Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-14
War Betwe en- Russia and Japan?

war clouds loo j, IT'D black and heavy in
the Orient. and the world is waiting for
the storm to blu r:it. Nobody who knows
anything of Ru IS ian history. ancient or
modern. was ST. rprised to hear that the
government of ithe Car had failed to
cyacuate certain parts of Manchuria on
The date set in the treaty with China,
and in equally S. ,lemn agreements with
.Japan and other powers. On the con-
trarv the whole world would have been
nlent.
Not only has the day passed without
any step iowa I'd evacuation, but if
eastern dispatch les are to be believed,
Ru ssian regimen is are being massed in
the disputed terri tory and Russian war
ships are being assembled in Eastern
waters. 1t is not. the continuation of
the occupation of Manchuria that eff
fects Japan SO mich as it is the prob
ability that Russia will continue into
Korea in the i'm mediate future. -..e
ia ;oanese government probably believes
that it is better to have the inevitable
fight now than later when Russia will
ton to dislodge than at present.
At first sight, it may appear that the
odds in the promised war between
Russia and Japan, would be heavily in
favor of Russia, but such is not the
case. A war between them for the
possession of Korea would doubtless be
general opinion of naval eXpel is that
on the sea Japan is superior to Russia,
for the Japanese sailors have already
proven their mettle in battle. while
that of the Muscovites is an unknown
quality. At any rate, a war ON the sea
would be more nearly equal than one on
land. and if any other powe.. gives as
sistance to Russia, in the coming con-
flict, it is absolutely certain that Brit
sh help will be given Japs II. 1t is hard
to see where Russia can look for an al
", for the arbitration tr eaty just con-
Guided between France nd Great Brit
ain, makes it all but certain that the
Gar cannot now look for the support
of France as he could have done few
years ago.
Some political students figure out
that Russia does not seek anything but
Mafm huria, and that it is making an
unr1, sonable demand for the partition
of Korea, between Japan and itself, as
only a bluff to divert -Japan'S attention
from the Russian break of faith with
China in Manchuria. But there are
many evidences that Japan is really
aching for war with Russia, whether
The martial spirit in Japan has been
growing in intensity ever since that
country was forced to give Russia the
fruits of it's victory from China. The
great mass of TIE people are filled with
the most revengeful spirit towards the
Russian government, and American
country. say that there is Il preponucr-
ating sentiment in favor of war. Even
the mothers in their homes have taught
the children to hate Russia, and the
small boys in their games are always
playing war and taking sides .nc
Russian and the Japanese, with victory
always perching upon the banners of
the japanese forces
No doubt the Mika 10 and his govern
ment realize that i'll IL long war with
Russia, particularly land war. Japan
would Ike the loser, for although Russia
is still barbarous and reactionary, We
Japan is partly civilized and progress
i've. and although such a war would be
far from the Russian base of supplies.
nevertheless the Car has almost mex
haustible resources to push such Il con-
nct to an unhappy conclusion for Jap
an Nevertheless, the Japanese gov
| eminent understands that their country
must expand in some channel or other.
Ii is producing more than it is consum-
| ing, and the population is multiplying
so that it's millions will be crowded al
most into the ocean. Unless a vent is
| found for both surplus products and
| surplus population internal troubles
] will break out. So there are economic
/ and social reasons why war with Rus
STA is not wholly undesired by those in
authority in Japan.
AS far as this country is concerned,