The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-26

Tien Tsin, April 26.-It is reportsu
upon good authority that the japanese
feet bornbarded the town of New
Chwang last night. The Russians mere
DENY that there is any truth in the re-
port.
Russia Secures a Loan.
New York. April 26.-Negotiations
for a new loan between Russia and a
Paris financial syndicate are as good
as concluded, cables the Paris cores
pondent of the Times. The amount is
placed at $780, 600.
The syndicate, it is understood in
cludes the Russo Chinese bank and The
Hottinger group. The loan is to be
contracted in treasury bonds at the
rate of 9S per cent and is to bear in
terest at per cent. The syndicate
guarantees $50, 900, 900 and in all proba-
bility there will be a public subscrip-
tion. The details can not be officially
confirmed.
A Third Japanese Array.
Berlin. April 26.-The Toxic cores
pondent of the Tageblatt announces
the mobilization of a third Japanese
army. He says it is now disclosed
that a reserve brigade corresponding
to each division of the active army has
been modified Herewith and conse-
quently each army win embrace near
ly 900 men instead of being OF the
strength previously assumed
Russian Navy Criticised.
st. Petersburg, April Z6-11:5S A. NJ
The NovOe Vremya today contains
remarkably free criticism of the Rus
sian navy, which reads as follows;
1T would be well to put an obelisk
in front of the admiralty inscribed re-
member Makaroff. His death should
be the signal to destroy the old order
of things of which he fell victim af-
ter heroically doing his best with the
defective wear pons at his disposal. Ma
karoff's death marks a new era Tor
the Russian navy The old days mark
ed by a muddle of 4carelessness and IT.
efficiency are over and we have learned
Cur lessons.
THE nation understands them just as
we'll and learns from the first lesson
the necessity of a reform of the per-
sonnel of the navy. The present sys-
tenn of promoting officers according to
the number of nautical miles they sail
may work we'll in a highly efficient
navy but it is absurdly dangerous Tor
ours where the capacities of officers
fuctuate. AS a result many of our
best officers are discouraged into re-
tirement.
THE present war is unlike any pre-
vious war in that the whole nation is
following its phases with breathleSs
anxiety Our nerves are strained much
as are those of the defenders of Port
and rejoice at the slightest success.
Like the English in the Boer war we
are one of the greatest of the world
powers fighting smaller one, and the
sentiment of patriotism overwhelnns all
other considerations"
Not Prisoners of War.
Kharkov, Russia, April 26.=Some
of the officers of the Variag and Ko-
reitz declare that they do not consider
themselves prisoners of war but mere
ly as shipwrecked sailors. who can
fight again The reception accorded
here to the survivors of the two war
ships crews was very enthusiastic.
The officers were repeatedly embraced
by women.
Russia's Naval Plans.
St Petersburg, April 26.=3:5s p. m
The report that the Baltic fleet is to
leave Libau Thursday for the far east
is incorrect. Some of the ships are
just going into commission and those
being completed cannot be finished
before July. The report may be at
tributable to the fact that some
scholarships are going out to train the
naval reserves.
The battleship Borodino left the ad-
mlralty works today for Cronstadt to
receive her armor and heavy guns.
The admiralty is giving earnest con-
sideratiOn to all questions in connec-
ton with the dispatch in July of the
Baltic fleet to the far east.
Vice Admiral Rojestvensky, who
Will command it, and Rear Admiral
Wirtnus have been in consultation.
All idea of following the northern
route has been abandoned. Indeed,
II never was seriously considered. Ad-
mlral RoJestvensky originally favored
the cape of Good Hope route, but it
IS more probable now that cOlliers
and supply ships, well protected, will
go by that route and that the battle
ships and torpedo boats will pass
through the Suez canal The two di-
visions will rendezvous in the Indian
ocean For the entire fleet to proceed
py the cape of Good Hope route would
involve too much time, the expendi-
ture OF large quantity of coal and
the tOuling of the boilers and bottoms
of the fighting ships, which it is inn
portant to avoid on account of the
lack OF docking facilities at Port
Arthur
It is understood that the admiralty
now entertains no fears regarding the
restrictions imposed by the Suez canal
regulation although Admiral Writ
nus complained of the strictness with
which the neutrality of the canal wa {
enforced.
There Is evidence of a more Friendly
disposition on the part of the British
authorities. 1t is said that they point
ed out that they would have TO hold
contraband of war arriving at Liver
pool from America, if landed. At
the sarge time it was suggested to the
Russian consul that transshiDroenf
could take place in the harbor and the
authorities at Liverpool even placed a
barge at the consufs disposal.
Russians Deny Any Big Fight.
New Chwang, April 26.-The Russian
authorities here deny that there have