship afterward
sfgna1led herato proceed.
CHINA SCI YES ASSURANCES.
w aslington,s March 15.-The state de-
paftment has received formal assurance
from China that the government Of that
country will insist on the observation
of the strietest neutrality toward both
sides during the present war on the
part Of Chinese subjects. This assur-
ance is in addition to the formal notice
of neutrality already generally pro-
claimed by China. It is believed here
that assurance given to the United
States will be useful in finally allaying
the apprehensions expressed by Russia
that China would be led by japanese
successes into a breach of neutrality