The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-15
WHY DID SHE DO IT
Motive of the Lena Is Not In
derst0Od at Toxic.
1t Is Thought She May Have on
Board Novfk's Crew.
THE JAPANESE RETIRE
Report That They Have Fallen
Back From Yentai.
Preparations I'm Progress for
Another Big Battle.
THE JAPANESE RETIRE

! Aohlo, sept. 1o.-1:OO p. m.-The
presence of the Russian warship Lena
in San Francisco is exciting keen in
terest here, although the motive of
trip is not understood. One theory
advanced is that Russia is seeking to
test the attitude of America upon the
legal questions involved. Another
| theory is that the Lena, while engaged
in scouting, called at Korsakoff, found
the wrecked cruiser Novik, learned of
the scattering of the Port Arthur fleet
and the defeat of Vladivostok squad
ron. took the Novik's crew on board
and fed to San Francisco. The tele-
graphic reports of the large crew and
number of guns on board indicate
abnormal conditions for a ship of her
class.
The Japanese government, while
watching the incident with close at
tention, has not expressed its attitude
publicly upon the case.
Denies the Charge
San Francisco, Sept. 15.-Kuyeno,
the Japanese consul here, denies the
charges made to the effect that he
overstepped the bounds of official pro-
priety in his efforts to obtain an un-
derstanding with Collector Stratton re-
garding the Lena'S presence in the San
Francisco harbor. He has received a
letter from Collector Stratton which
disavows any reports of the kind.
Buried 3,1OO Russian Dead.
Toxic, Sept. 15.-1:OO p. m.-FieId
Marshal Oyama telegraphed today that
the positions of the Russians in the
direction of Mukden are unchanged.
The total number of Russian dead
buried at Lao Yang was 3,1OO.
List of Dead Officers.
st. Petersburg, Sept 15.-7:45 a. m.
An additional list published today of
casualties among the officers at the
26 to September Z, gives the names of
"a killed and 143 wounded.
Preparing for Big Battle.
Mukden, Sept 15.-Delayed-Ac-
cording to Chinese advices the evacu-
alton of Lao Yang by the Japanese
stencil arising from dead bodies.
The japanese on Wednesday were
fortifying the approaches by way of
the river. Small detachments of Jap
Taitse river. preparations for an ad-
vance evidently still continuing, al
though the second stage of the Jap
anese movement had not yet been COM |
pleted by any means The first was to
the north, as if for a turning move |
ment, but General Kuroki is now go |
ing east while to the westward prepa- |
rations are being made to send large
force up the Lao river. For this pur-
pose the Japanese already have taken |
100 large barges with which they in |
tend to ascend as far as Tie Pass.
1t is stated that the Japanese are
carefully preparing their turning and ,
fanking movements. and will not en-
gage in another big battle before the
of Tie Pass. These prepa-
rations are expected to occupy one
month.
Baltic Fleet Has Stopped.
st. Petersburg, Sept. 15.-The report
that the Baltic fleet will make a stay
of some duration at Libau is semi
confirmed.
Japanese Fall Back.
Mukden. Wednesday. Sept. I4.-(Delayed
in transmission)-Every is quiet
here. The Japanese have retired south
ward and it is even reported that they
have evacuated Yentai. The belief pre-
several weeks.
Stirring events at the battle of Lao
Yang the sole topics among the Off
GERS and soldiers here. Heroic featS are |
Japanese charges south of Lao Yang and
their incredible advance repeatedly over |
the dead bodies of their comrades are
constantly alluded to. The Russians also |
made several bayOnet charges, among
The most brilliant in that of the MorS- |
1ansk regiment, headed by its wounded
colonel.
The youthfulness of the japanese SOL
Hers surprised the Russians. Some OF
hem are not more than IS years old.
The reports that the Japanese bolstered
up their courage with intoXicants are
slaSSed as nonsense. the best evidence to
he contrary being the remarkable endur-
ance which they displayed