Amador ledger., 1903-05-01
RussIA's MARCH TO THE SEA.

Russia's determination, as evi-
denced by recent diplomatic cor
respondence with China, to retain
its grip npon Manchuria, will cause
a protest from the several powers
interested, and that is about all.
Manchuria is large province form
ing the northeastern portion of the
Chinese empire. 1t embraces an
area of $4,000 square miles. A
better idea of its extent may be
gained perhaps by saying that it is
as large as California, Arizona and
Nevada combined. And this vast
territory the insiatiable Russian
Bear proposes to gobble up with
little ceremony. During the Boxer
troubles in China Russia took ad-
vantage of circumstances, and
placed strong military guards at
strategic points throughout Man
churia under the plea of protecting
its railroad lines-tben in course of
construction through that land.
Manchuria lies in the direct line of
Russian expansion south and east.
Russia wants it not merely because
. it is an important step toward Sc
curing an open port on the Yellow
sea, but also because it is contiguous
to her vast Siberian possessions. For
hundreds of years this latter reason
has been sufficient to cause the great
northern power to annex territory.
It matters not whether the land be
desert, inhospitable and uninhab-
liable. if it borders on Russian terri
tory that in itself is deemed sufici-
ent cause for its absorption. And
wherever Russia plants its standard,
istwoop nit IijfS hfd}f EGhIf S6t1 t15llfes ST
abode, but to stay. Only once since
she started out in her wonderful
career of conquest and expansion
has she parted with territory. That
was in the case of Alaska, which she
disposed of to the United States. It
was separated from her other pos
sessions by Behring sea. Alaska
was outside her sphere of influence;
in a different world as it we're. She
could not reach it by land, and to
protect and develop it by sea was
not in accordance with her tradi-
tions. So she surrendered it for
price. Since then, however, she has
added to her dominions an area
many times the extent of her former
American possessions. This latest
grab of Manchuria is more than half
as large as Alaska. The United
States with other commercial nations
is interested in this Manchurian
seizure, inasmuch as it violates the
open door policy guaranteeing equal
trade privileges to all. Russia is
an adept in overcoming such diff
fculties. She will pacify these
countries by promising special trad
ing concessions. A narrow strip of
Corea now remains between Russia
and the seaboard facing Japan
Japan takes this latest mova of
Russia to heart more than any other
nation. 1t affects her more than
any other power. 1t means, Russia
as the paramount power on the sea
board fronting Japan. This is not
to the liking of the latter nation,
which is not enamoured with Russia
as neighbor. Japan is naval and
military power not to be despised
even by the Colossus of the North.
Single handed, she is no match for
Russia, atany rate not in a military
sense. From naval standpoint
Russia is vastly superior also in
battleships. Neither nation has
much history in the way of accom-
plishments on the sea to boast of
Japan, it is true, acquitted herself
well, both on land and sea, in her
recent contest with China. Russia
is absolutely without naval record
with modern war vessels. Without
assistance from one or more of the
great powers, it is hardly probable
that Japan will do more than pro-
test against the pushing of the
Russian frontier to the sea coast