New-York tribune., 1900-07-29
ARMIES IN THE EAST.

Russia and Japan are commonly considered
to he the two great military Powers on land in
Eastern Asia. They are the two that are close
at hand. and it is the supposition that either
# them could readily throw into China, for
example, n much more numerous army than
any other Power That may be true of Japan
and when the railroad across Siberia is finished
few years hence, it may be true Of Russia.
At the present moment, which is the time of
urgent need. II seems desirable to revise the
estimate.
Russia has at this time two general bodies of
troops in Eastern Asia One Of them is at and
around Port Arthur and Dalny and on the
Russian fleet which makes IT'S headquarters
there. 1t consists. or consisted at the outbreak
OF the Chinese troubles, of about 1900 men. less
than 1000 being COssack cavalry That force
was first drawn upon for the Tien-Tsin and
Peking expedition and mas thus probably been
depleted. 1t is possible. however that prior TO
the Chinese attack the Amoor it was rein
forced with leves from the other body, namely,
that in the AmoOr and adjacent provinces The
latter body comprises some 352OG infantry.
4700 cavalry and $500 artillery a total of
45.4O0 men. II we add thereto the Port Arthur
contingent we have grand total of 81. 100
Russian soldiers available for service in that
part of the world. There are a few more com
panes at Vladivostok and elsewhere. but they
are practically fixed where they are for neces-
sary garrison and police duty and could not be
drawn into the field for general military DUR
poses. The total number Of men on the Rus
sian warships in the East is less than 5000.
SO Russias entire military force in Eastern
Asia, which is all she can muster there for
weeks, is less than the army which the United
States has sent to the Philippines, and not more
than one-fourth what Great Britain has sent to
South Africa
The Japanese army makes, Of course, a far
different showing, because the entire military
force of the Japanese Empire is at hand Apart
from what the Japanese could do If put to
calling ont all available men, 1t is to be observed
that the standing army ready for instant EN-
ployment consists Of thirteen divisions-one of
guards, eight Of the line and four of the re-
serve. Each division is in itself a complete
army, consisting of two brigades of infantry.
one regiment of cavalry, one regiment of field
artillery one pioneer battalion, one military
train battalion, one railway battalion and one
telegraph battalion, all equipped with as per-
feet arms and ammunition as the world con-
talns The total muster roll Of these forces.
ready for instant service is something more
than 175,000 men. Such a host japan has been
ready to launch against the Boxer hordes at the
word of the Powers. But the word has not
Deen given.
What forces other Powers may or might send
to the Chinese coast in case of need is matter
for speculation. We have seen what Great
Britain has done in South Africa. She has a
great fund OF military potency not very far
away IN India; not Of British troops but of the
splendid warrior races of Ghoorkhas and Sikhs
the former with a traditional enmity toward
the Chinese. Germany and France would have
further to send, but they have enormous re-
sources upon which to draw. But it is to be
noted that all such would have TO go by water.
and therefore. in case of any disagreement
among the Powers, the Power that held com
mand OF the sea would hold the key of the
whole situation. At the present time the
British and Japanese fleets in those waters
enormously outcass all others.