The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-10
Sank 3 SHIPS.
Japanese Bombarded Port Ar
thur Fleet in Harbor.
All Russia Elated Over Kuropat-
kin's Announcement.
Eager People Crowd Around the
Bulletin Boards.
TELEGRAM SENT HIM
Expressing Sympathy and I'm
shaken Confidence.
The Public Is Warned to Expect
Great Sacrifices.
TELEGRAM SENT HIM

Toxic, Oct 10, 10 p. MT is re-
ported here that the Japanese recent
! ly centered a fire from the land po-
sitions and from the fleet blockading
Port Arthur on the west harbor, with
the object of destroying the Russian
! fleet, and succeeded in sinking three
vessels, the names and character of
which are unknown. The failure of
the Port Arthur fleet to make a sortie
| is creating the impression that the
Russians intend to destroy their ships
| just before the fall of the fortress in
preference to taking the risk of a
sortie.
Thrill of Joy.
st. Petersburg, Oct. 10.-1:15 p. m.
The formal announcement that Cen
| eral kuropatkin is at last strong
| enough to assume the offensive to-
eether with unofficial reports that Of
/ fensive movements against the three
| armies of Field Marshal Oyama have
! been progressing since October 4, has
sent thrill of joy throughout Russia
! The announcement which has been
awaited patiently through the long,
weary months of encouragement and
defeat had an instantaneous effect.
The public bulletin boards at the
street corners upon which were posted
i copies of Kuropatkin's order of the
day were surrounded by crowds really
! cheerful for the first time since the
war began. Last night at a Russian
club when Gen. Velitchko, the engi-
neer who fortified Lao Yang, was de-
livering a lecture in defense of Kuro-
patkin's abandonment of that place,
the reading of the order created a
scene of enthusiasm. and a telegram
the deepest sympathy and mistaken
confidence in his leadership and
praising his chfvalrous act, saying:
Like the Russian warriors of old,
tTTnI h 7ea6 N naf VrfnIH
are advancing against him.
All the papers acclaim the tidings
1 with intense Sa tisfaction, at the same
| time warning the public not to @harbor
| pared for the heavy sacrifices involved
in attacking so powerful and determin-
ed foe. The Novoe Vremya terms it
| '-Kuropatkin's reply to the pigrny
squeeks of the little Napoleons who
have criticized him." adding:
God grant that the Russian eagles
| which so long have been preparing
| their wings, may successfully make a
hlong flight to the relief of the heroes
who have been so nobly defending Port
Arthur
post of supreme commander-in-chief,h his
| friends believe, is sure to be his reward.
| The mystification of the last ten days
regarding the exact situation is cleared
up by the knowledge that the Russian
army is taking the offensive and eX-
plains the puzzling Mukden dispatch of
| the Associated Press of October 6, 1ead-
ing:
Something unusual is in the wind
A great hustle is now noticeable. The
streets are thronged with hurrying
| crowds and innumerable carts and pack
mules
The capture of Bentziaputz, which
was strongly fortified and where it was
reported General Kuroki commanded in
person is officially confirmed. The
| fighting, however, was not severe, the
japanese retiring on finding themselves
| outflanked. The Russian losses were
only % killed or wounded including an
| officer.
A high officer of the general staff IN
formed the Associated Press today that
Kuropatkin is prepared to advance with
| great care, but when the main collision
l will occur will depend on circumstances
the movements of great bodies of men
! being slow opera tions. Heavy fighIlng
is hardly likely before a week at the
earliest.
"OnIy six miles separate the advance
lines" said the officer referred to, and
an advance or counteradvance might
precipitate a preliminary artillery en-
gagement at any moment.
| 1t is now evident that Field Marshal
/ Oyama is aware that Kuropatkin is
/ preparing to strike. Instead of extending
himself for the big f1anking movement
east, so much talked of, he has recog-
nized the necessity of meeting the Rus
sian advance by fortifying his positions
north of LAO Yang. The interval be-
tween the eventful collision will doubt
less be utilized by both sides in feeling
out their respective strength and dis
positions and in active SkirmiShIng On
| the hanks, of which the daring march
of the cossacks across the Shakhe river,
almost to the Yantai mines, is ar eX-
ample.
Not until the combined movements OF
Kuropa tkin's army are in full swing
southwark will it be seen whether
Oyama. intends to contest the present
/ advance or fall back on the fortified
<1rfI, 1f ie,.O VnT xxhn
| would reverse the situation hitherto, as
| the Japanese would for the first time
enjoy the advantage of fighting pe-
| tween defensives. According to the es-
| tina tes of the war office Oyama's total
strength is about 10000 men, of which
| 15O, 900 are posted between the Hun
river to the west of Bentziaputze east
ward the remainder being held in re-
serve at Lao Yang. Kuropatkin has
nine corps. giving him perhaps slght
superiority in numbers.
Lieutenant General Grippenberg, who
is in command of the second Manchur-
! front a large portion of the troops of
the Vilni military district over which
he has had the command for three
years. Thus the bulk of the SECOND
army will be composed of men and off
GERS of whom the general has intimate
knowledge. The second, third, fourth
and nineteenth corps are included in
the district.
The mobilization is quietly proceed
ing. With Kuropatkin acting on tHe.
offensive reinfoI oements will be pushed
forward with all possible speed Inc
first Echelsons of the Eighth corps are
4 -, nd fe