New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-17
VAR FORCES IN FAR EAST.
Continued from second page.

yards capable both of constructing and repair
ing vessels of any class. In the mercantile
marine, which has increased enormously within
the last few years. Japan has an ample supply
of troopships and auxiliary cruisers
The personnel of the japanese navy in 1902
consisted of adr2irals. 0 vice-admirals. % rear
admirals. 60 captains. 40 commanders. 167
lieutenant commanders, 220 Iieutenants sos
sub-lieutenants. besides engineers. medical Off
GERS etc. and 31.GSS sailors. The standard OF
discipline maintained on board is that of the
British navy. Their officers have either been
trained on board British ships or have been in
structed by British officers naval college is
also maintained by the government. The ships
have been exercised constantly and their Off
GERS were tested in the Chinese war and found to
have courage. capacity and resourcefuIness
The Russian navy consists Of Is battleships 5
armored cruisers. 10 cruisers, protected and
otherwise: torpedo gunboats. 20 destroyers, So
torpedo boats. built or building and sub
marine torpedo boats. OF these different classes,
nineteen are stationed in the Black Sea- and
could not be of service in the Far East few
others also are in the Baltic and Mediterranean
The chief vessels of the Russian navy are either
In Eastern waters on the way there The
fleet with which Japan will have 10 cope is made
up OF eight battleships. five armored cruisers
and eight protected cruisers. besides a number
Of destroyers and torpedo boats. some of which
are now on the way 10 the East the total dis
placement OF which excluding the destroyers
and torpedo boats is 131 113 tons of the bat
teships. the largest equal in displacement to
the smaller battleships Of Japan. Their gun pro-
lection is less and none CT them throw so much
metal at u brOadside fire. They also have the
disadvantage Of not being OF equal speed. three
being 1blp IN L. -
II. This reduces their effectiveness as n squad
ron. as they cannot manouvre at a greater
speed than the slowest In this respect they are
inferior TO the Japanese vessels The disnaritv
In the weight OF metal which the Russian ar
mored cruisers throw at broadside IS
greater In the class OF armored cruisers Not
one OF the Russian cruisers OF this class can
throw within two thousand pounds as much as
any OF the Japanese In the matter of speed
there is lack OF homogeneity, as In the case of
the batteships. The Bayan has a speed of %
knots. the Gromboi and Rossia of 20 the Rurfk
Is and the Dmitr' Donskoi 1a Three of these
cruisers. however. are larger than any of the
Japanese cruisers Of the same class. In pro-
tected cruisers Japan has the advantage also in
the weight Of metal which can be thrown and In
NUMBERS but not In regard to speed. as one of
me RUSSIAN cruisers of this class is reckoned as
having a speed OF % knots three at % knots
one at - and three at 20 None Of the armored
cruisers are considered as good as those nos
sessed by Japan. The principal contrast which
the russian squadron presents to the Japanese
Is In lack Of homogeneity. in weight Of metal
winch can be thrown and thickness OF protective
armor Russia also has the disadyantaer Of
having no place In the East where she can make
repairs TO her fleet The docks at Port Arthur
are not completed and those at Vladivostok arc
no" smut In by ice There are In the entire
navy lo admirals, % Vice admiraIs, 81 rear ad
mirals. 1O2 captains, 90 commander, 1s,e
Junior officers. SOB engineers, TOP medical and
civil officers, To- naval yard officers and sailor,
10 bring the total up to 10000 men The man
while Of excellent stuE. are said to lack the
training and experience OF the Japanese
Strategists think that rather than risk , ,,,,
engagement Russia will withdraw her oa.,
uhuer the guns of Port Arthur. thus maxine .,
impossible for Japan to move her troon. ,c-oss
'he yellow Sea Japan then would be obIipad =,
move them across Corea In order tn s.r,t.
dow upon the land This would max. n.c.s
sary the maintenance Of q long land communt-
cation AA
" Japan military service Is compulsory n.
army, so Tar - rnfltfsrv