The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-17
Another Russian Torpedo Boat
Is Blown Up
While Entering the Harbor at
Port Arthur.
BUT FOUR WERE SAVED
Reports of Damage to the Town
Are Confirmed.
Russia Expects China to Side
With Japan.

ChefOo, March 1.-Wh1le entering
Port Arthur yesterday, the 18th inst,
the Russian torpedo boat destroyer
Skerri struck upon an unplaced mine
and was blown up. Four of the crew
were saved. Viceroy Alexieff wires a
report confirming our account of the
damage done to Port Arthur during the
bombardment of the 10th He says the
story of a fire there is "a base fabrica-
ton"
IT IS TOO RISKY.
Paris, March 1.-THE Echo de Paris
publishes a dispatch from its st. Pc
tersburg correspondent which says that
the idea of the Russia Baltic squadron
going to the far east by the northeast
passage has been given up as too risky.
The fleet will probably start in July
and go by way of the cape of Good
Hope.
JAPAN MILITARY SITUATION.
Paris, March 1.-THE Toxic CORES
pondent of the Aatin sends this infor-
nation, which he says comes from re-
liable authority concerning the Japa-
nese military situation up to March 10.
The first army of 10000 under Kuroki
occupies northern Korean, the brigade
landed at Gensan FERNS part of a ses-
ond army of similar strength. The mo-
hilization of the latter has been COM
pleted and the troops will sail shortly
for an unknown destination. The mo-
bilization of a third army began on
March Z.
Washington, March lib. H. War
ner, British consul at Liepsic, Ger
many, writes to the state department
that an Austrian company has just
received an order for so large a num-
Der of small arms for the Chinese that
it will take the company several years
to fill the order even with additional
forces of men to whom it has given
employment.
This is only one of many reports that
have come to the state department
within the past six months that both in
Germany and Austria the arms makers
have been busy supplying the Chinese
modern arms and ammunition The
fact has attracted attention here be-
cause it was provided IN the treaty
of Pekin which closed the boxer trou-
bic that for a term of years the inn
portatien CT arms into China should be
stopped absolutely. The purpose was to
reduce the capacity of Chinese peasaN-
try for mischief through laWIeSS up
rising against foreigners and as the
danger is now believed to be. no less
than it was at the end OF the boxer
troubles the officials here view with
regret the laxity of the treaty with the
signatory powers.
COAST IS MINED.
Chefoo March 17.-Warnings have
been received here concerning previous
reports to the effect that the Russians
have laid mines along the Lao Tung
peninsula and that neutral vessels are
Obliged to show their colors five kilo-
pilot.
FORMING GUERILLA DETACH-
MENTS.
Lao Yang, Manchuria, March IL
Troops are still concentrating here and
are forming guerilla detachments.
Prices have risen enormously.
CHINESE NEUTRALITY TO END.
St Petersburg. March 17.-1:23 p. m.-
The Bourse Gazette says Japan's hope
of aid from America is gone and she
now looks only to China. With the lat
ter's hatred of the west in view, she is
trying her best to effect an alliance.
The Gazette predicts that Chinese neu-
tarality will soon be broken.
NO OBJECTION FROM JAPAN.
New York, March 17--Japan will raise
no objection to the concentration of
Chinese troops on the Manchurian
frontier. according to a Toxic dispatch
from the correspondent of the Tage-
blatt. forwarded to the Herald from
Berlin. Japan, the dispatch continues
regards it as a matter of course with
China to maintain her neutrality and
the presence of troops on the frontier
will be the most effective means of To-
Calling the war.
OPENING OF PORT ARTHUR.
Tien Tsin, March 17.-Lloyd's agent at
New Chwang wires as follows: Port
Arthur will be open March 25 and 80
and steamers have been chartered for
spring shipments. The reports that
New Chwang will be attacked shortly are
untrue and there is no truth in the
eldNtIileHl t1dL the Russians are trying
to lay mines abreast of the fort. Bust
ness is going on as usual, and NJ
Crosse of the civil administration Is
doing all in his power to further the
trade interests of both Chinese and for
eigners.
The American and British residents
insist that warships should be stationed
here, but there are no signs of any
trouble.
a "Japanse troops will probably land in
Kai-Chou bay and cut off the main line
at Tshai-Chiao, southeast of New
Chwang"
ADMIRAL STARK RELIEVED
St. Petersburg, March 17-OfieiaI or
ders were published today relieving
Vice Admiral Stark from the command
of the Port Arthur division of the
navy, ostensibly on account of illness
No successor will be appointed. Vice
Admiral AIakarof having determined
to serve as squadron commander as
we'll as commander-in-chief of the en-
tire Russian naval forces in the far
east.
Captain Shtchensnovitch, commander
of the battleshiD Retvizan, has been
decorated with the cross of st. George
for reoelling the last Japanese torpedo
attack and sinking the Japanese fire
ships.
The talk of s'pyroxiline" (poisoned)
swords having been left behind by the
japanese is based on mistranslation of
a Russian technical term. General
ZilinsAi. chief of staff to viceroy
Alexiefr in telegram said that
pvroxlline had been found in @ the form tsrins
y of disc-shaped torDedoes six inches in
diameter which the Japanese intended
10 use in bestrewing the road over
which the Russians were expected to
pass, in order that the explosion re-
quilting from the impact of the horses
Continued on Page six).