The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-23
arrived here today from Suez and will
depart for Odessa. during the day.
THANKS OF THE MIKADO

arrived here today from Suez and Will
depart for Odessa during the day.
THANKS OF THE MIKADO.
Toxic, Feb. 23.--The Mikado today re-
ceived in audience Captains Lee and
Paynter, and Lieutenant Boyle of the
British navy. and thanked them for
navigating the Japanese armored
cruisers -Nisshin and Kasuga from &C.
noa, Italy, to Japan. His majesty con-
feued on them the order of the Rising
Sun and presented them with gifts of
silver and lacquer work from the I'M
perial collection. The foreign crew of
the Nisshin sails for home on the
steamer Siberia from Yokohama by
way of San Francisco
JAPANESE CAPTURE FOUR TOR
PEDO BOATS.
London, Feb. 23.-The Nagasaki cor
respondent of the Daily Telegraph,
cabling under date of February %, re-
ports that the japanese squadron has
captured four Russian torpedo boats
at Port Arthur by using Russian sig
nails.
This dispatch appears to confirm re-
ports from various quarters of a fresh
attack on Port Arthur by the Japa-
nese.
The report reached Nagasaki from
Chefoo, and it adds that the Russian
crews of the four torpedo boats have
been transferred.
No other news of this attack has
been received in London, but the Che
foo correspondent of the Morning Post
in a dispatch dated February % says
the statement is current there that the
Japanese torpedo boat destroyers in the
attack on Port Arthur on February IA
sunk or damaged two Russian battle
ships, in addition to the torpedo boat
already reported. 1t is possible there
fore that the report of the Nagasaki
correspondent also refers to the earlier
attack.
Viceroy Alexieff's retirement to Har-
bin is now an accomplished fact, and
a correspondent of the Associated
Press cables that Port Arthur is now
forts are being manned by naval gun
ners. Only 20 foreigners are now at
Port Arthur, and they are traders dis
posing of their merchandise. Some of
them are under suspicion, and there is
likelihood of their being arrested. There
are many complaints of unwarranted
arrests, unexplained explosions and
defamation of character by the Port
Arthur police.
The report that large bodies of Cos
sack and other troops are now occupy
ing Newchwang and Hsin Ming Tin
are unfounded.
A dispatch to the Daily Mail from
Hong Kong says a British squadron is
| spending French concentration of war
ships is taking place at Saigon, Indo-
China This is supposedly result of
the Anglo-French understanding.
ACCOIOlAS 10 the NdSaSdkl cOrfe~
spondent of the Daily Telegraph, the
American squadron, the vessels of
which are variously reported at Che
foo and Shanghai, is going to make a
demonstration at the mouth of the
Yalu river.
| RUSSIA RESORTS To BRIBERY.
London, Feb. pa correspondent al
1 Toxic of Reuters Telegram company
| says he learns from a reliable source
| that the Russian minister to China
Paul Lessar, has successfully bribed
! the Chinese officials with the result
/ that the instructions given the Russian
gunboat Mandjur to leave Shanghai
were Cancelled.
The Japanese government considers
| this to be a breach of Chinese neutrali-
| ty, and is taking steps in the matter.
JAPAN IS UNITED POLITICALLY
| Toxic, Feb. 23.-The plan arranged fol
| the emperor and imperial Headquarters
| abandoned, and it is now thought bet
| ter not to remove until after the closing
! of the diet early in April. The incon-
| venience of removing the seat of gov.
/ eminent and converting the diet al
/ Kyoto is the reason assigned for the
/ change in the plan. Small interest i:
manifested in the forthcoming genera
election. The war overshadows all DO
litica1 questions just now. The countr.
is united politically and it is expected
that the new diet will fully support tn.
/ government and cordially approve al
measures concerning the war.
RUSSIAN FLEET WILL AVOID A
FIGHT
New York, Feb. 23.=Negotiafions ars
progressing. asserts the Herald'ss St