The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-28
Japanese Charge a Fortified
Russian Position.
They Are RepuIsed But Losses
Are Not Reported.
AIDED BY GUNBOATS.
Russian Field Battery Engage
in Duel With Boats.
Japanese Occupy a Town Just
North of An Tung.

Lao Yang. April 28.-The japanese
troops which crossed the Yalu north
of Euitjiou (TchangdJiou) charged dur
ing the night of April 26-27. the Rus
sian position near Lizavena, village
on the Manchurian bank of the Ya1u.
They were repulsed, but their loss is
not known.
Two gunboats steamed up the river
to the support of the Japanese when
a Russian field battery at Amisan op-
ened fire upon them resulting in duel
which lasted for 20 minutes. The Rus
slams fire was too hot, and the gun
boats were forced to steam out of
range.
The japanese were facilitated in
crossing by their occupation of the IS
land of Samalinda.
Japanese Occupy Manchurian Town.
Chefoo, April 28-5 p. M.-Chinese
Junlmen arriving from the Yalu say
that a Japanese force has occupied
kurlien Cheng. a town just north of
An Tung, on the Manchurian side of
the Yalu river. They say that only
small body of the japanese army has
crossed the river. Admiral Tsahm re-
ports the Chinese cruiser Haitien to-
tai wreck, on Elliot island, north of
Shanghai.
Japanese Blow Up Railway.
London. April 2S.-The Daily Tele-
graphs correspondent at Irkusk, ST.
IBERIA, says that the Japanese have
blown up a portion of the railway at
khailar, but that the resultant dam
age is Insignificant.
Drowned 600 Japanese.
Paris, April 28.-The st. Peters
burg CORRESPONDENT of the Journal re-
ports that a Russian submarine boat
mas sunk japanese transport which
was conveying 500 men to Korea, and
that all the troops were lost.
Situation Along the YaIu.
st. Petersburg, April S.-Disappoint-
ment prevails in St. Petersburg that
no official dispatch giving details of
the operations ON the Yalu river have
yet been made public. The press dis
patches are so meager as to cloud ratn-
er than enlighten the people who are
hourly awaiting news
The Associated Press has obtained
from the general staff the following
statement of the situate
Before beginning the passage of
the 4alu the Japanese evidently com
pleted the concentration of their army
along the river commanded by Cen
erals kuroki and Oku. Each army is
composed of three divisions and three
reserve bTigades. The total force is
100000. The Russians on the Man
in strength.
Having perfected the essential pre-
paration the Japanese without waste
OF time commenced the passage of the
river and the Russians realized that it
would be impossible to prevent theif
crossing The Japanese front extended
from Win as far as Pick Tong over so
miles We faced the possibility that
they would cross at a score of places
and all we could hope was to harass
and impede the crossing, for every day
gained enabled us to push our prepara-
tions and bring up more men.
u rTr1v
history when an army was unable to
cross a river-that of Napoleon at
AsperO and that of Prince Eugene of
Savoy at Lech. Both failed because
Of floods. The Yalu proved no excep-
tion to this rule.
I'VE know that the Japanese crossed
at least two points. Their first atten7pt
to force a passa ge near Chand Che
kOW, so miles above Wiju near Siao-
pOussikhe. on the POussikhe a tribu-
tary of the Yalu, was successful. This
is important because a road leads from
SiGopOussikhe northeast to Kwan Tfen
which commands one of the roads to
Mukden.
1T is evident that the Japanese de-
voted most of their attention to cross
ing near Wiju: the river here is Givid-
ed into several channels by islands,
the largest of which is Samalind0.
Above and below Wiju the river was
bridged at three points. Up the stream
near SindiagOy the japanese We're
watched by a small detachment of
Cossacks but the enemy was practical
ly unopposed.
At Turenchen. lower down, our out
posts directed a fire from a field gun
so successfully that they destroyed the
moorings and wrecked the pOntoons.
The enemy was thrown into disorder
and suffered considerable loss. Still
further down the stream the Japanese
proceeded to make a third attempt at
crossing.
we do not think the japanese viii
70 L. m
tung kau. now that they have crossed
the Yalu. The road leading to there
IS bad and troops could only be sup
piled with difficulty.
we can not speak The Russians will
not show their hand at this stage but
win continually harass the enemy"
Sent to the Bottom.
ST. Petersburg, April 2S.-Russian
torpedo boats belonging to Vladivos-
tok squadron sank a Japanese military
transport, the Kinshieu Maru, of 900
tons, during the night of April 26
with all on board with the exception
of II officers, 20 soldiers, 65 of the
crew and S5 cOolie carriers. Tho
others. who refused to surrender. were
sent to the bottom with the warshfp.
A New COmbustibIe.
St. Petersburg, April 2S-1:12 n.
m.-The Russian press is aroused over
the talk of mediation and is inclined
TO attribute the responsibility for the
proposal to the Anglo French agree
ment the result being the agreement
does not obtain favor. The Novoe
Vryema declares the Anglo French
understanding has rendered poor. SER
vice to Russia in prompting the idea
of mediation and adds:
TT is idle to expect an Anglo Rus
sian understanding as a result of the
Anglo-French entente. It will take a