The Oskaloosa herald., 1903-11-12
RUSSIA, JAPAN AND KOREA.

Philadelphia Press: The Japanese
government at least has no doubt
about the Russian evacuation of Man
: churia., For Japan, this question is
past. Russia Is in Manchuria. The
date settled for evacuation is past.
Not even a technical withdrawal Of
Russian troops has taken place. They
remain in force. They hold all the
railroad communications and control
j all the centers of trade and popula-
| ton.
| Instead of the evacuation of Man
1 churia, Japan has before 1t the posi-
Bile occupation of Korea. Manchuria
Japan could disregard. Korea it can
not. Shaped liked Florida, and one
! half larger, mountainous, fertile and
full of undeveloped resources, Korea
offers Japan the future territory for
its overlooking population, for the fu-
ture field of it's capital and for the
development of it's trade. The re-
tail trade Of Korea is already in the
hands Of small Japanese merchants.
At Wiju, in the north, they carry on
a brisk Manchurian trade. Japan
holds the telegraphs of Korea and
guards its capital. Above all, Korea
commands the coasts Of Japan, and a
foe there could bar the island from
/ the trade Of the mainland. Russia
already holds one bank of the Lulu,
{ and working parties of Russian SOL
diers are entering the forests in Ko-
rea on the other bank, The dis
patches of the Russian envoy at Seoul
put in a claim last spring to rail-
road route to the Korean capital, con-
Meeting with the Russian system in
Russia was to evacuate Manchuria,
the Korean question comes forward
in its most acute phase to give a.
plausible excuse for increasing in
stead Of diminishing the Russian
forces in Manchuria.
Whether this issue is raised by
Russia for any purpose except to
cover the retention of Manchuria, It
will take some time to tell. For this
purpose the Korean question is pre-
cisely suited. With Russia threaten
ing Korean occupation, the world
unconsciously begins to accept Man
churia as Russian. For Manchuria
Japan could fight. For Korea, Japan
will, If the island empire is to keep
its place on the east coast of Asia it
can not permit Korea TO pass into
the hands of hostile power of the
first rank. Such an occupation
would instantly burden Japan with a
fleet always strong enough to defend
the Japanese coasts.
The Japanese feet is to-day equal
to this task if Korea is neutral or
held by Japan. It's fleet could give an
account of itself with any naval force
Russia could mass in the east. Rus
STA has the larger tonnage. Japan
has the newer vessels. If collision
came, it is probable that the Japan
csc fleet could hold the sea. Whether
the Japanese army could carry on an
offensive campaign on land, or even
hold Korea, no one can say. The
Russian army at command is numer-
ically larger. In the march on Pc
kin, by common testimony, Japan
had the more efficient force. The
Russian army organization is and al
ways has been weak If war came it
will be contrary to all past precedent
if the Russian army administration
does not break down at the begin
ming. ..
But collision is grossly improba-
Bile. There will come a critical peri
cd of few weeks. The Japanese
navy will be gathered and the Japan
csc army brought stage nearer mo-
bilization. Admiral Alexieff will have
the best of all reasons for increasing
the force in Manchuria Russia will
gain some advantage The northern
frontier of Korea will be defined"
Russia will end in control of the Yalu.
Japan will be committed to an actual
instead of a hypothetic, control OF
Korea, The cherished Japanese pol
icy of keeping Korea independent and
neutral, but protected, WIN be over.
A slip somewhere in this risky task
may bring war; but 1t is improbable.