Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-03
GREAT BATTLES,
Comparison of Numbers Engaged at
Liaoyang, Leipzig and Metz.

N~AAS1 A~SAPNiS cIo 1hSlZ.
From the New York Sun.
When these lines meet the readers eve
the third day will have closed on one of
the most tremendous and eventful battles
recorded in the history of the world. Not
even yet is it possible definitely to announce
the outcome of the concerted and resolute
attack by the three Japanese armies under
Gems. kubokf, Oku and Nodzu upon the
Russian forces concentrated and strongly
posted by Gen. Kuropatkin. The latest re-
ports at the present writing are of Russian
retreat.
Meanwhile, it is worth while to indicate
by some comparisons the grounds on which
the colllS1on between the Japanese and the
Russians at Liaoyang should, in respect of
magnitude, be placed in the front rank of
the battles that have been witnessed dur
ing the last fifteen hundred years
We premise that the Japanese We're
credited with the ability to bring into action
on August 30, when the fight began no
fewer than 100000 men. According to the
news which the Russian censor permits to
leave st. Petersburg, the force under Cen
kuropatkin did not some weeks ago ex-
coed 10000, but it is known that large re-
Inducements have recently arrived on the
scene of hostilities, and there is some rea-
vii W pShSNS tlidt tuc RUSSIAN war once
is inclined to understate the facts in the
hope of Turing the Japanese to assail posi-
tons deemed impregnable. Accepting the
figures as they come to u.s. however we
see that the total number of soldiers who
are, or may be, engaged at Liaoyang is
about 10000
The number has been rarely exceeded in
verifiable military history. Darius is said
to have had 100000 followers at Issus. and
subsequently at Gaugamela still larger
number; but In each case only fraction
OF the leVieS were disciplined troops uuali-
fled to cope with the Macedonian phalanx
and cavalry. In the desperate struggle on
the Catalaunian plains, which has been Of
ten described as one of the seven decisive
battles of the world, Attila is said to have
brought 100000 warriors into the field, in
Guiding not only Huns, but also Ostrogoths
and other subjugated Teutons. The Roman
General Aetius and his Visigothic ally are
supposed to have had at least half as
many fighting men.
The wars between Christians and Mos
lens afford no authentic example Of
combat on the same scale. Nor was any
thing approaching the proportions Of the
present combat at Liaoyang beheld in mod
ern times until Napoleon was beaten by
the allies at Leipzig. Passing over Auster-
lltz, jena and Waterloo, where the total
number of men engaged fell short of 300
600, we may note that even at SmolenSk
the aggregate was little short Of $50, COO
and later at Borodino 1t was but $50 600 At
Leipzig, on the other hand, the allies had
about 100000, and Napoleon could array
about 10000 against them. 1t will be re-
marked that the total is larger by 10000
than that which Is reported to have been
mustered in and around Liaoyang In our
own civil war there were many great bat
ties, but none on anything like the scale
of Leipzig The whole number of troops
short of 100000. In the last war between
France and Germany, on the other hand,
we again get some imposing figures. For
instance. In the fierce engagements around
Metz on the 18th. the 10th and the 18th of
August, 1870, it is known that Bazaine had
nearly 100000 men, while the German COM
manders had brought together a larger
number. In the ensuing battle of Sedan q
French force of 10000 succumbed to 25O-
GOO Germans 1t is not true, then, that the
action now going at Liaoyang is un-
precedented in point of magnitude; but 1t is
plain that the precedents are few.
AS regards the duration of the fighting
the battle which has now proceeded for
three days In Manchuria is memorable,
but not unparalleled. The so-called battle
of Guadalete "a. D. I'D, in which Tarik
the One-eyed broke the Visigothic power
under ROderick. seems to have lasted about
week The fighting at Leipzig began on
October IA and did not end until October 10
uS13). The truth Is that Leipzig as re-
CARDS both magnitude and dura ton comes
nearest to being counterpart Of Liaoyang
There is this notable difference. however.
that at Leipzig the invader was not only
far away from his base of supplies. but
had far weaker force. The Japanese. al
though the invaders are not only much
stronger numerically, but much closer to
their base. Had Napoleon possessed any
thing like the same advantages at Leipzig
there can be no doubt that he would have
gained an overwhelming victory At Lao
yang the Japanese labor under the disabil-
ity of lighting under three separate COM
manders unless 1t be true that Field Mar
shall Oyama, who was reported the other
day to be conducting the assault upon Port
Arthur, has arrived upon the scene of bat
tie and assumed the chief command there
1t will be remembered that Leipzig. al
though an indisputable victory, was not
immedia tely decisive. Napoleon still found
in his genius and In the almost exhausted
resources of France the means of waging
the famous campaign of 1914 That was
because he had firm base to retreat upon
Had the Japanese been beaten at Liaoyang
they would have been equally fortunate
Every step of withdrawal toward the Man
churian seacoast would bring them nearer
reinforcements and supplies OF ammuni-
ton. So long as Japan keeps control of the
sea she will have an Incompatible advan-
tage over Russia in respect OF the distance
of the field of hostilities from their respect
i've bases. The advantage. of course may
be more than counterbalanced by the fact
that Russia has incomparably larger re-
serves to draw upon.