Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-20
THE WAR IN THE EAST
InDU1D BY BUREAU OF
MILITARY REFORMATION.
Russia's Military Force Troops In
Notwithstanding TransportA-
tion---0rsat Stake.

The nrst quarterly bulletin Of military
notes issued by the bureau Of military In
formation Of the general star contains an
Interesting paper prepared BY Major VIM.
d. Beach. 10th Cavalry. In regard to the
Russian army. with special reference 70
military operations In the far east. Ac-
cording to this paper. Russia has yearly
contingent of 1876 ,525 men and a total war
strength Of 5,757. $40 men. The peace
establishment Of Russia Is given as 1.107.-
600 men, or 1O1 per cent of the total popu-
lation. It is estimated that the Russian
national wealth will reach 100 billions. OF
which fourteen billions are movable cap
ftal.
Referring to Manchuria, 1t Is said that
the Russian railway force In southern
Manchuria consists OF four brtgades or
about $4,000 men. including infantry, arui-
1ery and cavalry. Out Of these forces
as to garrison the important points on the
railway, the most important Of these be-
ing the station of Liaoyang, where force
of at least 5000 men will be maintained.
Preparation for Trouble.
The information secured by the bureau
is valuable only as showing what Russia
had in Manchuria before the opening OF
hostilities, but it gives a very good idea OF
the preparedness Of Russia for any i'm
pending trouble. The report says:
''Thre are said to be about 5000 men at
Tsitsfkar. perhaps 10000 at Hardin, 10000
more along the Sungari river. 10000 at
Mukden, 2O,0OO at Kirin and along the
Nonni river, 5000 at the Sungari river rail-
way bridge, 10000 at Vladivostok and
Nikolsk- Ussuri. 81, 600 at Port Arthur and
some 5000 men at Talienwan, or Dalny."
The Transportation Question.
Mai. w. c. Brown, 1st Cavalry, who IN
spected the Trans-Siberian railway last
fall. says that the Russian government at
that time was endeavoring to see how
quickly force Of 1900 men could be
brought over the Manchurian railway, o.
tensibly as an experiment. He adds:
Eat various places along the railroad in
Manchuria barracks were being construct
ed these generally being Of permanent
nature. stone and brick" MAJ Brown
stopped over at Irkutsk and saw how the
1.-THE barracks are very primitive one-story
buildings, with dirt floors. The men sleep
ON a long. inclined platform, much like
those found in our guard houses some
twenty years ago."
According to the Neue Militarische Blaet-
ter. which is quoted by Maj: Beach. Russia
proposed to rely on her navy in case OF
war with Japan.
abandonment by the czar of his proposed
trip to Rome last fall and denies that the
cars action was based on fear Of anarch-
lists. It expresses the opinion that affairs
in the far east led to the postponement
saying: 'It would have been very painful
for the car to have heard of the outbreak
of war. or of a collision at sea, in the midst
of his festivities in Italy: he might even
have heard of the defeat of his fleet, which
Is by no means impossible.
Russia's Great Stake.
Russia has great things at stake, for II
Japan were to win a glorious victory. Rus
STA. by the loss Of Port Arthur and Vladi-
vestok. would have worked for decades In
vain. and the Siberian railroad would re-
dound to the benefit of the yellow con-
auerors. who as soon as they set foot On
the mainland would doubtless seek to stir
up the Chinese race to a struggle for Asia,
and especially to drive back all European
influences That Japan. however, will
scarcely succeed In this coup is due to the
Russian policy which saw the danger dp-
preaching at the proper time and provided
itself with the necessary means for coping
against 1t. Among these means the Rus
sian navy will play great II not the de-
cisive part"