The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-20
Another Battle Said to Be Rag
ing at Port Arthur.
ALEXIEF TO. RETIRE.
The VicerOy Asks the Car to
Let Him Come Home.
Was Not Consulted in the Ap-
pOintment Of SkrydIOff.

Central News from St. Petersburg says
it is reported that a Japanese force
has landed near Newchwang.
Paris. April 2O.-The Journal prints a
dispatch from its correspondent at
Yinkow dated yesterday at p. H.,
which says it is affirmed that fresh
battle is raging at Port Arthur.
Constant Slirmishing.
Seoul, April 2O.-11:45 p. m.-The
Japanese authorities here admit that
constant skirmishing occurred be-
tween the opposing armies on the
Yalu river. but they claim that no de-
cisive action has taken place up to
date, though news of such an engage
Dlent is expected at any moment. 1t
IS estimated that the Russians now
The widest rumors are afloat.
largely from Korean sources. which
are absolutely unreliable
Enter Russian Lines.
New Chwang. April 2O.-The cor
! respondents of leading French, Ital
ian and British newspapers, of one
American newspaper and of the Asso-
c1ated Press, have been permitted to
proceed to Mukden. They left here
today United States Consul Miller
entertained the correspondents at the
consulate previous to their departure.
/ They are the first foreign newspaper
since the declaration of the war.
Contact Mines Found.
Nagasaki, April Pol A M.-Con-
/ tact mines have been found floating
| seaward, 40 miles from Cape Shang-
tung Three of them were discover ed
and destroyed by the Japanese fleet.
Cape Shangtung is a headIand ~
4 the Chinese. coast bearing east SoutIl-
east and about 25 miles distant from
I Wei-Hai-Wei the British naval rem
] Cid ct "a
Say Cruiser Was Sunk.
Port Arthur, April 20.-Delayed in
transmission-An is quiet throughout
this district.
It is persistently asserted that Jap
anese cruiser was sunk on Port Ar
thur April Is. and that the japanese
| armored cruisers Nissihen and Kasa-
uga were damaged respectively below
and above the water line
AIexieR Quits.
st. Petersburg, April 2O-Viceroy
EAlexief has applied by telegraph to
the emperor to be relieved of his posi-
ton of viceroy in the far east.
1t is expected that the request will
be Immediately granted. While no Of
fetal announcement has yet been made
there is reason to believe that the
above statement is correct.
The immense cause of the viceroy's
application is reported to be the ap-
lpointment of Vice Admiral Skrydlon,
one of Admiral Alexieffs strongest
enemies and sharpest critics, as sue
cessor to the late Vice. Admiral
lMakarOff in command of the Russian
navy in the far east.
Vice Admiral Skrydlof had an inter
view with the emperor today and dis
cussed with his majesty the question
of his (Skrydloh's) relation with Alexief.
The relieving from command of Vice
roy Alexleff would not surprise intel
tligent observers of the far eastern sit
uation who are familiar with the grad
4To do
toward the viceroy and NJ. BesObrazOf,
who represented the militant OF ad-
ivanced clement which was anxious
that Russia should remain in Man
churia. 1t was to these two men that
the Anglo-Japanese entente first lost
its terrors. They believed that Great
Britain would not go to war and Japan
could not do so.
Still in Doubt.
st. Petersburg, April 20-1:49 P. NJ
In regard to the reported purchase by
Russia of four ships in the United
States it is now said that the deal was
negotiated at Constantinople by Gen.
Williams, the agent of a Philadelphia
ship building firm and the Russian
ambassador to Turkey, NJ. Zinoff
The admiralty still lacks definite i'll
formation as to the cause OF the Pc
/ trOpaVlOVsk disaster. The authorities
at Port Arthur evidently are not con-
vinced that they have the true explain
alton. The general staff here is divid-
ed between two opinions. a mine or q
boiler explosion although few Sth
cling to the theory that the battleshiL
was sunk by a submarine boat The
boiler explosion theory is based on the
knowledge that the Petropavlovsk had
been steaming at full speed and thai
her rudder so low down may have
caused elimination of pressure which
burst her boilers. Those who accept
the mine theory and they are in tbs
majority, believe that the explosion 81
the mine detonated the magazine
which blew up before the boilers. The
main objection advanced against the
mine idea is that the water where tn,
catastrophe occurred is too deep fol
anchored mines.
7 can scarcely imagine that Vice
Admiral Togo would dare to turn loos'
! a lot of floating mines" said one O.
the highest placed naval authorities
THE tides are high and the currents
strong at Port Arthur and foatini
mines might easily be carried out L
sea and endanger his own ships"
Hate to See Alexief Go.
London, April 2O.-The japanese 1e
cation here is greatly interested in tn
announcement of Niceroy Alexieffi
resignation. The opinion is expressed
that If he had resigned six months ag
there would have been no war, brI
now the hostilities are in progress IN
japanese would have preferred to Sc
Alexien in control.
Russians in Korea.
Toxic, April 2O.-5.1O p. m.=Rus
sian troo@s to the number of 1000 ar
reported to he in possession of Yonl
Gan in northeastern Korea.
A detachment Of forty cOssack
: Sung jim. about 150 miles north o
> Gen San where they burned the jap