The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28
EXPECTS RELIEF.
Port Arthur Garrison Still
Hopeful of SuccOr.
VIII Fight as Long as There Lis
Man Left.
HAS FOODFOR A MONTH
Dog Meat Sells for 25 COpsks
Per Pound.
But Few Junks Have Landed
Supplies Recently.

supplies Recently.
Toxic, Dec. 2s, 1890 a. m.-Trust-
worthy advices from Port Arthur con-
/ firm the report that General Kondra-
chenko has been killed and that Cen
+ eral Stoessel has been injured by fall
ing from his horse. General Smitnoff
is also reported wounded.
The advices further say that the
stern of the battleship Sevastopol has
sunk in shallow water. Her bow is
damaged in two places and the steer
/ ing gear is also damaged.
The garrison is reported to be con-
fGent in the belief that relief will
arrive before March IL. Despite its
heavy losses November 26 and subse-
quently, the garrison is said to be
cheerful and resolved to continue the
I struggle as long as a single soldier re-
mains The army claims to have sufh-
/ cient provisions to last until Feb
ruary. The navy possesses about one
months stores. The price of food in
the beleaguered fortress is high. Beef
| is a rouble and one-halr per pound;
horse meat, six copeks per pound; dog
meat, 25 copeks per pound; turkeys,
$50 roubles apiece; eggs, 160 roubles
per 100. But a few junks bearing sup
plies reached the garrison the past
month. 1t is expected that the cap
ture of the heights of Pigeon bay will
further curtail the landing of sup
plies.
dience and decorated Captain Zuron-
son of the steamer Willehad, which
had brought home the Japanese refu-
gees from Russia
A Japanese Attack.
London, Dec. 2S.-The Daily Tele-
graphs correspondent at Chefoo, in
a dispatch dated December 26, says:
"a messenger from Port Arthur de-
scribes a japanese attack the evening
of December 22 with light column
of 5000 and many machine guns on
the northern defenses. They dashed
along the railway, carried trench after
watercourse beneath Payuisean noun
tain, when the Russian artillery
worked terrible execution. A fierce
bayonet fight occurred at midnight.
A strong Russian force advancing
eastward of Payuisean mountain
threatened the retreat of the Japa-
nese, who after a desperate struggle
retired to the north, leaving several
oners. It is estimated that they lost
500 killed. The Japanese halted near
the cemetery and finding that both
their hanks had carried all the works
forming the outlying range of the
main forts, they entrenched on small
hills near Etse mountain under a Sc
we're enfilading fire which caused
heavy losses
Washington, Dec. 2S.-The state de-
partment has been officially informed
that mines have been placed in Kelung
harbor, northeast coast of F'ormOsa, and
that shipping has been notified.
Strict Orders to Watch Russians.
Shanghai, Dec. 2s-The taotai has
issued strict orders to the commanders
of the Chinese warships in the harbors
of Woosung and Shanghai and to the
harbor master at Shanghai to prevent
l+ s1Tlea hXyf ha
war vessels. the cruiser Askold and
the torpedo boat destroyer Grovovoi.
More Chinese cruisers are on the
way to Shanghai.
The ASkold and the Grovovoi sue
ceeded in reaching Shanghai after the
battle between the Russian and Jap
anese fleets off Port Arthur August 10,
and since that time their officers and
crews have been interned at Shanghai.
A rumor from Shanghai reached
London December 9 that the Askold
was coaling and replacing her machin-
cry preparatory to an effort to escape
squadron.
Big Guns Mounted.
Chefoo, Dec. 2S, II p. MT is re-
ported here that the Japanese in front
of Port Arthur have mounted two %
centimetre guns on 205 meter hill.
No Torpedo Boats Escaped.
Chefoo, Dec. %, IL p. m.-The per-
sistent rumor which has been in cir
culation for the past two weeks that
several torpedo boat destroyers had
escaped from Port Arthur and sue
ceeded in reaching Vladivostok, is de-
MED by the officers of the British
steamer Ellamy, which arrived here
from Vladivostok today. These Off
GERS say that the cruisers of the V1adi-
vostok squadron, Rossia and Gro
moboi, are in good shape.
Japanese Cruisers at Hong Kong.
Hong Kong, Dec. 28.-.A large jap
anese cruiser arrived at Annoy yester-
day Two Japanese cruisers were
sighted off Hong Kong today.
To Attack on Two Sides.
Toxic. Dec. 2S.-It is understood
that the Japanese dynamiting and
paralleHng against the eastern section
of the circle of forts around Port
Arthur is progressing favorably. The |
right wing of the besiegers continues |
a heavy and effective sheIling of the |
new town preparatory to operations |
which are nearing completion. 1t is |
probable that the next attack will be |
simultaneously directed against the |
east and west faces of the fortress, in
an endeavor to divide and weaken the !
resistance of the defenders.
WANTED CHRISTMAS SNOW