The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-21
Japanese Have Met Strong OPP
position in Sakhalin.
One Battle Lasted a Day and a
Night.
ENDED IN. VICTORY.
Captured Five Guns and Num-
Der of Prisoners.
Russian Manchurian Army Still
Full of Fight.

Toxic. July GA special from Otaru.
says the Russians defeated at Daline
were about 500 strong. with six field
and three machine guns, and taking the
fullest advantage of the typographical
character of the district, offered the
most desperate resistance. The Rus
sian positions were hidden in a thick
forest and it was impossible for the
japanese gunners to make a correct OBJ
serVation. The cannonade, however, was
opened by the japanese at o'clock on
the morning of July z, and was kept
up until dark. The Japanese infantry
gradually gained ground, closed in on
the enemy's line of defense and waited
for an opportunity for the final charge.
It was nearly two hours after midnight
when the enemy's first line of defense,
strengthened by barricades and trench
es, was taken This success was vigor-
ously followed up but it was not until
o'clock on the morning of July that
4he enemy was driven out of the second
line of its defense and victory was Sc
cured with trophies of four field and
one machine gun. The nature of the
ground exposed the Japanese assailants
TO a great disadvantage and risks. 1t
was believed that owing to the short
supplies of ammunition and provisions
the Russians at SakhaIin could not hold
out much longer.
1t is officially announced that the
Russians who have thus far surrender
ed at various points of Sakhalin island,
number 461, including one colonel and
IA other officers.
An imperial order was issued this
morning authorizing the appointment Of
non-commissioned officers from the re-
serve conscripts, also converting those
Of sundry service rank into privates OF
lighting rank.
Russians Want to Fight.
Gunshu Pass. Manchuria, July I'll
Since a month ago, when the army was
under the impression it was about to
advance the commanders have been
much annoyed by talk of peace, but
the appointment of NJ. White as senior
peace plenipotentiary appears to
have convinced the commanders Of the
government determination.
The Russian army rests as usual
with cavalry tanks slightly enveloping
the Japanese who remain within their
defense lines.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press has made a tour through mud
and heat, paralleling the japanese po-
sition for a distance of rs miles. Their
Notification on the first line bisect
growing daily, and indications are that
it would cost a third. or a half of the
Russian army to take them, while theiI
second position, Of equal strength is
eleven miles farther back, on the hills
north of Kaiyuan. Considerable conf
dence is evinced in the strength and
size of the Russian position, and an ex-
ample of the military spirit of the SUI
Derior officers is indicated in the fol
lowing declaration to the correspondent
of the Associated Press by one of the
leading commanders: Il have $50 ma
chine guns and also strong artillery
have received many men from Russia
All the infantry companies are $50 meI
strong, and all the men are anxious Il
attack. Though the situation is very
bad in Russia the army will advance
here regardless of the disorders a
home. It will fight one, two or three
years, because the end must be vic
''The army does not share the peace
desires of the government which ha:
never had a war so difficult as this
But in spite of all difficulties victory i
must be-
Would Mean Economic Suicide.
ST. Petersburg, July 21.-The Novot
Nremya today devotes a leading article
to the alleged Japanese peace condi'
tons, as published by the Vienna Tage
bIatt, and Frankfort Zeitung, dwelling
especially on the specification agains
double tracking the Siberian railway
which the paper declares is utterly un-
acceptable in every way, being equiv
alent to the political and economic sui
eide of Russia.
japanese at Amur's Mouth.
Copenhagen, July IA hRpatch from
st. Petersburg to the Godsiadan say!
that private advices received at tn
Russian capital say that Japanese war
ships have been sighted near Nikolaievsl
at the mouth of the Amur river. Man!
of the inhabitants of Niolaiesk ant
Vladivostok, it is added, have fed t
4<habarovskel.