The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-31

battle was resumed today with rifle nr
at dawn in the southwest. There wa
desultory firing all night.
The last attack of the Japanese yes
terday was made at I p. m. on the Fen;
Wang Cheng road.
st. Petersburg, Aug. 31-s:50 P. M
The telegraph department declares tina
communication with Lao Jang is no
interrupted.
A dispatch from Mukden this after
noon says it is reported there that Gen
Samsonon has captured two japanese
battalions.
The almost entire absence of news
from the battlefield of Lao Yang up TO
noon today is not explained by any ad-
vices from either St petersburg or
Toxic. 1t is now midnight in Man
churia and but little word has been re-
ceived of events since o'clock last
night, when it was announced tnat the
fierce battle that ragged all yesterday
ceased al 9 o'clock and both armies had
bivouacked on the field The only sur
mise to be drawn from this absence OF
both press dispatches and official re-
ports is that the telegraph line has
been interrupted moth of Lao Yang
General Sakharof yesterday reported
that a large japanese force was ad-
vancing northward along the Taitzu
river. west of the railroad
Such movement, If accomplished
would interpose this force between Lao
Yang. the Russian base, and Mukden
and would cut Kuropatkin's commune
cations north Added probability is CIV
en- to this suTmise by the fact that the
Associated Press received almost hourly
dispatches from Lao Yang, one timed
a 6:49 D. m. detailing the battle up to
that hour. being received in New York
at 1:15 p. m. while up to noon today no
advices were received
st Petersburg Is Anxious.
The great anxiety here for news OF
tOday's battle had not been relieved
at this hour No press or private dis
patches giving details Of the fighting
have arrived and the explana ton given
IS that the wires are probably busy
with official MESA ges. 1t is positively
stated, however. that the emperor this
afternoon receivedaa telegram from
General Kuropatki@ but the contents
can not be learned.
The general staff does not doubt
that the losses yesterday were heavy
on both sides, but the staff declares
that in the absence of direct infor-
nation the figures mentioned are
largely gueSswOrk-
Baltic Fleet Plans Unchanged.
St Petersburg, Aug. 31.-4:1O p. m.
The Associated Press is enabled to
state authoritatively that there has
been no change in plans regarding the
Baltic squadron on account of the re-
suit of the sea fight off Port Arthur
August 10. The maneuNering and
firing trials of ~the ships have been
completely successful and the squad
ron has now returned to Cronstadt to
await the finishing touches on the
battleship Orel and the cruisers Oleg,
Izumrud and Jemtchug.
The Associated Press is again au-
thorized to give the most absolute
denial of the reports that any guns
aboard the ships exploded. No gun of
the Oboukoff works. it is further as
serted. ever burst
The Associated Press is also posi-
tively assured that the Japanese state
ment on which they base their de-
mand that the crews of the Askold
and Grozovoi, at Shanghai. be in
termed until the end of the war. |
namely. that the officers and men of
the Variag and Koretz are on board |
ships bound for the far east. is un-
true. The crews of those vessels have |
been distributed among the sch ooI and !
training squadrons and on shore duty I
in the Baltic and Black sea, but not
one man or one officer is on board /
Vice Admiral Rojestvenskys vessels. /
Wireless Station Dismantled.
Washington. Aug. 31-The state /
department has received a ca blegram /
from Consul General Fowler at Chefoo /
saying that the Russian wireless tele- !
graph station there has been dis
mantled.