New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-14
WAR views OF EXPERTS.
Belief That First Great Land Battle
Is Near.
TFaoM TIE TRIBUNE BUREAU

Washington. May 13.-The distribution OF the
Japanese forces IN Southern Manchuria Is re-
garded by the military experts as tending to
force the issue and bring about the first great
collision between the warning nations. The
reports from the scene of operations AFFORD off,
GERS an opportunity for estimating that the
Japanese now occupy pretty generally the cOun-
try OF Lao Yang at least. In the same terri
tory there appears 10 he large body of Rus
SLAMS also. But II is quite clear that at present
the Russians are on the defensiv and have
offered no substantial or effective obstruction
TO Japanese advances. Apparently the Japan
csc plan of invasion and occupation has met no
reverses at the hands OF the Russians The
fact is now considered significant for the pur-
pose OF the Russians to offer no serious opposi-
ton TO their enemy until the latter are In a
position which makes Russian attack more de-
structive than il IS now. At the same time.
most of the officers here regard the attitude of
the Russians fraught with menace TO them
selves for in order to establish the Japanese
in Manchuria and make it possible for the in
vaders to take northward march the Rus
slams have been obliged 10 give UP positions OF
great value I'm a strategic way in the Lao
Tung Peninsula. These places may he hard to
regal and II Is certain that the loss Of such
a port as Dalny is second only TO the surrender
OF Port Arthur.
Naval officers, who look at the situation from
the water. say II is most important that Russia
should maintain a large force in the neighbor-
hood of these ports and protect them from capt
ure from the land side. It is comparatively
easy, these officers say. TO keep them from in
vasiOn from the sea. and 1t continues to cause
remark that the Japanese were able to land
without much resistance. when the process of
debarkation included a long wade. Soldiers car
stances easy TO repel. and IT would take
comparatively small force to drive back or
drown a very large army landing from small
boats
Some of the experts believe that Japan now
has in Manchuria all the troops she can muster
for the purpose. and that the principal fighting
will be in the vicinity of Liao-Yang. within the
next few weeks. or further north in the vicinity
of Moukden provided the japanese make their
way in that direction without interruption from
the Russians. The dispatches to-day reporting
the departure from Chinnampo on May OF
another Japanese army OF 10000 received
with some doubt. If the Japanese possess such
resources and continue to send armies into the
field. they will be able to control certain i'm
portant points in the theatre of operations per-
manentIy. An estimate of the situation, be
trustworthy. goes back TO the question OF
strength facilities and resources. the extent OF
which qualities officers here know so little that
none of them will undertake TO make predictions
as TO results. They agree, generally speaking
on the theory that the period Of hard fighting
is at hand in Manchuria, and that IL is TO be in
the neighborhood of the Liao-Yang. Naval Of
icers believe that the Russians will be defeated
in the first engagement while army officers
think they will be successful in their operations
on land. The latter say nothing has occurred
70 diminish their faith in the victory of the
Russians. With few exceptions to the rule
the services represented in Washington may be
said to be divided on the question of results
Russia