The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-03-01
CONSUL GENERAL FOWLER BE-
LIEVES THAT RUSSIA WILL
BE DEFEATED.
He Believes the Cars Subjects Will
Be Driven Out Of Manchuria
and Korea.

who is now on his way to Chez Foo,
after a visit at his home in Boston,
gave out the following interesting in
terview in San Francisco, regarding
| the war in the far east:
Il have studied the situation in the
| war zone with considerable care for
fifteen years. said the consul gener-
al, and l have good reason for hold
ing that the Russians will ultimately
be driven out of Korea and Manchu-
ria. There are many things to con-
tribute to this end aside from the fl
nancial and moral support of some OF
the other great powers.
Every Japanese soldier is fired by
the spirit of patriotism. They are
possessed of keen intelligence and in
itiative like our American soldiers,
each one of whom is capable of sizing
up the situation during the progress
of battle, and, in the absence of or
"On the other hand the common
Russian soldier is a mere brute, an UNI
thinking piece of machinery, utterly
incapable Of directing his own ener-
gies in the absence OF ofiicers-excep-
ting to a place of safety. The Russian
soldier fires his gun in the direction
pointed out by the officer. He is
hard drinker and a ruttian as rule.
Many a time l have seen the Russian
officers, themselves moving unsteadi-
~ under the influence of vodka. knock
down soldier after soldier with their
fists, merely because they happened
to stagger within arms reach. | have
seen the common soldiers grovel with
hands and faces in the dirt at the feet
Of petty officers, as a cur might do
Ferocity of Wolves.
They are brave enough and will
fight with the ferocity of wolves, when
cornered: but with 1unkhead' soldiery
such as this, mere force of numbers
will not necessarily win the day any
more than it won when Darlas pitted
his slavish millions against the few
thousands of trained and patriotic
Greeks.
The Japanese do not know the
meaning of fear. They are as wary as
M md hill
They will fight to the death. If the
common soldiers have their way there
will be no quarter given by either
side
another thing, Russia will have her
hands more than full at home.
Among the educated classes rebel
lion has been smofdering for genera
tions, and she dare not send many of
her reserves out of European Russia.
Her hands are tied. Besides, she
needs plenty of soldiers to watch the
English in India. She may be able
anese, but l doubt it.
The japanese can put something
like 100000 fighting men in the field.
They are close to their base, while
the Russians have to transport men,
munitions and commissary supplies
across Siberia over single line of
railway at a very unfavorable season.
Many Japanese Spies.
Il know, also. that large numbers of
Japanese spies, disguised as Chinese
coolies, have been sent far up the
trans Siberian railroad. l shall not be
surprised to learn that they have
blown up all the culverts and bridges
throughout Manchuria and far into
Siberia. thus greatly hampering the
movements of the Russian reinforce
ments.
The Russian officers, both naval
and military. are dissolute lot OF
men, amongst whom corruption is al
most as general as among the Chinese
They are, however, splenddly trained
and are right up-to-date in military
matters, forming a striking contrast
to the dull, savage common soldiery.
Most of the soldiers in Manchuria are
mounted Cossacks.
Il have been on board all the Rus
sian vessels which the Japanese han
died so roughly at Port Arthur. and
found what l have just said regarding
the military army equally true of the
officers and men of the navy. The Of
fcers, when sober, give evidence of be-
ing finely trained, but the men are a
lot of 'slObs
While in Washington last week 1 |
spent several days before the general
var board going over the situation. 1t