New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-16
VAR views OF EXPERTS.
Dalny Good Base for the Jap
dHeSe.
IFRoM I'VE rRIBuNE BuREAu

Washington May I5-The military e1perts
have seized upon the morsel OF information from
che-Foo that there are Atty thousand japanese
on the Liao-Tung Peninsula 20 make some estl-
mate Of relative strategic advantages al this
stage Of the war. I, has been supposed that the
japanese force in the Manchurian district did
not equal the strength given In to-day's dis
patches There has been nothing upon which a
guess could be based. but n has been the notion
OF the experts here that the japanese were not
IN any such force on the peninsula regardless
Of the apparent ease with which they took the
important strategic points lately occupied by
the Russians
The acknowledged destruction % Dalny or
that part Of Dalny which would be 81 military
value % the invaders Is an indication that the
japanese have brought into the vicinity an army
OF at least nifty thousand. and perhaps more.
Even this possibility does not disturb the theory
OF American officers that the Russians are play
ing 2 cool and quiet game which IL large enough
N its stake 20 make the destruction Of Dainv
mere incident. the acceptance OF the siege 81
Port Arthur trivial anair and the desertion 81
New-Chwang and other points OF Russian ad-
vantage tustinable means 10 the end. The ex-
perts here md nothing in the events IN Man
churia during the last two weeks 10 interfere
with the idea that the Russians know what they
are about and are proceeding along a defined
line Of policy which will result in japanese con-
fusion and disaster when the right moment ar
rives
AS has been repeatedly stated IN these dis
patches, the naval officers take the opposite
ground. and to-day they are more than ever
convinced that Russian chances Of ultimate sue
cess are becoming less and less. with hopeless
ness for the cause OF the Cars forces which
would in a short time give pause to Kuro-
patlxin's plans. These the American naval OH
GERS say. consist IN eTecting the masterful
retreat OF the general who wants 20 save as
much as he can from an energetic and powerful
enemy. Naval experts here regard the Russian
evacuation OF Dalny as Of immense advantage
20 the japanese. affording the latter the oppor-
tunity OF establishing base OF supplies giving
them an accessible and fortified place OF land
ing. and furnishing them with a rendezvous for
ships against the time when the much heralded
Baltic fleet appears In Aslatc waters
Neither army nor naval experts here regard as
likely the current story OF the fall OF Port Ar
thur. II the japanese have $1,000 men on the
peninsula. and n there are 1900 Russians I'm
the Port Arthur garrison. the opposing forces
are not III matched. for the American experts
say that Il would require that numerical
strength in the offensive army 20 do anything
against 1900 we'll trained men defending
established works. With the entrance to Port
Arthur protected against japanese Invasion
from the sea-in the form OF submarine mines
warshlps and the coast forts-there is little to
fear from the japanese vessels. while the Jap
anese force the land might be able 20 cut the
telegraph. destroy the railroad and sit down In
| front OF the garrison without special menace to
the Russian at Port Arthur-provided. Of
course. that that garrison Is sustained by n
years supplies Of food and ammunition II
would be possible. I'm fact, for the Russians 10
do much damage to the besieslns troops under
such conditions.