The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-03
Drive Him Back After Fight
Lasting Two Hours.
TO HELP PORT ARTHUR
KurOpatkin Starts Army of
$4,000 Men Southwark.
Japanese Land Another Army
on LiaO Tung Peninsula.

| cavalry encountered and defeated a
mixed force of Russian cavalry and
artillery near Lichaton, nine miles
north of Polaidin, on Monday last.
May 80. The engagement began at
1890 p. m. and lasted for two hours,
the Russian forces being finally driven
nOrthward. The Japanese had 26
men killed. including one officer, and
81 wounded, including four officers.
The movement of the Russian forces
southwark indicated possible effort to
relieve Port Arthur. The Russian
/ losses are unknown.
Baltic Fleet May Not Go.
New York. June 3.-Russian naval
contractors have been advised that
final preparations for the Baltic fleet
must be completed by the first week
| of August, says a Times dispatch from
Paris.
This information is supplemented
! by another dispatch from St. Peters,
burg, suggesting. that the fleet may
perhaps not start at all if Port Ar
thur falls into the hands of the Jap
anese.
Another St Petersburg telegram
says two submarines will be started
for the far east today, two others will
start within a fortnight and two more
within a month.
Playing Into Japan's Hand.
Paris, June 3.-The correspondent
of the Echo de Paris at St. Peters
burg telegraphs:
''Viceroy AIexieff and General Kuro-
patkin having asked the emperor to
settle their dispute, his majesty sum-
moned a council of war. including
Minister of War Sakharoff. Marine
Minister Aveu and Minister of Inter
ior PIehve- The council debated for
several hours at Tsarskoye-Selo
Il have reason to believe that
necessity of preserving the naval base
at Port Arthur and the loss of pres
tige that the fail of Port Arthur would
entail were the arguments which pre-
vailed in the council General Kuro-
patkin has therefore been advised to
attempt to relieve the fortress. but to
act with the greatest prudence. A
general whom I interviewed on the
+ subject of the council said
IF KurOpatkin is weak enough to
advance he will commit a serious
blunder. The number of his troops is
insufficient and the conditions under
which he would act are unfavOrable.
He might meet an almost irreparable
reverse and Port Arthur be further
from relief than ever. If we try to
relieve Port Arthur we will be doing
exactly what the Japanese hope"
Port Arthur on Short Rations.
London, June 3.-The Times Hal
mum correspondent returned to Che
foo June from a cruise in Kin Chou
bay. The correspondent aboard
learned from Port Arthur refugees
that the native and civilian population
only get such food as arrives by junk
from Chinese ports or what they have
themselves secreted. The military
authorities have requisitioneda all avail
able food. On half ratiOns it is esti-
mated that the garrison has enough
for five months.
Russian Raiders in Korea.
Vladivostok. June 3.-Letters from
the theater of war report that Russian
raiders have succeeded in penetrating
as far as Gen San and also south of
Anju- They have destroyed depots of
Japanese supplies and captured pro-
vision trains. Koreans are fleeing into
Manchuria to escape the hardships of
war. Chinese are moving from KWan
Tung into northern Manchuria in or
der to avoid living in territory under
japanese control.
! Japanese Land Another Army.
Chefoo, June 3.-The Japanese
have landed another lot of troops at
the Sing Luilse, about twenty miles
southwest of Taku Shan. A Chinese
junk arriving from there saws that
seventy warships and transports have
discharged troops there. One thou
sand soldiers had been garrisoned
ashore. ReinfOrcements for the Lana
nese army which is attacking Port
Arthur have been landed northeast of
Talien Wan. The number is un-
known
For Relief of Port Arthur.
London, June 3.-Telegrans from dif-
ferent points seem to confirm the rl-
mors that General Kuropatkin is at
tempting a diversion in the direction Of
Port Arthur. Russian reinforcemeuts
according to a dispatch from Tien Tsin
are moving southwark from Kaiping
toward Wafangtien under General
Stalkenberg. They comprise a battery
of artillery. four Siberian regiments
and company of COSSaekS aprerroora
ing 1900 men. Another brigade is fol-
lowing the intention being to engage
the japanese now attacking Port Ar
thur in the rear.
The Standards correspondent at Tien
TSin, sending the same news. saws:
The Russian force in the enea ee-
ment at Wafangtien May 30, is sup
posed to have been formed of four
Siberian regiments which were report
ed to have left TachiacnaO Nav 2S he
ing the first portion of a relieving
column for Port Arthur. The railway
| is fairly intact from the north of Wa
fangtien but is completely destroyed
from there to Pulantien. The Japanese
are unconcerned over this demonstra-
ton being convinced that it will be
inpracticable for the Russians to move
sufficient force to prove effective
These reports are received with a
scepticism in London. The belief here
is that if General Kuropatkin is un-
dertaking Sucn a desperate move he
can only be doing so in Difference to the
strongest political pressure and against
his own better judgment. No further
news of any kind has been received
about the movement of the Japanese
forces. Both Generals Kurokf and Ol1u
are working in the utmost secrecy.
The Daily Telegraph's well informed
q