The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-11
A MILLION men.
Japan Is Preparing to Double
Size of Her Army.
Expects to Be Able to Take and
Hold Harbin.
DUTCH ON LOOKOUT.
East India Squadron Will Watch
the Russians.
Four More Golfers Are Seen
Passing Singapore.
DUTCH ON LOOKOUT

inforcement Of its Manchurian armies |
with an extensive expedition from its
own military organization. The details |
and figures are carefully concealed CT
what seems to be a plan to double the
present army units, but it is reliably
estimated that by autumn next the
total organization viii exceed a million
men actually employed in the field. The
fighting force is roughly estimated at
| 100000 men, with increases largely in
the infantry and artillery. although an
enlargement in the cavalry branch is
also contemplated.
AS a result of the manufacture at the
arsenals in Japan together with the
captures and purchases of guns 1t is
predicted that this year will see a Jap
anese artillery superior to that of the
Russian, in quality as well numer-
ically and it is confdentially believed
that the Russians will be incapable Of
overcoming these numerical disadvan-
tages. Wherever railway Improvements
are possible they will be carried out
when Japan will be sufficiently strong
to take and hold Harbin and sinultan-
eously continue operations against the
Russian forces to the eastward of that
city.
Dutch win Watch Russians.
The Hague. April 1.-THE Dutch
been ordered to proceed to the Anabas
islands where the Russian squadron
which passed Singapore April 8 is
anchored, with view to assuring the
observance of neutrality.
Golfers Pass Singapore.
London, April ia telegram from
Singapore reports that four supposed
Golfers passed there, going east, April
. 10. These are presumed in shipping
circles to be the advance guard of the
IS Hamburg-American line steamers
chartered to act as supply ships to the
Russian second Pacific squadron.
Saw Two Japanese Cruisers.
Manila, April 1.-THE German
steamer Strive which arrived from
Saigon reported that Sunday she sight
ed two Japanese cruisers in the Chi
nese sea headed for Singapore.
: Kelung Is Closed.
Washington April 11.-Minister
Grfscom at Toxic has cabled the state
department that he has been advised
of the closing of Kelung to foreign
: ships until further notice.
Kelung is port on the north end
of the Island of Formosa- It is be-
lieved here that the action of the Jap
, Ianese government in closing Kelung
indicates that this port will be used
: by Admiral Togo as a base for his
fleet.
] RojestvenslSy's Plans.
r st. Petersburg, April II, ABS p. m.
= Whether Vice Admiral Rojestven-
sky's battleship division passed
2 straits of Nalaccas 1t is practically GER
3 tain now that he is moving to effect
l a junction with the division which
passed Singapore April 8. It is pos
: sible that this may not take place IN
t til the two divisions reach Cape Pa
2 dararn, on the east coast of Cochin
China. The dispatches from Singa-
pore naming the ships which passed
I there Saturday are erroneous in sew
9 eFal particulars notably in the case
3 of the Furst Bismarck. rechristened
4 the Don, which is still at Libau.
$ Saw a Warship.
Maria, Aprp 1.-THE British
steamer Empire. just arrived here
: from Centralia, reports that on the
| night Of April she sighted a large
war vessel in Basilan strait, between
1 the islands of Mindanao and Basilan,
, which approached close and then dis
Il appeared down the coast of Mindanao.
:, Her nationality could not be determ-
: ined, but it is believed that she was
Il Japanese
Speculation ON Sea Fight.
St. Petersburg, April 11.-Accord-
ing to the admiralty's information the
= japanese have had an observation
a squadron in the waters off Labuan
: British Borneo, where they took the
+ same advantage of British neutrality
t as RojestVensky did of French neu-
p trality at Madagascar, and this squad
ron is believed to have been sum
g moned by Japanese scouts to remain in
S touch with the Russians until they &c
= north to the straits of Formosa, where
q it is believed here battle will occur
8 Considering the vital nature of the is
= sue, the admiralty is inclined to think
that Admiral Togo will not dare to
D send ships to VIadivostok or leave YES
s sells behind him to cope with the Rus
It sian vessels at that port, and that the
n Japanese coasts and the transport feet
: viii practically have to shift for them
e selves until the naval battle is fought
a The principal coast cities of Japan are
n well protected by Notifications, and
S the Russian cruisers at Vladivostok
not being heavily armored could not
attack them, but havoc could be Gre
ated among the japanese transports
; and commercial ships. So far as as
= certained RoJestyensl1y has no inten-
= ton of putting into Saigon, the en-
trance to that port being narrow, but
: it is believed he will remain in the
= open sea.
It is learned that the Russian ships
have on board patent appliances con-
: sisting Of steel brushes attached To 9
i sort of belly-band, which running un-
Y der the vessel can be used quite effec-
Z lively to clean the bottom. The speed
n of warships in this way, it IS calcu-
lated, can be increased at least knot
sr The admiralty is greatly grained al
d the speed developed by the squadron
t while steaning across the IndlaT
il ocean, which is officially figured at nine
n instead of eight knots as the ships
IS made a detour northward in the di-
rection of JibutiI in order to create the
a. initial impression that they intended
!, to join Admiral Nebogatohs division
i, Naval men here consider that the
= speed attained with such a hetero-
= geneous squadron is a. remarkable fea1
,e and a shining testimonial to RoJest-
vensky's capacity. The admiralty Is
not harboring any delusions on the