The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-10
HarbOrs Mined Against Possible
Approach of Hostile Fleet.
ATTACK PORT ARTHUR.
Japanese Reported to Have Be-
gun Final Assault.
Russians Are Defending With
All Available Forces.

that the JaDanese fleet will ever be in
a position to venture up the Baltic
and make a demonstration against the
Russian capital or that European
powers will be drawn into the war,
Russia is taking nothing for granted.
The possibility of the fall of Port Ar
thur or a disaster to the Baltic squad
ron after the latter sails for the far
east have been considered and no
precaution will be omitted to protect
St. Petersburg against attack. The
fortihcations have been strengthened,
some new guns of the latest patterns
have been mounted in the fortress of
CrOnstadt and a chain of water bat
teries. running out on either side of
the shores of the gulf of Finland, will
guard the entrance to the mouth of
the Neva. This system of fOrtifica-
tions was sufficient to discourage the
attack planned by the British fleet
during the Crimean war.
In addition, however, shore batter
les have been constructed near Grant
enbaum Con the gulf of CrOnStadt, ~
miles from St Petersburg) and Sestro-
ryetsk, on the Sestra river and IL mites
from st. Petersburg, probably a pre-
caution against landings as it is said
the forts are able to stop the advance
of a hostile fleet. The approaches 10
CrOnstadt are also being mined and
merchant ships are being forbidden to
enter the port without a pilot to con-
duct them through the mine fields. OW-
ing to the extensive work in progress
at CrOnstadt in connection with the
preparation of the Baltic squadron the
central basin. heretofore reserved for
merchant ships has been appropriated
by the navy. Rigid regulations are en-
forced against any one approaching the
fortified tiOnS. The Grand Duke NIad-
fFT1fr ma T1C nj district
of St. Petersburg, has just completed
an inspection of the shore batteries.
The Russian rules for the treatment
of prisoners of war were promulgated
today They are of a most humane
character. following the most ad-
vanced ideas on the subject of tn :
care of prisoners. A war bureau for
the collection and distribution OF
every possible kind of information con-
cerning prisoners has been established
by the Russian Red Cross society, un +
der the presidency of Prof. Demar-
tens, professor of fnterna tiOnal law
at the University of St. Petersburg,
and recently president of The Hague
court which decided the Plus fund
claims.
The NOvOe VIyema editorially
scouts the idea fostered by a section
of the British press that the fall of
Port Arthur viii end the war.
The government is considering the
question of increasing the scale of
pensions for soldiers and sailors
widows
Attack on Port Arthur Begins.
indianapolis, June 10.-A special cable
received by the News from it's staff war
correspondent at ChefOO SAYS:
"ChefOO. June 9.-The long conten-
plated attack by the Japanese on Port
Arthur begun early this morning
The Russian forces around the be.
leagured city were reinforced by the
troops which had garrisoned DaIny and
Kin Chou
The Russian vessels in the harbor
with their great guns aided the land
forces in repelling the attack. The
fighting still goes on
Waiting for Reinforcements.
Russian Headquarters at Lao Yang
June 1O.-General Kuropatkin is eN-
pecting reinforcements. which. as soon
IS they arrive. viii advance from Lac
Yang, and important Developments are
expected.
Persistent reports are in circulation
of a battle at Port Arthur, that place
being attacked by land and sea. Moth
ing definite is known, however. except
that an attack made by the Japanese
did not succeed
Many Small Fights.
Toxic, June 1O-5 P. M.-General Ku-
rOld reports that detachment of Jap
anese troops on Tuesday routed a bat
TALON of Russian infantry with two
guns at Hal Machia, the Japanese los
ing three men killed and "A wounded
five men. The Russians left on the
field % men dead or wounded and pro.
badly lost 20 men.
A Japanese detachment dispatched il
the direction of Tung Yuan Pu repulseC
60 or 20 of the enemV'S infantry at Iir
Cha Tai Monday and on Tuesday en-
cOuntered six companies of Russian in
fantry and 800 cavalry at Chan CHA
Sih After TWO hours enga cement thf
japanese drove the Russians off in the
direction of Tung Yuan Pu. The Rus
sian casualties were 10 or so men killed
or wounded. The japanese lost fou1
men killed and IS wounded.
on Wednesday a Japanese detach-
ment cooperating with another de
tachment from the force landed al
Taku Shan encountered a Russian
force of 4000 cavalry with six guns
near Stu Yam and drove them back
towards Chi Mu Chang and Kai Chou
losing three men and two officers and
IS men wounded.
Plan for Fleet to Leave.
St Petersburg, June 1O.414 P NJ
There is reason to believe that the plans
squadron in the event that the fall of the
fortress becomes imminent, have beer
completed. They involve the co-Opera tiOr
of the NladlVOstok squadron After thS
bIockad ding fleet has been engaged the un.
injured Russian ships will effect junc-
fion with the VladivOstok squadron anC
make their way to VladivOstOk. The fact
that the COrean straits are mined ana
s-1Iarded by a Japanese torpedo boat ffOtil
Fl which has been established to the sat
fsfaction of the admiralty here. greatly
inrreeses the difficulty of the ODcra tion
but the Russians probably will prefer tt
take chances of getting through rather
sroYnd japan. The attempt may occW
af the first favorable opportunity. I ht
squadron is useless for the defense OF Por
Arthur while if preserved entire or lr
sor- TortfOn even the fall of Port Arthur