The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-15
FIGHT RACES
Japanese Attack Port Arthur
by Land and Sea.
Big Battle Has Been Going on
for Some Days.
CAPTURE BATTERIES
Japanese Secure Positions Near
the Inner Fortress.
BOmbard the HarbOr From Ad-
jacent Hill Tops.
Five Warships and Seven Tor
pedO Boats Returned.

Washington, Aug. 15.-The state de-
partment has received advices from
Chefoo to the effect that it is reported
there that general battle at Port Ar
thur was begun at dawn today.
Berlin. Aug. ia dispatch to tAe
Lokal Anzeiger from Toxic. dated to-
day confirms the reports that heavy
fighting has occurred at Port Arthur
during the past few days. The Japa-
nese captured three Russian batteries
and secured positions close to the inner
fortifications. Both sides lost heavily.
The japanese have commenced bonn
bardment from Lang mountain on the
harbor and inner defenSes.
Chefoo, Aug. 15-1 P. M.-That gem
eral land and naval attack was made
on Port Arthur today is indicated by
information from various sources.
The statement that the naval attack
was made at in the morning comes
from an authoritative but not diplo-
matte quarter.
Junks which have arrived here today
say the japanese recently occupied the
Liauti hills and Sushiyen which is two
or three miles north of the fortress.
Five warships and seven torpedo boat
destroyers according to the junks. re-
turned to Port Arthur the night of
August 10.
Cruisers Under Orders.
St. Petersburg, Aug. IS P. M.-The
cruiser division of the Baltic squadron
has received sailing orders. Some of the
vessels have already left Cronstadt and
others, including the Olege will leave
in a few days. The division may go
round the Cape of Good Hope. where
il will meet Golfers.
The battleship division is awaiting
the completion of the repairs to the
Oriel and is not likely TO start for u
week or fortnight.
Message From Port Arthur.
st. Petersburg, Aug. 15.-4:2O p. m.
The war Office today received a mes
sage from Port Arthur in which Gen
eral StOeSSeI, under of August IL, re-
ports a successful repulse of a general
assault on the Russian outer positions
during the night following the depar
ture of the Russian squadron. He
does not mention naval engagement
or refer to the return of the warships.
The foreign Office has received a
telegram from NJ. Pavloff, the former
Russian minister at Seoul, Korea.
from Shanghai, reporting the presence
there of Captain Reitzenstein's flag
ship, the Askold. and a torpedo boat
destroyer both severely damaged and
in need of repairs He does not men
ton the other three Russian vessels
reported TO be off Shanghai.
The admiralty has received a tele-
gram from Captain MatouSevitch of
the Czarevitch, now at Tsingtau, say
ing he is recovering and that he has
received a visit on board the Care
witch from a Russian prince, who
came in behalf of the German navy
to salute their brave Russian COM
rades. The telegram fails to clear up
the whereabouts OF three warshiDs re-
ported here to be coaling at Tsingtau.
Russians Are DOwnhearted.
Lao Yang, Aug. 15.-ChineseI bandits
last night blew up a portion of the rail-
road ten miles south of Lao Yang The |
road was repaired in few hours.
Twelve Chinese bandits have been
brought to Lao Yang for firing on Rus |
sian scouts, and wounding two dra-
goons.
The weather is cool and the sky dull. |
rains falling occasionally. Already |
there are signs of autumn.
The Russian troops are refreshed by |
their long rest, but they are down |
hearted at the absence of news from |
Port Arthur and the impossibility of /
going to the rescue of the fortress
Russian Flags Hauled Down.
Berlin, Aug 15.-The hauling down of /
the flags of the Russians vessels at /
Using Tau took place in accordance |
with instructions of the German for |
eign Office, which having aScertained |
that the damages sustained by the war |
ships were too serious for repairs to be /
made within reasonable time. gave |
orders Tor them TO dlSarn ana be de- |
tanned during the rest of the war. Jap |
an has been officially informed of the |
action taken by Germany.
The foreign office. taking note of the /
report that Germany is preparing a |
statement to the powers regarding her |
course towards the Russian vessels at |
Using Tau, says this is incorrect. Ger |
many's course has been wholly within |
the requirements of international law |
and requires no explanations.
The foreign Office further denies the
assertion emanating from st. Peters, |
burg that Germany is supporting Rus
sia's protest at Pekin against Japan's |
infringement OF Chinese neutrality in /
the case of the Chefoo incident
Say 1t Served Him Right.
St. Petersburg, Aug. 15.-1:26 P. M
The newspapers otday devote slight ed |
itorial space to the naval engagement /
off Round island August 1e, and gen /
orally express the belief that ne re- /
mainder of the Port Arthur squadron has |
broken througlythe japanese fleet. The ed |
itorials mostly deal with the Ryeshitel- |
nj incident NJ. Souvenir, editor of the |
Novoe Vremya vehemently declares that /
Captain Shestakovsky, by slapping the /
face of the Japanese commander ad- |
ministered the only punishment for |
such an outrageous act.
All the papers make sarcastic allu- |
sions to the bankruptcy of interna- |
tional law" and the Russ. Novoe Vre-
mya and Novosti reproduce an article |
from a Berlin paper, based on the perilS /
of the work of maritime law, pointing /
that the Japanese were not justified in |
attacking the Ryeshitelni. regardless of