The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-27
Soldiers of the Car Neg
Iecr Waters of the
Amur River.
GUNBOATS ARE ACTIVE
Forts at Mouth of Stream
Ancient of Construction.
Mikado'S Path Easy.

SHANGHAI. March 26.-There has
been a great deal published OF late about
e mysterious scheme with which Japan
intended to astonish the Western ma
lions. and consequently there has been
much speculation in the continental cap
itals as 10 what the nature of the move
ment would be.
1t can be stated on the authority of
Well-known correspondent, who, for OBJ
Vious reasons wells his identity, and who
has just reached here after four
months stay in Japan, that the Japan
csc are preparing to send an expedition
against the most vulnerable point of
Russia's possessions, east of Lake Bal
kali BY neglecting the opportunities az
forded by The magnificent 1900 miles Of
navigable waters in the river Amur'
Russia has left open an opportunity
which Japan intends to grasp within
three months. ana Russia can do little
TO prevent it.
On Amur River.
In the Boxer troubles of a few years
ago Russia had not a single craft on
the entire length Of the Amur. but she
then purchased a few tugs, which were
armed with MaXims and sent against
the Boxers. These are the ''gunboats'
tales. describing journeys in the Amur
River. 1t is beyond the limits of hu-
man ingenuity to furnish the Amur Riv-
er with gunboats now. and Russia IS
likely TO regret not needing the recon-
mendations of her officers who had
studied the question
The mouth of the Amur River at Niko-
Iaevsk. is defended by. some forts of an
cient construction, unprovided with mod
ern artillery There is, moreover.
Rtlardship. another small steamer, and
two armed tugs. Those can put up a
small resistance to the japanese at
lacking force
Unfortunately for Japan and fortu-
nately Tor Russia, the River Amur IS
blocked at its mouth by the vast guam
titles Of ice that come down the stream,
and is further rendered dangerous Tor
navigation by the icebergs coming down
from the Arctic Ocean, which toss back
and forth in the estuary Tor q long tune
after the river proper is open for naYi-
cation.
Japs Will Command.
Generally speaking. ships can only
enter the Amur River in June. 1t may.
therefore. be confidently expected that
early in June or before. II possible. a
GotiIla Of properly armed and equipped
light draught gunboats viii steam boldly
into the Amur and proceed TO make
themselves felt throughout its entire
length. The ships that viii compose this
HotiIla are now being built IN three Jap
anese shipyards, and it is claimed that
many novel points are being made In
their construction.
There are no forts on the River Amur
which could tackle a river gunbOaI, the
Russians having devoted their attention
entirely TO safeguarding themselves from
a land attack. The japanese know
every inch OF the river. for, their care
ful system of espionage apart, the Jap
anese fishermen have long been accus
toned TO penetrating even above Blago-
vescensk, and II IS probable that men
numbers have increased considerably
curing the past three or four years, As
70 mining the river. the Japanese have
already taken the measure OF the Rus
sian as an expert In the use OF Tnines
which, indeed is not a branch OF war
fare to which much attention has Deer
paid in Russia. In fact IL IS freely stated
by japanese officials In Tokyo that 8
soon as Russia places mines IN tn
river. Japanese spies viii discover thel
location and send the information tC
the japanese intelligence department
Chinese Sympathy.
II is true there are very few towns
along the whole stretch Of the ANU
River. but the moral effect Of the cap
ture. say. OF Ehabarovsk the center o
the administration of the entire ANU
district. would well repay the risks Tn
japanese can live on the produce OF tn
country traversed. and would every
where find sympathetic Chinese TO hell
them. 1t is Chinese coolies who Gu
and stack the wood brought 70 the rive
banks for the Russian steamers: IL Il
the Chinese who provide the food sup
plies; IL IS the Chinese who in short
have the whole economy OF life on thL
river In their hands and can il be Verl
well doubted that Japan viii find prog
ress made easy?
There IS. IN fact. nothing 10 proven
a dashing japanese officer from takin'
q few light draft gunboats up the ANU
10 the confluence with the SungarI
and up that river. even to the head
quarters OF the Russian army at Har
bin.
Their ire very few Russians settle,
along .Ge 3 900 miles OF the Amur. an,