The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-16
MASSED ON YALU
Russia Now Has an Army Of
10000 Men
the Entrance OF the
Japanese to Manchuria.
COMMANDMENT NO s.
Japanese Fleet Throws IS5
Shells at Port Arthur.
Russians Report Little Damage
or Loss OF Life.

Toxic. April 16.-NOon-Prfvate ad-
vices from Korea confirm the reported
massing of 10000 Russian troops on the
right bank of the Yalu river with che
object of opposing the japanese inva-
sion Of Manchuria. Although it is ur-
known when and where the Japanese
viii attempt a crossing OF the Yalu il
is stJa believed that when ready they
VIII torce a passage without serious
loss.
Eighth Bombardment
st. Petersburg. April 16.-A telegram
from Alexieff from Port Arthur to the
emperor says that from 9:15 O'Clock 10
midday yesterday the japanese fleet
in two divisions bombarded the fort
ress and the town alternately from the
Lao Tishan promontory firing 1s5 pro.
jectiles.
The Russian squadron, including the
battleship Pobieda replied from the
anchorage. The batteries also partici-
pated.
The losses on land were seven Chi
nese killed and five soldiers and three
Chinese wounded. The Russian war
ships sustained no damage and there
was no loss of life on them.
Still a Mystery.
St. Petersburg. April 16.-1:O5 D.
IH----NO 1uTLner details nave been re-
cetVed of yec terday's bombardment of
PortArthur except that it was prac-
ucally without result as far as injury
to ships or fortihcations was con-
cerned- The loss of life was insignifi-
cant.
The mystery Of the sinking Of the
battieship PetrOpavlovsk has not been
cleared up That she touched a mine
placed by Japanese torpedo boats dur
ing the night is not officially admitted,
but there is a growing disposition in
unofficial quarters to accept this as
possibly being the true explanation.
That the mine was laid by a ruse cf
the Japanese is generally believed, al
though some speculation is INDUCED
in which may almost be described as
fantastic. For example the pOssibilf-
~ OF the Introduction OF an internal
machine into the coal bunbers is ad-
vanced as an explanation of the ex-
plOsiOn which undoubtedly occurred
on board the battleship. The only
thing affirmed with absolute certainty
is that it was not Japanese shell, as
no fighting was in progress. All the
papers scout the theory of the de-
stru of the PetrOpavlOvsk hav-
ing bee6 caused by a submarine boat.
except the Novoe Vremya, which in
dignantly rejects the idea that Vie
Admiral MakarOf committed unin-
territorial suicide by being blown up
by one of his own mines, contending
that both the Petropavlovsk and PO-
bieda were struck by tOrpedoes fired
conviction that the two new japanese
cruisers which appeared with the fleet
for the first time on this occasion
brought with them a couple of Eng
lish or American submarine boats.
and limiting that they might have
been manned by British sailors
There is considerable criticism at
the meagerness of the official dis
patches. some OF the papers strongly
appealing to the emperor for full,
complete information, saying the en-
pire and people are ready to make
sacrifices and are strong enough to
accept. any news, even the worst.
adding that the emperor's subjects de-
sire something more than a repetition
Of General SouvOurf's famous tele-
gram sent during the Turko-R Russian
.'IsmaIia lies at the feet Of your
majesty
The Novosti complains especially. at
the absence of newspaper kilograms
from the numerous correspondents at
the front, arguing that it will weaken
popular interest in the war, resulting
in cutting down the stream Of contri-
buttons to the war fund
sevastopoI Reported Lost.
St. Petersburg. April 1s.-7:O2 p.
ma report has gained wide cur
rency here that the battleship Sevas-
topOl at Port Arthur has been lost,
but at this hour the Associated Press
is authorftatfvely informed that the
government has received no advices
intimating that such a disaster has
occurred. On the contrary the latest
account received here was to the ef-
feet that the Sevastopol was un-
harmed.
Togo Says Mine Was His
Toxic. April 1880 p. m.@The
report of Vice Admiral Togo on the
4 seventh attack on Port Arthur has
been received here He says that at
midnight of the night Of April II the
japanese sunk mines off Port Arthur
/ At 8 O'Clock the next morning he
withdrew his ships Is miles out. The
1 Russian battleship Petropavlovsk
! -. ~. -.