Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-05
japan and Russia.

Russia's reply is speeding to the Japanese
capital, and doubtless In a short time. per-
haps a few hours. the issue of peace or
war between those countries will have been
definitely answered. either through formal
declaration by Japan of the insuf1ciency OF
the note or some unprecedented encounter
precipitating the conflict without formaii-
ties 1t is of course, still possible that
Japan may find the note susceptible of such
construction as to lead to further negotia-
tons: but the latest understanding from st.
Petersburg is that this utterance is Rus
sia's last on the subject This declaration
seems to close the doors to further efforts
to solve the problem pacifcally through
diplomatic channels. The only other posi-
bilfty is that Japan will find the answer
satisfactory a contingency which appears
to be thoroughly discredited In all the Euro
pean capitals and to be given no credence
here.
Should the war come there Is no doubt
as to the American favorite in the fight.
Japan today has the strong sympathy of
probably nine-tenths of the people of the
United States. Its whole career has been
such as to enlist the kindly interest of this
nation. 1t was opened up to civilization at
our direct Intervention. 1t was encouraged
through the first years of emergence from
its eastern darkness by American consid-
Grafton and aid. 1t received some of its
first lessons in western civilization from
our hands. In a measure 1t has become
the strong young giant of Asia because Of
the wholesome ideas and the substantial as
sistance 1t has received from the United
States.
Today Japan is regarded here as worthy
of American moral support IN its present
predicament not only because of this history
of mutual understanding, but because of
the pronounced American belief that it Is
right in the controversy with Russia. The
United States regards Russia's course in
Manchuria as SubverSive of all that is good
in modern international intercourse. as re-
storative of the old standards of ruthless
might and indifference to right. Such a
course, continued to it's logical end in all
the relations of the powers. would lead soon
to universal and unending warfare.
Specifically, the United States abhors the
Russian Manchurian program. because 1t is
a threat against this country's trade pros
poets. This country mistrusts the Russian
program, despite the fair words of today.
1t remembers the words of yesterday.
which have been ruthlessly ignored. 1t is
disposed to consider the broken promises
be broken Thus a further reason appears
for the intense pro-JapaneSe feeling with
which the people today scan the dispatches
from the far east. If war must come the
American hope and prayer Is that it will be
quickly decided in Japan's favor, and that
the cost to the island empire may be light
and the fruits definite and well secured
In point of war means Japan is by no
means overmatc hed for the immediate en-
counter even by all the weight of Rus
sia's great area and population and re-
sources. While its navy Is not as large
as Russia's. it is believed to be stronger in
Asiatic waters. and for the purposes of the
immediate clash the advantage Is thought
TO be with Japan.
So, in comparison of land forces, while
Russia's standing army is vastly larger
than Japan's, the Japanese soldiers imme-
diately available outnumber the Russian
soldiers in Manchuria. If Japan wins in
the naval conflict and gets control of the
sea 1t can transport troops and REIN
forcements more quickly to the scene Of
battle than Russia. which must rely on the
long single-track Siberian railway for the
transportation of reinforcement5 from Flu
rope. If Japan does not win the first great
naval battle. it's chances of victory in the
war will be very small.