The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-30

Toxic, July 3o.-Noon.-The rumored
fall of Port Arthur is officially pro-
nounced to be untrue.
Chefoo, July 30 P MA junk
which left Port Arthur on Thursday
last at midnight reports terrific fight
ing land and sea, which had been
going for three days. The highest
Japanese authority here says that the
army and naval commanders of the
besieging forces had planned to begin
their final assault on Tuesday last and
expected to effect the capture by July
20 but that no official reports were ex-
pected from the army or from Admiral
Togo until the present attack results in
success or failure. Japanese corres-
pondents here are now sending junks
to the Mao islands, ready to enter the
harbor at Port Arthur Immediately af-
ter the fall of the fortress.
The Associated Press correspondent
learns from the same reliable authority
that the movements of the Russian
Vladivostok squadron fastened the
present attack upon PORT Arthur the
Japanese authorities realizing that If
the vessels were allowed to proceed un-
hampered any longer, it meant the di-
vision of Admiral Togo's fleet with the
outcoming of the Russian ships now
cooped up by him at Port Arthur.
Survey of the Armies.
Kuchiatsu, Manchuria, July 2S.-l
DELAYED in transmission-AS a great
battle appears imminent a survey of
the positions of the two armies will
be interesting. The main bodies of
the Russians and Japanese are very
near each other. They now form, In
the north, a more powerful array than
ut ViTtuAllV
same conditions prevail north OF Han
Cheng as previously reported. The
Russians are holding Tfnshuitsan,
Chiutsaiyan Pien and kuanchla
passes. The latter is three miles east
of here. In view of the fact that seri-
out fighting is anticipated soon the
Chinese have begun to disappear from
between the lines and to prlck up
their houses, though heretofore they
have not vacated their property ex-
cept in the Immediate firing zone be-
tween the pickets.
A mile and a half east of Kuan
CHA pass the Associated Press cor
respondent accidentally crossed the
zone of the Japanese fire and was
fully 20 minutes crossing the bed or
the Shi river. under hre' evldently
from the Yu Huang Kiao temple on
the east side of the river and IN plain
view of the Russian pickets The
Japanese line extends thence south
and is apparently of great strength,
approaches within a mile of Lien pass
and continues along the Shi river to
Sipen pass and thence to Ho1 Yam, |
macing the Tfen Tsehutan ana OnS
Tsu pass positions.
The correspondent visited the entire
eastern line. 1t is an dfeaF region Tor
military operations. Immense columns
of troops are traverS1ng the numerous
valleys to reconnoiter the passes ana
are finding mountain artillery on the (,
hillside. The Japanese ofhcers are IN
plain view, passing up and down the
trenches as though encouraging tneir
men The Russians, from equally
fine positions, are making offensive
demonstrations of intense interest, IN
viting an attack and maneuvering:
The first ascent of Russian military
and against the flaming sunset the
balloon was visible to the entire Jap
anese army around Mo Tien pass.
THE balloon caused much amazement
among the Chinese. Japanese con-
tfnue to march across the upper part
of the Taitza river toward mukden
bv- way of Pensihu, protecting their
left flank from Kuchiatzo and Kuan-
CHA pass.
The Russians are making dem
onstration in large force before Plen
PASS and also in front OF kuancnla
pass. A detachment OF cossacks whlGm V,,
temple today was driven
back from two positions, both within
hailing distance :.
The Japanese, as this dispatch is
being fled, can plainly be seen taking
IN positions for the conflict They
are apparently determined TO nght'
and it is reported that the Russian
commander has ordered preparations
to be made for four or five thousand
wounded.
Russian Flank Attacked.
Hal Cheng, Friday, July 29.--De-
Iaved in transmission-The attack on
the right flank of the Russian south
eru army developed at Z O'Clock this
morning The battle was opened with
a heavy artillery fire. under cover of
which the japanese infantry advanced
along the railway until II O'Clock when
their forward movement was checked.
The fighting was continued accord
ing to the last accounts but the re-
suit is not known
Japanese Losses.
Toxic. July 30.-S p. m.-The gen
five Japanese officers had been killed /
and Il wounded in the fighting which |
has been going on around Port Ar
thur since last Tuesday. The losses
in men are not given. This is the first
official announcement of its kind since |
the beginning of the siege of the fort
ress and it indicates that there has |
been serious fighting.
VIadivostOlS Squadron Gone.
Toxic. July 29.-1O a. m.-Delayed |
in traflSrnisSion-The V1adivoStok
\ has disappeared and it is !
possible that its raid is over and that
it is heading homeward. 1t is ex-
pected that shipping will be resumed |