The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-12
Its CapituIatiOn Expected
Within a Week.
British Government Response
DIe for This View.
WILL BE SHORT WAR.
End Of Struggle Is Looked for
by July.
Russian Legation at Seoul Has
Left for China.
Commercial Traffic on Sebirian
Railroad Is Suspended.
LAND BATTLE is NEXT.
BeIIigerent Armies Are Ad-
preaching Each Other.
Korea Likely to Be the First
Battle Ground.
LAND BATTLE is NEXT.
BeIIigerent Armies Are Ad-
preaching Each Other.
Korea Likely to Be the First
Battle Ground.

London, Feb. 12.-6 p. rn.-The British
government has information which leads
1t to believe that Japan is likely to be
In possession of Port Arthur a week
from now. In the best informed Janan-
ese circles it is privately thought that
the war will be over by July Those
british officials who are cognizant of
the extraordinary thoroughness with
which Japan prepared for the war are
inclined to share the japanese view re-
Rarding the duration of the struggle
1t is evident that the Toxic dispatches
Of yesterday received by the Reuter-
Telegram company referred to the first
fight at Port Arthur and not to a sub
sequent engagement.
The advices of the japanese minister
announce that NJ. Pavloff, the Russian
minister at Seoul, and the Russian lega-
ton guard, have departed for China,
and that the Russian officers and sail
ors, who surrendered to the japanese
after the battle fought off Chemulpo,
will be sent to Shanghai, under parole
on the first neutral vessel available
The official telegram adds the infor-
nation that all the survivors of the
variag, Korietz and the transport Sun
gari were taken on board the British
French and Italian warships off Che
mulDO.
NJ. Pavloff. from Seoul, reported that
he asked Mr.. Allen, the United States
minister to Korea. to convey the sur
vivors of the Russian ships to Shang-
hal or Che Foo on board two Ameri-
can transports which were anchored
off ChemulDo. after converting them
into noncombatants, but the Japanese
minister at Seoul was ultimately in
structed to accept the French offer to
take them to Shanghai on board the
cruiser Pascal, on the condition that
Russia engaged not to allow them to
proceed northward from Shanghai dur
ing the war.
The above is the first reference made
in the eastern dispatches to the loss
of the Sungari Apparently she was a
Russian transport which had arrived
off Chemulpo with the intention of
landing troops there, though no men
ton has been made of their capture by
the Japanese. 1t was announced Feb
ruary from Toxic that Russian troops
had been dispatched to Seoul.
LAND BATTLE IMPENDING.
New York. Feb 12-The japanese
troops landed at Gen San are intended
to operate with the troops that have
been now successfully landed at Ping
Yang, on the opposite side of the Ko-
rean peninsula. says a World dispatch
from Kobe, Japan.
These two forces constitute Japan's
second line of defense against the Rus
SLAMS. who are marching over the Yalr
into Korea.
The first line of defense has been ar
ranged 1t is composed of picked troops
who are lined up along the south banH
or the Halu. 1t is however, considered
most unlikely that this army will reach
Its destination in time to intercept the
invading Russians.
The second line may fail to hold the
invaders in which case it is exDerted
that land battle would take pIace moi
far from Seoul. In any case the japan
preparations are made with a view al
closing in on any body of Russian
troops that succeeds in forcing ira 1vax
into the interior of Korea. Nobilizati
OF the army has been perfected without
hitch The transportation of soldiers
and supplies by means of the railroad
from the interior to the coast uroceed.
ed with great precision.
HAWAIIAN JAPANESE PATRIOTIC
Honolulu. Feb. 12-The Japanese
Hotelkeepers' association offers to pay
half the expenses of all members of
lAAC So~BehAACSC army reserve force who
are desirous of returning home to fight
for their country.
The editor of the Japanese newspaper
In this city has started a subscription
for the Red Cross fund and says that
he will raise at least S100 00O
PATRIOTIC DEMONSTRATION
st. Petersburg, Feb. 1.-THE dow
ager empress has issued a rescript tc
the Red Cross of Russia, directing Il
to make provision to alleviate the suf.
fering of the wounded in the war witt
Japan A branch of the Red Cross has
been established in the new Hermitag 20
of the winter palace The offers nj
service have been so numerous that nC
more will be entertained at present
continuance of the patriotic demon.
strations in which thousands of SIN.
dents and workmen participated are
reported from Moscow, Kieff ana othel
places
RUSSIANS LOST 200 MEN.
New York Feb. 12-About 2O0 Of III.
Variag's crew lost their lives when thf
vessel was DESTROYED Monday by tn,
Japanese fleet off Chemulpo, ACCORDING
to a World dispatch from Toxic THE
crew OF the Russian cruiser numbered
b70 Many lost their lives under fire
but large number drowned in at
tempting to escape. The men loyaI11
aided their officers. and it is said no