The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-17
Are Moving Forward in Three
Separate Columns.
MANY SMALL FIGHTS
Have Taken Place, and Decisive
Action Is Imminent.
New Chwang Has Been Abandon
ed Entirely by Russians.


IS steadily nearing Mukden, where
Vicerov Alexieff's headquarters still
remain. Little reliable Information
can be obtained by the newspaper
correspondents, who are forbidden 10
proceed to the scene of operations
and official information is withheld
until ady-ices are sent to St Peters
burg. It is now known, however,
that the Japanese are almost within
striking distance of the Russians and
that the forces protecting Lao Yang
are stretching eastward from the rail-
road along the Mao Tien mountain
range.
The Japanese are advancing in
three columns and are now north of
Stu Yen and Feng Wang Cheng. Two
columns are reported to be working
further to the northward. with the OBJ
5ect of turning the Russian position
and advancing upon Mukden.
Numerous small engagements have
been fought, but no decisive action
has taken place. Port Arthur is now
completely isolated by the Japanese
expedition at Polandien.
The Japanese are now operating in
a rugged country well suited to the
Russian defense, but north of Lao
Yang to Mukden the country is fiat
plain intersected by rivers. The
weather recently has been hot and
dry, but the rain which has fallen in
the past two days has made the roads
almost impossible for vehicles, and
when the rainy season begins the end
of June this plain will be converted
into a morass. This condition will
probably result in the practical sus-
pension of operations.
Mukden is now the receiving center
for the wounded from the various
engagements south of the Mao Teen
1frffr7 A fol
tablished in the Lama temple in the
outskirts of the town, and a field hos
pital has been located in a wood near
the military camp around the station.
A significant feature of the situation
is the demeanOr of the Chinese 'popu-
lat1on. which may be said to be bar
ometer of the military weather. A
close observer. Of the expressions and
general attitude of the Chinese can
tell how the fighting a hundred miles
away is turning. They have rapid and
mysterious channels of information
through which the result of the bat
tie of Feng Wang Cheng spread and
could be suspected from the outwar rd
manner of the Chinese before the
Russians made it known here The
cutting off of Port Arthur is another
instance in point.
The newspaper correspondents are
most courteously treated by Colonel
Poest1ch, the officer whom Vicerov
Alexief appointed to attend them.
but they are chafing under the re
strlctlons Imposed here which prevent
them from seeing anything of the
hghtng- General Kuropatkfn is evil
IDENTITY unwilling that the foreign cor
respondents shall witness the present
phase Of operations though he may
accept them in the indefinite future
when the Russians are able to make
a sweeping advance.
Evacuation of New Chwang.
New Chwang, May 16.=Night-Tn
Gonnrmation Of recent Associated
Rress dispatches, the Russian evacua-
ton OF this city has been connnletn5
Nothing remains but the destruction
OF the gunboat Nivouch, which if is
expected will take place early in the
morning. The Russian troops march
ed out IN perfect order, General Kon-
dratsvitch leaving with the last resi-
ment- The Associated Press corra-
spondent has received exclusive in
formation from the highest Russian
authority that the Japanese advance
viii be resisted at Hal Cheng. whence
the Russian forces Will fall back lnoT
4dao Yang, where they will make a
determined stand with a dehtipo o.
strength there available of 10000
men. If defeated no stop will be made
at Mukden, but the retirement will he
continued to Thieling, a town at the
head of navigation for native craft on
the Lao river, 200 miles north of
New Chwang. At the same time the
Cossack regiments will be employed in
the rear of the Japanese army of the
! atuf hdIdSSlnS the troops and inter-
Tering with its communications 1t is
not believed that the Japanese win
move into the interior until they have
thoroughly established their base
here, repeating their movement at
Chinwai.
The Russians admit the advance of
the japanese army to be at point
within Is miles of Hal Cheng. MANY
OF their wounded entering there.
Ihe nearest fighting expected before
the Japanese reach New Chwang will
be at Tashichao. but it will not
arnount , 10 much. This city is now
guarded by 800 Chinese police and
everything is quiet. The Japanese
force at Kai Chau is reported 10000
strong
Many Mines Remain.
Toxic, May 17.-Admiral Ka+aolxo
reports that the operation of remov-
ing the mines in Kerr bay was con
tinued by the torpedo boats under
protection of a bombardment nv tba
fleet There is no change in the
enemy's defense except the addition
of two or three field guns to their
position which had the effect of in
terrupting the work of clearing the
bay of the mines. Nevertheless. the
japanese destroyed eight mines blIt
work of destroying them will be CON
tinued.
japanese Have 40 Bread.
An Tung, May o via Seoul. Nav 1s
The concentration of the Russian
forces at Lao Yang viii make that
place the first line of defense and the
first great battle will probably be
fought there. No important aggres-
sive action by this army is expected in
the near future Since the Russian
feet at Port Arthur has been bottled
m the Japanese find it possible to