Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1904-10-15
Severe Storm Prevents Any Active See
Operations.
JAPS SEIZE BRITISH STEAMER.
Port Arthur is ouiet-The Russians
are Busy Repairing Forts-Munici-
pality Has Undertaken to Control
The Flour Trade.

Continuance of the gale which de-
veloped in the China Sea and adj
iacent waters on October precludes
active operations by the Japanese
feet that is blockading Port Arthur.
The British steamer, Sishan, with
cargo of cattle and flour from Shang-
hal for Port Arthur, has been seized
by the Japanese off New Chwang it
is reported.
Washington, Oct. TO- Russian f.
nacial conditions, particularly with ref
erence to the ability of the Russian
treasury to meet the enormous war
expenses, were discussed by Gregory
Vilenkine, financial agent of the Rus
sian embassy in an interview with the
Associated Press. He explained that
the Russian bank notes upon the re-
cent large issues of which the for
eign press had laid great stress, are
secured by gold in the treasury. NJ
Vilenkine said:
"On February of the current year
the gold reserve of the state bank
consisted of 915 million roubles, Of
which there were nearly 59S,000.000
roubles of bank notes in circulation.
by August 1, 1904, the gold re-
serve of state bank consisted OF 94S.-
roc, 900 roubles, while there were only
695 800, 900 roubles in bank notes in
circulation.
LAS a whole the war expenditures
of Russia from the beginning of the
campaign until the end of the year
may approximately be placed at from
325 100000 to 65O,OOO,000 roublos.
With regards to the means for cover
ing of this expenditure until forseen
by the budget, it must be regarded that
the reserve in the government treas
ury by January 1, 1904, consisted OF
: 312 100000 rOubles, and after the
covering of all outstanding expendi-
lures according to the budget of 1904
it amounted to 13O,000,00O roubles, TO
which there must be added $4,000, 900
roubles of economies realized by the
curtailing of already sanctioned eXpen-
ditures for the current year; also lS2
million roubles realized from the issue
of per cent treasury bonds, and $780,
OOO, 0O0s roubles realized from the SO
per cent treasury bills. The govern
ment treasury thus far has at It's dis
posal approximately 700,000,0OO rou-
bles, which is sufficient for the cover
ing of the above expenditures without
applying for any new loans.
Tokio.-It is reported here that the
fire of the Japanese land batteries Sc
verely damaged four Russian warships
in the harbor of Port Arthur. 1t is
stated that one of the vessels was
completely wrecked. The names of
none of the ships were given.
London.-No confirmation has
reached London of the reported naval
fight off Port Arthur, a story to
which effect was sent out by news
agency here and it is supposed that
the firing heard at Cnefoo, which was
reported by the same agency, could
only have been from Japanese war
ships chasing the blockade runners.
Port Arthur is quiet. The Russians
are busy repairing forts. The munic-
| pa1ity has undertaken to control the
flour trade, and as a result the price
is enormously reduced, merchants
having previously sold it at exborbi-
tant figures The band still plays
| twice weekly"