The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-05

RAILROAD BUILDING.
Construction of Seoul Win Line
Is Being Pushed.
Russia Orders Apparatus for
CoaIing at Sea.


a three days bombardment by the
Japanese of Port Arthur according to
a Herald dispatch from Tien Tsin and
timed at $50 a. m this Saturday
morning. The attack was kept up at
intervals on Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday. The Japanese ships at
tacking the town were in action first
at a distance of 93s miles from the forts
and then they drew closer. their range
being AZ miles.
japan is ready to construct the
Seoul Wiju railway, according to a
Herald dispatch from Seoul Fifteen
miles Of grading already has been done
by the Korean government under
French engineers, but no rails, locomo-
tives or cars have been purchased yet.
A steamer has arrived at Chemulpo
with thousands of tons of material and
construction will now be rapidly
pushed by the japanese.
A rush order has been placed with an
American firm for apparatus used in
c0aling warships at sea- It is expected
that the 45 Russian vessels in home
waters will be in position by June to
proceed, if necessary, to far eastern
stations, taking with them the Anerf-
can invention which will enable the
war vessels to proceed without running
afoul of the regulations at neutralp ports
regarding coal
SWEAR TO KILL KOREAN OFFI-
GALS.
Seoul March 5.-Twenty members of
the Peddlars band are reported to
have taken an oath to kill all officials
who favor an alliance with the Japa-
nese. The Japanese minister, on being
notified of this. promptly Informed the
Korean government that if it does not
arrest the conspirators the Japanese
officials would do so. AS result four
leaders of the Peddlars have just been
arrested.
The cabinet decided today to reopen
the railroad between Yongampo and
Win
Work in all the gold mines operated
by natives has been suspended and will
not be resumed until the reconstruction
of the government is completed.
A British gunboat has arrived at
Chemulpo with foreign refugees from
Song Chou on board.
RUSSIAN FLEET LEAVES VLADI-
VOSTOCK.
Toxic, March 5.-An Austrian steam
er which has arrived a Hakodate from
Nladivostock reports that the Russian
squadron left Vladivostock on Feb
ruary 29. 1t is presumed to be cruis-
ing in northern waters with the hope
of capturing japanese merchantmen.
Another report says that two Russian
war vessels have been seen off Usuli
bav.
Advices from Hakodate do not men
tlon any attacks on northern ports.
The steamer Ekaterinoslav, of the Rus
sian volunteer transport fleet, which
had been fitted up as an auxiliary
cruiser; the steamer Manchuria be-
longing to the Chinese Eastern railway
company; the schooner -Sliepner and
the steam launch Wuliade have been
declared prizes of war by the naval
court at Sazebo. The decision of the
tn ~ a<a1 fJ,f,, .
days.
JAPANESE OFFICERS SAIL FOR
HOME
southampton, England, March s.
The American line steamer st. Paul.
which sailed for New York today, took
among her passengers a score of jap
anese officers who had been ordered
home on account of the war.
MAY CLOSE SUEZ CANAL.
st. Petersburg. March. 5.-A report
that the Egyptian government has de-
cided to close the Suez canal to the bel
ligerents though discussed serious
~ IN the newspapers here is laughed
at in official circles where it is point ed
out that the international regulat tions
are of a cast iron character and car
not be changed by Egypt.
The Jewish farming colony in Khro-
aon province, has voted to donate So 00(
Tor war purposes.
SHORT SESSION OF DIET.
Toxic. March 5,-The session of diet
opening March IS will last only ter
days. During the session the wal
credits will be submitted Immediately
following the adjournment the mikadC
will leave Toxic for Kioto.
REPLY TO THE MIKADO.
Toxic. March 5.-The emperor OF. Ko.
Tea has sent the rikado a cordial reply
TO his personal message, assuring tbs
= former that war with Russia was de-
clared solely with the view of securins
permanent peace and expressing The
sincere wish that the protocol recent,
concluded between Japan and Kores
viii increase the intimacy of those two
countries. The Korean ruler anDear.
determined to maintain friendly reia,
tions with japan
The British minister at Seoul i,
pressing the Korean government +,
define the extent of the district includ
ed in the opening of the port of VIII
to the commerce of the world.
RUSSIANS MOVE FURTHER RACK
Seoul, March 5.-The Russians VIII,
recently retired from Anju to Phi
Cheng are reported to have moved
northward from the latter place.