The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1904-01-07
RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Are the two combatants ready for
the conflict If it comes off now?
What is their relative military naval
and financial strength on the spot,
and what will be the possible effect
of this war upon the combatants, as
well as on the world at larger" These
and other questions are answered in
the January Forum by Mohammed
Barakatullah, who says:
"There is no doubt that both Rus
STA and Japan have been preparing
for this eventuality for several years.
1t is a matter Of common knowledge
that Russia has at present in Chinese
waters a powerful fleet, almost equal
to the Japanese fleet in tonnage,
speed, armament of ships, and armor.
She has also been storing Welsh coal.
like Japan, for six years. AS to the
Russian army on the spot, ever since
Port Arthur was snatched from the
victorious Japanese, Russian troop
ships and transports have been land,
ing men, arms and supplies in Chi
nese territory; and the Siberian rail.
way as soon as completed also began
to pour it's swarm of soldiers into the
Orient. Russia has thus collected, Of
report goes, 100000 troops in the FIJI
East, to oppose which the MikacH
has 100000 trained soldiers ready u
be modified at any moment In ~
gard to the possible effects of the W.T.
upon the rival nations, to begin wit
the navies of both countries will 10
crippled, If at least one OF them i
not completely wiped Que OF exist
ence. The clock Of their progress
will be sent back at least quarter
Of century; for it is difficult to be
live that Russia, under the present
circumstances, can conquer the island
empire and dictate terms at Toxic, OIL
vice versa. Japan possesses a decid
ed advantage over her opponent II
having the base Of operations ant
supply close by, while Russia will
have to bring everything from across
the continents necessity which will
tell heavily upon her sinews of war
She will no longer remain dominant
Power, as she is now, in reference t.
world politics. If she should moi
come off best in the fight, it may BIZ
that this war, will turn out the begin
ming of the end of the Russian EN-
pire in the Far East, for an active
anti-foreign agitation is going on
within China itself, under the, aus
pices of the famous SaR-hohui, OF
Society of Triple Harmony, from
which emanated the Boxers who fig
ured SO prominently during the
events of 1900. The following extract
from its circular inviting members t.
attend the meeting to be convened
on the twenty-fifth day Of the Second
Moon is rather suggestive: In these
days the hearts of all people are ii
at ease because foreigners are every
where selling our Inheritance. -.
We are ground down in the dust
When shall we be delivered?
so it is possible that before thu
conclusion of the Japanese contest
Russia may have to try conclusions
with the Boxers Of the Land of Thu
/ NehlAus LICl ISNCto0 III llt
East would also give an impetus Il
revolutionary societies to make mat
tiers warm for her at home. Thu
general effect Of the war upon RnMz
would be similar to that of the 9@N
African war upon England, il u
worse, so that both these countries
would be on a par for some time Il
come in the necessity for improyin,
their condition. Politically, Ger
many would then become the frs
Power in the world, and the CONNER
cial supremacy would be shared be
tween Germany and the Unitet
States. France, the ally of Russia
would be of little avail to her in tn,
Orient, for the people of the republi,
would not allow their government Il
participate in conflict in the Fa
East while Germany remained neu
Il