The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-01
Naval Battle Midway Between
Port Arthur and CheefOo.
Japanese Have Two Battleships
and Five Cruisers Engaged.
BIG EXPLOSION HEARD
Size of the Russian Squadron
Not Ascertained.
Shells Are Falling Constantly
in Port Arthur.


Chefoo, July $3.50 p M-What
should prove to be a decisive naval en-
gagement was in progress at o'clock
this afternoon midway between Chefoo
and Port Arthur.
The steamer Chefoo, which has ar
rived here passed within Is miles of
the Japanese fleet consisting of two
battleships and five cruisers, all ac-
lively engaged. The Russian fleet was
not seen, but the distance of the Japa-
nese from land precludes the possibility
of any attack on the land batteries.
The captain of the Chefoo says he
heard a terrific explosion, but was un-
able to discern whether a Japanese or
a Russian ship was affected. The bat
tie is held here to confirm the Chinese
report that only four of the larger Rus
sian warships were at Port Arthur last
night
35 Miles from Liao Yang.
Lao Yang, July IA Japanese
army is reported to be within 35 miles
of Lao Yang. Southeast of Hal
Cheng on the Stu Yen road the Japa-
nese have withdrawn from the posi-
tions from which they recently drove
the Russians after five days con-
tinuous fighting. General Mistchenko
reports that his cavalry has been ex-
periencing the effects of lyddite shells
from the Japanese big naval guns
which the latter are now employing in
the field.
Russians Won't Fight.
New Chwang, July IA telegram
from German sources at Mukden re-
ceived here yesterday evening says
General Kuropatkin has decided not
to fight at Ia Tche Kiao or Ha1
Cheng, but to retreat from Ia Tche
Kiao, which movement was started
June % and is we'll under way Small
detachments of troops will, it is added,
stay south to stem the Japanese ad-
vance until the Russian retreat is in
full swing. 1t is not believed here
that the Russians will be able to
reach Lao Yang, as the Japanese con-
troll the passes which would would
indicate that the Russian line of COM
munication may be cut. A Chinese
rumor is to the effect that 1900 Mon
golian troops engaged by Russia have
been annihilated in battle. No Gre
dence is placed in the report.
The crew of the torpedo boat de-
stroyer Lieutenant Burukof, which
arrived here from Port Arthur June
%, say they left Port Arthur Tues
day night in fog and rain and near
Hockey light got out OF the course
and ran aground on the Bitter shall
lows, near Helf bay on the west coast
of the peninsula. They got off in two
hours. When the fog lifted several of
the Japanese torpedo boat destroyers
were seen coming toward the Lieuten-
ant BurukOff which was saved only
by her speed.
A boat which arrived here from
Shanghai last night reported that
Japanese torpedo boat destroyer was
outside the entrance of the river,
which may mean that she will come
in and engage both the Lieutenant
Burukoff and the gunboat Sivouch.
Shells Falling in Port Arthur.
Chefoo, July IL p MA party
of Russians and Chinese arrived here
today by junk direct from Port Ar
thur having left there yesterday.
They report that for several days
shells from both land and sea have
been falling in the town doing but lit
tle damage. The Russians who re-
sisted the advance of the Japanese
suffered severely. Many dead and
wounded have been brought to Port
Arthur. The hospital there is over
crowded 1t is difficult to obtain cor
rect information in regard to the con-
dition of the fleet. The russians
maintain that it is intact with the ex-
ception of the battleship SeVastopol'
which is being repaired
A Chinaman who left Port Arthur
last night and who has arrived mere
says there are only four Russian war
ships, cruisers and battlesh1Ds in the
harbor and none outside. The op1n-
ion prevails that the faster ships sue
ceeded in eluding the five japanese
WarShipS MAINTAINING the DlOChdUC'
The Chinese confirm the previous
reports that a large ship is ashore
south of the Lao Sha Tai promontory;
The Japanese have captured two small
forts 10 miles east of Port Arthur
KuropatIzin Heard From.
ST Petersburg, July 1.-THE follow
ing dispatch from General Kuropat-
kin to the emperor, dated June 29,
has been received:
Towards 8 o'clock in the morning
of June 27 our troops, having dis
lodged the enemy's advance guard.
composed of cavalry and infantry,
occupied the station of Senu Chen.
but at 9 o'clock it was discovered that
a brigade of the enemy's infantry
was advancing in front, while other
columns were turning our detach-
ment's left flank. The town of Senu
Chen, which is surrounded by walls.
was also occupied by the Japanese
Consequently at IL o'clock our troops
slowly withdrew. AS regards losses,
we only know as yet that an officer
and ten men were wounded.
"a reconnaissance carried out on
the road from Sia Khoe Tung to
Erltatan and Khanza, revealed the
presence of six companies of the en-
emy's infantry and two squadrons of
cavalry, and at Mayaratsa, three miles
southeast of Sia Kho Tung. In this
reconnaissance Captain Vassilief.
Lieutenant Makaroff and five cossacks
We're wounded; Makaroff succurnbed.
There was some skirmishing June
25 between the enemy and our out
posts at Samaritan and Wang Tsi
Afang Ching, five miles west of Sami-
arlkau."