The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-16

| the intention of causing their deStruc-
ton should the japanese enter the
city.
The house formerly occupied by
Viceroy Alexieff was hit by shell re-
Gently and partially wrecked.
Ammunition is growing scarcer but
| there is plenty of bread. The price OF
flour is now nine rubles.
Another shell struck a destroyer
which was lying in dock undergoing
repair, knocking it into kindling wood
and killing seven sailors. This shell
came from the Japanese fleet which
comes in much closer than formerly
daily. throwing a few shells. One shell
demolished several engines in the dock
men.
The fort which the Japanese cap
tured is not regarded as essential to
the defense of Port Arthur, although it
is obvious there will be some disad-
vantage from its occupation, as the
japanese are constantly receiving
heavy guns from Japan, to which the
Russians are unable to reply effect
lively.
The Chinese is unable to describe
this fort, but the comparatively weak
resistance of the Russians suggests it
was an outpost.
The assault was the only one to take
place since August 81.
The five 11-inch guns on Golden Hill
which were pointed seaward have
been rearranged, three of them now
pointing landward.
The Chinese alleges that all of the
guns except the 10 and 12-inch have
been removed to land batteries from
on board the battleships where they
were of very little use.
OF all of the ships in the harbor,
only six are fully able to participate
in another fight at present.
month ago the Golden Hill bat
teries threatened Shushiyen. Now the
Chinese say the shells fall far short
of that point.
Cars Message to Kuropatkin.
London. Sept. ia dispatch dated
September 16 to a news agency says the
general order issued by General Kuro-
patkin today the following from EN-
peror Nicholas to the general was pub
lished:
Il see from your report that you were
unable to mold the fortress of Lao
Yang owing to the enemy threatening
to cut off your communications. The
retreat of the whole army in such diff
flcult circumstances and over such ter
rible roads was an operation eXcellently
carried out in the face of grave diff
cultieS. 1 thank you and your Splen-
did troops for the heroic and continued
God guard you. (Signed),
NICHOLAS"
Commenting on his majestys mes
sage, General KurOpatkin says it con-
tains a further expression of lofty be-
nevolence on the part of the emperor
and adds:
Il am quite sure that. in the work
mat lies before the Manchurian army
every soldier will put forth his best eff
forts to achieve victory over the enemy
and become worthy of the confidence of
he emperor
Kuropatkin ordered the emperor's
message to be read to all the troops
With solemn ceremony.
Chinese UnfriendIy to Russians.
= Mukdep, Thursday. Sept. 15.-Ac-
eording to information from Chinese |
sources the Japanese are leaving a |
garrison at Lao Yang and their main |
forces are now moving out on the Rus |
sian fianks. The whole Chinese popu- |
ation of Lao Yang is working on the |
Japanese defenSes.
The Chinese also report that the |
Japanese are running regular trains |
between Port Dalny and New Chwang, |
he rolling stock, according to their |
statements, having come from San
Francisco Mukden merchants who |
nave dealings with New Chwang say
hat if the Japanese occupy Mukden
hey intend to connect the railroad |
With the Sin Min Tin terminus of the
Shanghai Kwan-Tien Tsin railroad,
lbout thirty-five miles west of Muk-
len. At night the Russian sentries
here can discern the glow of the Jap
inese campfires in the direction of
Lao Yang.
Until three days ago the Japanese
lad not finished burying or burning
heir dead around Lao Yang.
The Chinese are becoming more un-
friendly as the Japanese advance. The
Japanese are imposing their systems
# administration at every town occu-
bed, SeiZing the revenues, beginning
With the timber dues in the Yalu dis
rict and ending with the salt tax in
In Kwantung province, the Japan
sc are quite at home. They are al
eady installing Japanese teachers in
he Chinese schools.
mi
ial remains outwardly friendly, but
lie no longer co-operates with the
russians and the Chinese refuse as
istance to the Russian transport or
o furnish them with supplies. Never
heleSs, although animated by un-
oubted sympathy for the Japanese,
he Chinese are not yet confident of
n ultimate Japanese victory and thus
hey seek to avoid an open rupture.
he abandonment of Mukden, how
yer. might make them throw off the
mask and exchange negatively un-
riendly attitude for that of hostility. ]
Message From Port Arthur.
st. Petersburg. Sept. ia telegram I
atch has been received from Port
rthur:
our garrison is in good spirits and
here is no prospects of provisions fail
lg- Port Arthur is prepared to make
long obstinate defense.
The japanese are strongly fortifying
heir positions near the Kinchou 18TH (
lus and are entrenching before Port
rthur.''
Russians Find Comfort
st. Petersburg, Sept. 16.-3:26 p. m. ,
The Russian military critics, analyz-
lg General Kuropatlxin's extended re-
ort of the battle of Lao Yang, seem
, unite in considering that Field
Iarshal Oyama's purpose having
allied. the honors belong rather to
than to the Japanese COM I
lander in chief. The NovOe Vremya |
raws a parallel between Lao Yang !
nd Borodino, where General Kutu-
off's abandonment of Moscow to Ma +
oleon was followed by the disastrous /
atreat of the French. '