The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-07

Possibility of Port Arthur's fall from
before the battle Of Lao Yang and
since While concerned at the disaster
the Russians are lost in admiration
of the wonderful and unexampled de-
fense- Although the deaths of Gen
erals Fock and KoRdratenkO were not
published here the facts regarding
Eock had been anticipated for six
weeks and the condition of Port Ar
thur was known throughout The au-
thorlt1es here, as early as December
20. denied that relief vessels had sue
cessfully run the blockade as reported
and candidly admitted the despera-
ton of the heroic defenders. The
Russians regarded the expectations of
the foreign expert visitorSto Port Ar
thur before the war that Port Arthur
would doubtless resist for IS months
as being too optimistic provided there
was no relief.
While it is impossible to telegraph
the tenor of opinion, yet it is evident
that greater events must transpire be-
fore the end of the war is apparent
The Ihs Russian ss5. army army is beginning
the Russian Christmas which is to-
morrow.
There was an unusual cannonading
yesterday along the center 1t was
continued in moderate form today
None But Japanese Ships.
London. Jan. IA dispatch to the
Japanese legation from Toxic in con-
firming the announcement of the rails
peninsula adds:
For the present, however, no ships
excepts those in the japanese gov
ernment service will be allowed to
enter Port Arthur"
Transfer of Prisoners.
Toxic, Jan. z, 2:30 p. n.-GeneraI Nogi
reports the following additional trans
fer OF prisoners at Port Arthur made
yesterday, January s:
Twenty seventh regiment (additionaD
1000 men.
Twenfy-eighth rifles. ffty-two men,
1900 men.
se>nnth battalion reserve conscripts.
fourteen officers, 2S2 men.
Thirteenth battalion reserve con-
scripts twelve officers, 30S men.
Tenth regimental headquarters, two
officers sixty-six men.
Eleventh and Twelfth regiment, third
division, four officers. 1875 men.
Fourth artillery brigade, twenty-six
officers 901 men.
Garrison artillery. two officers, 113
men.
Kwantung garrison artillery sixty
eight officers, :, ,7S3 men.
Gen d'armes. two officers, twenty
four men.
Total 1S2 officers, 7,177 men.
One hundred and ffty-one officers
were paroled.
Russian Christmas Celebration.
General Oku's headquarters Jan. z.
IL a. m, via Fusan.-The Russians in
celebrating their Christmas eve began
a heavy rifle fire at 10 o'clock yesterday
evening January 6, opposite Linihimpu
Their artillery Joined in at II o'clock
and kept up two hours of the hardest
firing known since the Shakhe river
was reached. spreading along the whole
front of General Olzll's army. The Jap
anese sustained no damage and refused
to reply They simply moved into their
trenches, preparing to repulse an at
tack, which was not attempted. There
We're no casualties among the japanese
troops.
Russian Vessels Disar1ned
Toxic. Jan. z, noon.-Rear Admiral
Kataoka in his report received here at
o'clock yesterday morning, January
6, says that the commanders of the
flotillas sent to Kioa Chau and Chefoo
have returned at least satisfied that the
German and Chinese authorities have
completely disarmed the Russian ves-
sels which have sought refuge in those
ports. The armored cruiser Chiyoda
and a aotilla, of destroyers, remained
outside Kiao Chau harbor until 6 p. M,
Wednesday, January 4.