The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-09

Che Foo Feb 9.-The japanese fleet
attacked Port Arthur at midnight on
Monday. Two Russian battleships and
one cruiser were disabled by torpedoes.
The battle is being continued this
morning at a range of three miles.
There has been no further damage.
St Petersburg, Feb. s-An official
dispatch received here says that Jap
anese torpedo boats have attacked the
Russian squadron in the outer roads at
Port Arthur and that three Russian
ships were damaged.
Port Arthur, Feb. 9.-Japanese tor
pedo boats attacked the Russian fleet
here during the night and three of the
Russian ships were badly damaged. The
japanese who thus scored the first sue
cess of the war, escaped undamaged.
In consequence of the attack by the
Japanese torpedo boats, martial law
has been proclaimed here.
St Petersburg. Feb 9.-Admiral
Alexief's official report of the attack
by the Japanese is as follows: II most
respectfully inform your majesty that
at or about midnight of February
japanese torpedo boats made a sudden
attack by means of mines upon the
Russian squadron in the outer roads of
the fortress of Port Arthur, in which
the battleships Retvizan and Cesar
eyitch and the cruiser Pallada were
damaged. An inspection is being made
to ascertain the character of the dam
age. Details are following for your
majesty"
The Russian battleship Retvizan was
built by the Cramps at Philadelphia.
She is of 12700 tons displacement, has
10000 indicated horse power and had
speed Of Is knots per hour. Her armor
is of Krupp steel from four to 10 inches
in thickness and her armament consists
of four IL inch guns, twelve inch guns,
twenty 3 inch guns and twentysix
smaller rapid fire guns.
The Ceszarvitch is a battleship built
in France. In armor, armament and
speed she about equals the Retvizan.
The Palard is a cruiser of $3.50 tons
She was built in Germany and was COM
pleted in 1892. Her armament consisted
of six inch guns. twenty inch guns
and eight IA inch guns. Her speed is
estimated at 20 knots.
Berlin, Feb. "a special telegram
from st. Petersburg says three Russian
ships at Port Arthur were severely
damaged last night by torpedoes dis
charged from Japanese torpedo boats
while the latter were passing the har-
bor. Subsequently a large fleet of Jap
anese battleships and cruisers appeared
before the port.
FRANCE WILL REMAIN NEUTRAL.
Paris. Feb. e.-At a conference of
ministers held at the Elysee palace to-
day under the presidency of NJ. Loubet,
Foreign Minister Delcasse commune
Gated the news of the first Japanese
attack with torDedo boats on the Rus
sian fleet off Port Arthur, and an
nounced that the French minister at
Toxic had been instructed to assume
the protection of Russian subjects and
their interests in japan. The attitude
of the French government in view of
the war is now definitely determined
upon. France will remain neutral un-
der any and all circumstances. the
Russo Franco alliance being construed
as not requiring France to intervene in
behalf Of Russia even should Great
Britain or any third power intervene
in behalf of Japan.
RUSSIA WILL DECLARE WAR
st. Petersburg, Feb. 9-3 p. m.-The
news that Japan had duplicated her
tactics at the opening of the China
Japanese war by a torpedo attack OH
the Russian ships off Port Arthur, ere
hted intense excitement. Details of the
attack are anxiously awaited. Extra