The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-01
KELLER KILLED.
Russian Army Loses One of Its
Best Fighters.
Struck by Piece of Japanese
Shell Near Hal Cheng.
ALL ALONG THE LINE.
General Kur0patkin Reports
Fighting at Various Points.
The Japanese Are Again Acting
on the Offensive.

Killed east of Lao Yang.
London, Aug. IA dispatch to a news
agency from st. Petersburg confirms
the report of the death of General KEEL
ler, saying he was killed by a frag-
Tment of a Japanese shell at the time he
was opposing the Japanese advance
along the railway near Hal Cheng.
Lieutenant General Count Keller at
the opening of the war was in COM
mand of the second Siberian army di-
vision He was 54 years of age and re-
signed the governorship of Ekaterino-
staff in order to go to the front. Gen.
eraI Keller took part in the three cam
paigns of the RusSo-Turkish war. In
1887 he commanded the imperial rife
regiment and later was director of the
corps of imperial pages, by which KEEL
Ter came in contact with the members
of the imperial family, with whom he
was in great favor. General Keller was
considered to be the possessor of cool
Judgment and to be a fine strategist.
Though a strict disciplinarian Keller
was a kind and careful officer and pop
ular with his men. He wore short,
gray beard. had keen, blue eyes and
dressed in khaki. His only decoration
was the cross of the military order OF
st. George, which he wore on the preast
at the hands of the japanese recently,
July and July IT, being repulsed in
attacks on the Mo Tien pass.
How General Keller Died.
st. Petersburg, Aug. 1.-The report
of Lieut.. Gen. Count Keller's death is
confirmed. He was killed July 29
while resisting the preliminary attack
of General Kurokis army on the
Yanze pass, thirty miles east of Lao
Yang. The general was standing near
b x1y11i Subjected
terrific fire when a she'll burst close
to him and he fell mortally wounded,
dying twenty minutes later Before
he expired General Keller had the
satisfaction of knowing the japanese
attack had been repe1led-
General Keller was the first Rus
sian military commander to lose ms
life in this war. He resigned the high
Ekaterinoslaff to go to the front and
exchanged with General Zasalitch,
who may resume the command of the
First Siberian army corps -
The loss of General Keller is deep
ly felt in court circles. He was a
personal favorite of the emperor. HIS
sister, Countess Kleimmicha, is one or
the leaders of st. petersburg society.
Baltic Squadron to Sail.
st. Petersburg, Aug. 1.-Prepara-
tions have been completed for the de-
parture, under the command OF Rear
Admiral Enquiest, of the cruiser div1-
sion of the second Russian Pac1hc
squadron, now lying on Cronstaot;
put to sea under sealed orders within
three days. 1t is also believed that
the auxiliary cruisers Don and OraI
which probably are the ships reported
as passing Copenhagen with two tor
pedo, boats, will be followed at once
by other converted merchantmen
This time the admiralty has resolved
that there shall be no question of the
Of 70 gagged
stopping contra band. The Don and
the Ural will replace the St Peters
burg and Smolensk which Will come
home and be commissioned.
A current story of an attempt to
blow up a building in the Nova yards
by a man in boat is untrue. 1t is
only a distorted version of the cap
ture of the accomplice of the assassin
of NJ. Won Plehve of which the true
account was cabled from here July 26.
Russians Take Few Prisoners.
Liao Yang, Aug. IA Japanese Off
Ger who had been taken prisoner and
a hundred wounded and disabled Rus
slams have arrived here from the east,
where it is reported the Russians at
to cut the Japanese column
toward Mukden.
The Russians have taken very few
prisoners SO far, probably because OF
their having fallen back from the bat
tlefield in each engagement, leaving
the Japanese in possession of the
spoi1s. A train bearing wounded Rus
slams has arrived from the south, |
where it is reported there is continuous
skirmish fighting east and south of Hal
Cheng.
There is much speculation here as
to the reason why the Russians retired
from Ia Tche Kiao, as the positions
they held there and elsewhere were |
and increasing in strength. |
Events of most immediate and impor- |
tant consequences are now expected |
to occur east of the Lao Yang
Japanese Retired.
Lao Yang, Saturday, July 30.-(De- |
laved in transmission)- Artillery fir |
ing occurred at Simoucheng, 15 miles |
south-southeast of Hal Cheng, yeSter- |
day. 1t is reported that the japanese |
Trains are running half way |
between Hal Cheng and Ia Tche Kiao- /
The reports of skirmish fighting along |
all parts of the front are confirmed
Fighting All Along the Line.
ST. Petersburg, Aug. 1.-The emper-
Or today received the following dis /
patch. dated July 81, from General
Three Japanese armies have re-
newed offensive operations on our
southern front Our rear guard made
an obstinate defense until the appear
ance of considerably superior forces
IF the enemy and then gradually re-
ired in the direction of Hal Cheng.
A detachment near Simouncheng, Is
niles southeast of Hal Cheng, success
'ully withstood the enemy until three
n the afternoon.
1.-THE attack was directed against our
light flank, which from its position
1t Khanua pass inflicted great losses
IN the Japanese.
1.-The efforts of the Takushan army
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