Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-08-20
A CRITICAL STAGE
Is Now Noted by Observing Eyes !"
the Far East.

Washington, Aug. 81 ne t'ii''
experts here who have been crllicdns
following the progress of the wal III
the Far East, and who are uhpleJuu'O
ed observers of the struggle iesa'u
the situation as nearing new ana
critical stage.
Suppose. it is asked. that Port Arthur
falls that the remnants Of the Russian
navy IN Eastern waters become scat
tered and that the army of Kuropatkin
is hopelessly defeated. what Woulu
then happen? Could Russia's millions
afford. even in the face of these great
calamities. to yield to nation so small
40 .Japan? Would she not rather go
right t, work again raising new armies
and building new navies and borrowing
more money, to keep up the conflict?
II must be acknowledged that new
difference between the contestants IS
now coming into play; Japan had
everything to gain by decisive action.
by the sudden stroke; Russia had and
still has everything to gain by delay.
Japan is, today. considerably weaken
cd. The was has put her to a severe
strain. Can Russia profit by this?
Port Arthur, it seems to be generally
agreed. is about to fall. Without an
army there. it would be profitless for
the Baltic feet to attempt to dispute
the control of the seas with Japan.
Why the Baltic fleet has not been
sent out before remains a subject of
considerable dispute. 1t is heavy fleet.
and had it arrived in season might
have lifted the blockade of Port Ar
thur and changed the outlook. 1t is as
-umed here that the fleet is going by
the Cape of Good Hope to save the
tolls of the Suez canal. which are very
heavy 1t makes only ten days differ
ence in the time necessary to reach
Eastern waters. If the Russians were a
really venturesome people. and valued
time as an asset in the Eastern fight
they would put the n"'tic ieet out
there nv the rOu.- ,,t,, - Siberia
which is little more ... d if the dis
tanCe that it now PRO, y traverse.
Contrary to popular ,.'cf this route
has been we'll surveyed. and the pro-
montories and indentatio of the coast
line are actually charted. The ships
might encounter some ice. but at this
season Of the year no quantities, it is
UelleNeu ny naval experts mere, WHICH
| such heavy vessels could not easi' :
make their way through Or AROUND.
This route has never been much used
| except by Arctic and other exploring
expeditions. but there is apparently no
reason why it might not be. with a
courageous naval commander and at
| this favorable season of the year.
| But by whatever route the Baltic
| fleet reaches the East it will be con-
| fronted with a serious coal question.
1t can coal up at Vladivostok. where
the accumulated supplies are believed
to be extraordinarily large. but this
port will before many months be ice
covered. AS a fortress. however. Vladi-
votok possesses extraordinary strength
and cannot readily be taken by the
Japanese. If it's waters were as warm
as those about Port Arthur and Dalny,
while not wholly ice-free. it would be-
come a great factor in the situation.
But aside from this great port of the
north. Russia's opportunity for coal
| ing. except from GOLFERS moving long
distances from their base of supplies.
are decided bad. Her Eastern problem
| is very serious. But that does not mean
that she must necessarily give up.