The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-08
There Has Been No Formal De-
claratiOn of HOstiIitIes.
B 9TH MANEUVERING.
Armies and Navies Seeking
Points of Vantage.
Fighting Is Likely to Begin at
Amy Time.
Japan'g Action Appears to Have
Surprised Russia.

st. Petersburg, Feb. S.-Count Lams-
dorff, Russian foreign minister, has
officially informed Russian representa-
tives abroad that Japan has decided to
break off all negotiations with Russia
and to withdraw her minister and the
whole Japanese legation staff from st.
Petersburg. The Russian foreign min
lister thereupon ordered Russian Min
lister DeRosen and his staff to leave
Toxic.
WAR REGARDED AS BEGUN.
London, Feb. 8.-Baron Hayashi, the
Japanese minister, has informed the
Associated Press that military steps
contemplated by Japan for the preser-
vation of its interests in the far east
already have commenced.
The minister was careful to point out,
however, that this does not mean act
ual hostiIities but strategetic action
through pouring Japanese troops into
Korea and Manchuria. Baron Hayashi
calculates that forces adequate to meet
any emergency will have been fully
disembarked within two or three days.
He regards the breaking off OF negotia-
| tions as tantamount to war and does
not look for any formal declaration
| JAPANESE URGED TO LEAVE.
| Port Arthur, Feb. S.-The Japanese
consul at Che Foo has sent a telegram
| to Il Japanese elder here urging the
departure of all Japanese from Port
Arthur and Port Dalny- The greatest
excitement prevails here.
TO SAVE JAPAN.
Paris, Feb. S.-The Echo de Paris
publishes the following, attributed to
a person of high official standing:
"Opinion at the foreign office is very
pessimistic, but can assure you that
French diplomacy will be equal to the
task of striving to effect conciliation
land sparing Japan the crushing defeat
4 which threatens her."
CHINESE ON THE MOVE.
Port Arthur, Feb. SIN response to
instructions from the japanese govern
ment many Japanese sailed from here
for Nagasak today.
The Chinese in Manchuria are great
Iy excited and numbers of them are
preparing to leave for Che FOO;
SPARRING FOR POSITION.
St. Petersburg. Feb. S.-An advance
detachment of Russian cavalry is leav-
! ing Mukden for Korea. The telegram
from Mukden announcing the departure
of the cavalry adds:
"Russia's love of peace has been ex-
hausted by Iapan's demands. Troops
therefore have been concentrated at the
Yalu river. The Russian troops are in
the best of spirits. The Japanese every
where are hurrying homeward,"
The Mukden dispatch repeats the ru-
NOR that Japanese squadron is on
Wei-Hai-Wei on the north coast of the
shan Tung peninsula, with the object
of intercepting the Russian ships com-
ing from Europe.
JAPANESE SQUADRON SAILS.
Berlin, Feb. S-The German foreign
office has been advised that portion
of the japanese fleet sailed from Sasho
yesterday. Its destination is unknown
but is supposed to be Chemulpo. Korea.
JAPAN IS BLAMED.
ST Petersburg, Feb. S.-The rupture
of Diplomatic relations between Russia
and Japan was discussed with tolerable
calmness in the morning papers here
today, the onus being unanimously
placed on japan for severing relations
the very day the Russian reply was to
reach Toxic. The Viedomostf still sees
: "a dim ray of hope of a Deaceable set
tlement" and says the last word has
not yet been spoken.
The Novoe Vremya repeats its
. charges that Japan's desire was to
bring about war no matter what was
the tenor of the Russian reply. and
adds that even Japan's extraordinary
manner of rupturing relations has
f evoked no Chauvinism in Russia. but
4 merely an outburst Of keener patriot
t ism.
4 NURSES READY TO GO.
e New York Feb S.-A score of nurses
a from Bellevue hospital will in all pro-
e liability leave for the far east as soon
2 as the fighting begins, and it is not
which under the direction of Mrs.Corn-
wallis West, rendered valuable service
in the South African war, VIII again
be put into service.
| Several nurses who served on the
Maine are here and anxious to go to
- No CHECK ON CABLE
y New York. Feb. S.-The Japanese
o government has decided that cable
messages in code may be sent to Japan
t without restriction, and announcement
/ to that effect was made today by the
e Commercial company.
n RUSSIAN VESSELS SEIZED
+ London. Feb. 2.-A special from Ber-
: lin says that a strong feet of japanese
8 warshiDs, reported to be on the way
to Chemulpo Korea, has seized several
Russian trading steamers.
JAPANESE FLEETOFF MASAMPHO
: Washington, Feb. s.-The state de-
v partment has received a cablegrarz
? from the American legation at Seoul TO
: the effect that it is reported Japanese
e warships have arrived off f1asampho,
i but that telegraphic communication
has been cut off and it is impossible to
confirm the report.
RUSSIA WILL NOT STRIKE FIRST
st. Petersburg, Feb. Sat an i'm
| portant council held at the palace today
under the presidency of the czar, it was
decided to telegraph to Viceroy AIexieff
to scrupuIousIy avoid any step which
might provoke hostilities
FIGHTING EXPECTED HOURLY.
Berlin Feb. S.-A dispatch to the
Cologne Gazette from Vienna says Adj
<Cor+srr.a7 ~, Daea csw4