The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-09
Japanese Minister Notifies the
Korean Government
That Russians Have Fled
Across the Yalu.
SCARCITY OF FOOD
Is Suggested as Reason for the
Russian Retreat.
An Army Of 100000 Men Now
in Manchuria.

III AaucuuFtds
Seoul. Korea. April 9.-The Japa-
nese minister. NJ. Hayashi. today on
cially communicated to the Korean
foreign Office the fact of the retire
ment of the Russian troops across the
Yalu river and the japanese occupa-
ton Of the frontier, which resulted in
an exchange of mutual congratula-
tions.
NJ. Hayashi also requested the Ko-
rean government to instruct its pre-
fects along the railroad line to faciii-
tate the engaging Of coolies with the
object Of expediung the completion
of the seoul-Fu san railroad
A Korean official telegram received
today announced that the prefect OF
Kyong-Sieng, in the south Tumen dis
trict. who was overawed by the Rus
slams and subsequently arrested by the
japanese on the supposition that he
was a sDy, has been released owing
to the Intervention of M. Hayasht In
his behalf with the japanese military
authorities
Japan's New BattIeships.
London. April 9.-The two new bat-
tleships ordered in England BY Japan
viii be exceedingly powerful, their
length AS feet. exceeding that OF the
most powerful British battleships by
20 feet. In order to meet the capacity
Of docking accommodations. the beam
and draught have been fixed at 7s feet
and &c feet respectively Each will
have a displacement Of 16 400 tons.
Their main batteries, II is said. viii be
the most powerful yet devised. consist
/ ing of four tWelve-inch guns, four
ten-inch and 1--WE six-inch guns. The
1 armored belt at the water line viii be
-Fa fr7r-E -
continuing to the level of the deck A
new feature will be a superstructure Of
four inch arnlor, insuring that no part
Of the upper works viii be unprotected.
I Formal orders for these battleships
I were placed by Japan with Nickers,
! Maxim & Armstrong on January 30,
the orders being TO expedite their con-
structiOn as speedily As possible They
are to have q speed of 10 knots and
will be able to discharge eleven tons
of projectiles per minute from their
main batteries.
1905 Russians in BTanclSuria.
New Chwang. Nanchuria. Thursday.
April z. via Chefoo, China. April g.
General Kuropatkin's visit to New
I Chwang has inspired boundless conf
dence. The command er-in-chie order
ed 10000 reserves to reinforce this posi-
ton in view Of the expected japanese
attack, while an additional force or
5000 men is ready to concentrate upon
this place at short notice II necessary
400 600 Russian troops in Manchuria-
] General Wogack has taken over the
command at New ChWang from Cen
eral Kondratsvitch-
! The preparations for the oefense OF
the town are complete.
River Is Mined.
Washington. April s.-Mr. Conger.
ths. American minister at Pekin,
cables the state department that Mr.
/ Miller, the T. s consul at New
sian authorities that mines have been
+ placed in the river. but that neutral
ships will be conducted in and out
In safety.
No Whisky for Soldiers.
St. Petersburg. April s--The war
/ Caucasian cavalry brigade for active
service. 1t win be formed Of volun-
teers from the Caucasian highlanders.
who are exempt from military service.
Viceroy Alexieff has prohibited under
pain Of severe punishment the sale
of spirits to soldiers operating in his
Viceroyalty-
Scarcity Of Food.
New York. April 9.-Japanese reports
suggest, cables the Toxic correspond
ent of the Times, that the scarcity CT
provisions and forage was probably tho
chief reason for the Russian retreat
across the Yalu-
The Russians apparently stripped the
country of everything edible.
! There are reasons for thinking that
the Russian losses at Ching Chu on
March 2s. were heavier than reported.
Japanese Wear Disguises.
New York. April 9.-Since March 10,
according to a Herald dispatch from
Pekin. at least nine japanese officials
dressed as Chinese with a full stan OF
Chinese servants, have passed north
through Kupeinko and Jehoe and Ping
Tsuan toward Chao Yang, General
Mas Headquarters
There are about 25.O00 foreign-drilled
troops at ChaO Yang.
Roads impossible.
st. Petersburg, April "A CORES
pondent Of the Associated Press with
the Russian outposts writing from An
Tung. on the Yalu river under date OF
March 10, describes the fearful state Of
the road and the journey from Feng
Huang Cheng to An Tung- The road
he says, is impossible for vehicles. The
correspondent depicts An Tung as "a
miserable collection of novels. the in
habftants OF which, on account Of its
scarcity can not afford timber for fires
and use straw instead. The country
between F'eng Huang Cheng and An
Tung is sparsely Eettled. The Chinese
avoid the high roads, referring the
mountain Businesses. Milk, butter and
eggs are almost unknown
Slump I'm CamphOr.