The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-07-07
ABOUT PORT ARTHUR.

1t appears from all signs that Japan
has laid her plans to take Port Arthur .
as soon as possible regardless of cost.
This is the almost unanimous verdict
of the people of neutral nations who
have been Watching affairs. The Jap
anese officials meanwhile maintain
their customary discreet silence.
They say nothing of their plans but
90 steadily ahead to carry them to
fulfilment. 1t is hard TO say which
would result in the heaviest losses to
the Japsnese-a long siege resulting
in the surrender of the Russian gar
rison because of starvation staring
it in the face, or a series of des-
perate assaults which, if successful,
might give the city to the Japanese in
short time.
On the one hand the life in the
trenches under necessarily unhealthy
conditions would probably cut off a
great many of the besiegers by disease,
and while the final result might be
brought about without much blood
shed yet the mortality wonld un-
doubtedly be great On the other
hand the losses in killed and wounded
which would fall ON the Japanese
forces would be very heavy, in the
event of their trying to carry the great
stronghold by storm. This time it is
not the Chinese who are behind the
breastworks and the record Of the war
thus far shows that the Russians can
shoot with faif degree of accuracy.
There is report that Admiral
| Alexieff has decided that an attempt
ought to BIZ made to get re.enforce-
ments to Port Arthur and that this
idea is strongly opposed by General
Kuropatkin. 1t is said the Czar set
tied the question by ordering General
Kuropatkin to send portion of his
/ troops to re. enforce the beleaguered
Russians and that Kuropatkin has
obeyed but with poor heart. 1t is
hardly probable that he will make any
really decided effort along those lines
since such action would result in COM
promising his own plan of campaign.
If the plan for endorsements should
fail and Port Arthur should fall while
Kuropatkin's army was thus divided.
it would leave the Russians in bad
position. The Japanese could send
their united army against such part
of the Russian forces as they chose
first to combat. Kuropatkin is prob
ably right and Alexieff is wrong but
that makes no odds so long as
Alexieff's word is the one that is TO
be obeyed
This difference between Kuropat.
kin and Alexieff illustrates the condi-
tion in which the Russian army is to
be fodnd. The generals.ln-chief dis
agree and are jealous of each other
the lesser generals disagree and are
jealous, each fearing that another will
get better chance or quicker ad-
vancement than he; the colonies, the
majors, the captains, the lieutenants-
all are imbued with the spirit of jeal-
ousy and personal interest to such an
extent that patriotism becomes a Sec
ondary consideration. Military disci-
pline among the officers is in poor con-
dition and discord tears the army to
pieces and greatly Injuries its etfi-
cheney.
Taken all in all Japan has the best
prospects in the East at present.
Whether she chooses to take Port Ar
thur now or later, she can very prob
ably take it some time or other. In
the meantime she has the Russians
rather at disadvantage in the in
terror and also on the sea, though
nothing decisive has happened in Ell
Their direction. She controls the sea
temporarily and if she can keep the
Russian fleet separated she can con-
tinue TO control it.