Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-05-14

anese army there dependent upon COM
by sea. Togo's squadron
can probably assure these for some
time, but whether long enough for the
entire transportation. and to maintain
the subsequent advance until Port Ar
thur falls, is more doubtful. Doubt will
disappear II the Russian squadron be
neutralized.
"Newchwang being only fifty miles
from the point where the main road
from the Yalu meets the railroad from
Port Arthur to Hardin, the movement
thence would be of that turning char
acter of which SO much was heard dur
ing the Boer War. Striking at the en-
emy's communications with the rail-
road, 1t compels him at once to fall
back from the Yalu over hundred
miles of rugged and elevate country,
abandoning series of defensive posi-
lions, from which otherwise he must
be driven by successive frontal attacks,
involving heavy loss. The continuous
inpouring of troops toward the Yalu
indicates that this is the Japanese main
line. The persistency of Togo at Port
Arthur indicates, probably, that they
recognize and wish to secure the collat-
eral advantage at Newchwang.
The essential point for the observer TO
remember Is. that the railroad from
Mukden to Newchwang. and the high
ground east of it,-of from 1000 TO
5000 feet elevation,-betwee II and
the Yalu, constitute together the CEN
trail position OF defense occupied by the
Russian army. According to its dispo-
Eifinng estimated hn In
their sea power enables them to accu-
mulate on either side force in excess of
that there opposed to them. II has
been suggested that. Russia having
drawn her force prematurely to this
quarter, has probably weakened her
position about Vladivostok,, and that
Japan may utilize the opportunity to
strike there.
TO me II appears that such a move
ment would be militarily eccentric;
that the objects of the war centre from
the Yalu to Newchwang. this being In
fact, the region demanded of China by
japan. in 1895; that the seaboard, from
the Salu westward, being much lower
than the central range occupied by the
Russians, may admit of successful
thanking movements by the main Jap
anese line advancing from the Yalu,
supported by close cooperation of the
cruisers; and, finally, that to attack
INladivostok now leaves Port Arthur
safe and its feet in being.
1T will be observed that. DESPITE
his evident recognition of the vital
importance of destroying the Port
Arthur squadron, and notwithstanding
the brilliant success of his first tor
pedo surprise against fleet lying at
an open anchorage, the japanese ad-
miral has not attempted to send his
torpedo flotilla inside Of Port Arthur,
Ias was apparently expected by those
the refusal of the United States fleet
10 send torpedo boats inside of Santi-
ago. 1t may also be inferred, from his
frequent disappearance, that he does
not keep his fleet in uniform posi-
ton OF within easy striking distance
OF the ten torpedo vessels inside the
Port. Recognizing that upon the bat
tie turns the fortune Of war vital to
his country, he evidently proposes TO
spare no precaution nor stratagem to
ensure that It shall not risk injury,
unless with the fair chance of greater
injury done the enemy. Apparently.
also, the Russian torpedo vessels have
made no serious effort to modest bat
tie feet OF whose precise position they
are at particular moment ignorant,
but which they know to be picketed
and covered by vessels Of their own
type, II Is too early for conclusions;
but so far the fair inference seems to
be that the irresistible torpedo is a
game, like another. at which two may
play. Upon It certain limitations may
be presumed from the mere fact that
In two months nothing more has been
done by II, Notwithstanding the fact
that all depends upon the relative force
OF the two battle fleets"