The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-01

ranks in the Lao river valley Taken
in conjunction with the attempt of
Mukden and Harbin this reveals the
existence of a widespread Japanese
organization of bandits west of the
railway.
The news from the front is extreme
ly meagre and many confusing state
ments are made. 1t seems question
able whether Field Marshal Oyama is
ready to assume the offensive. The
army organ is still expressing skepti-
cism of an immediate advance. This
paper is inclined to attach great i'm
portance to the stories of the wide
spread privations and disease among
the Japanese troops.
No late news is obtainable of the
wide Japanese turning movement
east, which is regarded as the chief
feature of the Japanese operations.
Should Oyama be compelled to aban-
don the idea of an advance it is inti-
mated in a Mukden dispatch that it is
possible with fresh troops constantly
arriving that General Kuropatkin may
attempt some offensive operations.
Dust and Desolation.
Mukden, Oct. IL a. m.-by way of
Khabvorsk, eastern Siberia, Oct. l.
The prolonged inactivity on both sides
emphasizing a new situation clearly
shows that the battle of Lao Yang was
rightfully described as the end of the
first stage of the war making nee
the japanese and rehabilitation in or
der to meet the proved fact that II
the Russians are caught in a decisive
conflict it must be on their own ground
and terms and with their full knOwl-
edge. 1t is therefore supposed that
the Japanese are entrenching, but it
is not improbable that they will still
attempt a f1anking movement east.
The contest has reached a stage pos
sessing whatever dignity is due in war
to antagonists having the highest mu-
tual respect and has entered upon the
more serious application of the uncer-
tain war period. 1t is notable that
both armies have ceased recrimina-
tions or attempts to make capital from
unconvincing and diScredited stories
of torture and the use of il1egitimate
weapons and also the misuse of white
and Red Cross flags while the petty
treatment of prisoners has disappeared
and there is a more liberal interpreta-
ton of the exigencies of the conflict
1t is estimated that ten thousand Chi
nese refugees are now at Mukden, but
the natives appear unintelligent. In
view of the possibilities of the situ-
alton the native authorities are stor-
ing grain outside the fighting line
preparing against famine though such
state of affairs would necessarily be
restricted on account of the abundance
of the crops.
The aspect of Mukden and its en-
virons is now one of dust and desc
lation. The natives have fed and the
WOODEN parts of their houses have
been used for fire wood.
Vladivostok Is Prepared.
st. Petersburg, Oct. 1.-1:25 d. NJ
Although the formal decision of the
contraband commission is confined to
the Interpretation of section 10 of arti-
Gle of the Russian regulations, un-
official assurances continue to reach
the British and American embassies
that 1T is the purpose of the Russian
government to treat other articles of
dual use still on the list of absolute
contraband with the greatest leniency
and that neither country will have
cause for complaint in the future.
Mail advices from Vladivostok say
the defenSeS around that town have
been completed and that everything is
prepared should the Japanese attempt
operations on the line of forts and bat
teries. The surrounding forests have
been cut down in order not to obstruct
the zone of fire. Zigzag roads lead to
the batteries.
Liao Yang Over Again.
Mukden, Sept. 2S.-(Delayed in
transnission)-T Japanese position
is relatively the same now as when,
August 25, the Japanese were 20 miles
south and east of I1iao Yang. If they
are reinforced sufficiently, they might
in one or two quick movements engage
the Russians close to the Mukden de-
fenses and reattempt here what they
failed to do at Lao Yang.
Occasionally wounded men are
brought in here but the fighting is in
significant and the suggestion is par
west while traffic on the
Mukden-Sinmintin highway is about
normal. Both sides are observing the
strictest neutrality in the case of the
Sinmintin railway. There are no Jap
anese importations and traffic is unin-
terrupted- One hundred and twenty
horse cart loads of silver were sent to
Sinmintin by the Chinese here yester-
day, but the natives are recovering
confidence. Shops are being reopened
and the number of refugees is dimin-
ishing on the Sfnmintin road.
The condition of the Russian army
contradicts the late sensation
al reports.
WATH0llTE IN WEST