The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-19
Carnival Week Attracts Little
Public Attention.
Entire Absence of the Custo-
mary Festivities.
WAR WITH ENGLAND.
1t Is Now Regarded as Among
the Probabilities.
Indications That Port Arthur
Is to Be Abandoned.
Alexieff Is Expected to Estab-
lish Base at Harbin.
VAR WITH ENGLAND.

ST. Petersburg, Feb. 1s.-Today and
tomorrow, the closing days of carnival
week. will be observed practically only
by a cessation of work. There will be
little rejoicing. Such a carnival time
is not remembered. There have been
no festivities and no gay parties to the
island. Instead.s people gathered about
the bands playing in the streets or fol-
lowed the troops departing for the
front.
None OF the reports from abroad Of
renewed Japanese attacks on Port Ar-
thur have yet been officially confirmed.
| although private advices continue to
reach here of an attempted landing
which was repulsed.
An official communication announc-
| ing Russia's withdrawal from particle
patton in the ST. Louis exposition In
published in the following terms:
1.-THE ministry of finance here brings
to the notice of intending exhibitors at
st. Louis that in view of the refusal of
merchants and manufacturers owing to
existing circumstances to send exhibits
to America, the Russian government
has recognized the necessity to decline
to participate IN the aforesaid exposi-
tion.''
The Novoe Vremya in a. leading edi-
torial on Secretary Hays proposal in
regard to the neutrality of China, says
it does not see why Russia can not
agree to it, if it means only Chinese
neutrality.
The document appears to protect
| Russia from flank attack. the Novoe
exceptional position north of the great
wall but the note stands or falls with
; the reality of Chinese neutrality. So
long as China honestly and successful
" maintains neutrality Russia will be
unwilling to violate it"
w. N. Kokovzoff, who yesterday was
appointed finance minister in success
sion to M. Plesks is considered to be a
most determined opponent of the finan-
ciaI policy of NJ. Witte who resigned
his position minister of finance in
August last. He has for many years
been ambitious to become finance min
lister and was appointed M. Whites as
sistant while the latter held the port
folio, but owing to a disagreement, he
resigned. NJ Kokovzoff is regarded
here as beinga safe, conservative hnan-
cier and it is believed that under his
administration Russian credit abroad
will be sustained. In spite of Koko-
vzoff's appointment it is persistently
rumored that NJ. Witte will be given
supreme control of the finances.
As a, means of meeting the extraor-
binary war expenses the Bourse Ca
zette says it believes the present Is q
will not meet with opposition owing to
the general readiness of the nation to
share the burden imposed by the war.
JAPANESE CAPTURE TWO
STEAMERS.
st. Petersburg. Feb. ia telegram
received here from Port Arthur says
the Japanese have captured the
lOkhotsk- -Kamchatka company's steam
ers Kolik and Bobrik.
RUSSIANS ADVANCING ON SEOUL
New York, Feb. 19.-Reports received
here from Korea state that Russian
troops are advancing toward Seoul. and
that a strong position at Ping Yang
has been occupied by them. says a
Herald dispatch from Toxic. Their
present movements, however, do not
indicate any immediate attention of at
tacking the Korean capital. The Japa-
nese legation in Seoul has been greatly
strengthened during the last few days.
JAPANESE CRUISER AT
SHANGHAI.
Shanghai Feb. ia large japanese
cruiser arrived at Wusung, IL miles
north of Shanghai, today.
RUSSIAN ARMY OF 100000.
Paris, Feb. ia representative OF
the Matin, who has reached the center
of the Russian military concentration
at Harbin after great hardsnips, due to
the trans-Siberian trains being crowded
| with thousands of soldiers, in a dis
patch from Harbin yesterday, confirms
the announcement that that place Will
be the main base of the Russian oper-
| ations. Thus far the base has succeed
ed in maintaining its communication
| with Port Arthur. The concentration
of troops, the correspondent says, pro-
ceeds Systematically and provision has
been made for the speedy arrival of H.
900 men from the divisions of Moscow,
Kieff and Varsovie Before twelve days
shall have elapsed the Russians will
have disposed of an army of 600. 600 men
| through Manchuria. Intense demorali-
zation exists among the populace and
| the people of the surrounding villages
are f1ocking into the town, seeking to
reach western Russia The railroad
| trains however, are blocked and over
1000 voyagers are thus held up. The
intense cold prevailing increases the
suffering and adds to the difficulties OF
bringing forward troops
MUST MOVE ON.
Madrid, Feb. ia Russian warship
has arrived at a Canary Island port
The authorities have notified her COM
mander that his ship may remain in
port for a limited time, but that he can
not be provided with coal in quantity
more than sufficient to enable him to
reach the nearest Russian port
The premier denies the report that
the British governor hinted to Spain
the necessity for adopting measures to
safeguard her neutrality in the Russo
| Japanese dispute, asserting that no
diplomatic negotiations whatever have
, | been received on the subject and that
, the military measures taken were a step
required by the most elementary pru-
| dence.
RUSSIAN REPORTS DENIED.
London Feb 19.-The japanese legl-
: ton here received an official dispatch