The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-09-08
THE WAR SITUATION.


, ultimately attain that distinction de-
ponds upon the future and may soon
he determined. At present it may be
fairly said that the contest was stub
horn and marked exhibition of mod
ern strategy and tactics, in which the
latest development of artillery, and
especially of the shrapneI fire, bore a
CONSPICUOUS part. The capacity of Ku-
ropatkin is apparent, and, on both
sides personal courage was remark
ably displayed. The desperate ad-
besion to their personal conception OF
loyalty. their Indifference to danger
and their contempt for death, however,
have easily placed the japanese in the
foremost military rank.
The story of the war since February
last results in the success of Japan
to a degree that can be easily compre-
hended without the study of details+
Port Arthur has been invested and
apparentIy is in the last stage of its
resistance The peninsula or irregular
triangle, OF which it is the apex, has
been cleared and the Russians, under
Kuropatkin. hurled back to the north
towards Hardin, which is the local
base of the Muscovite. The recent
Japanese victories have advanced their
lines to the north of Liaoyang, in it
- iohf INN
lance, and third point of defence can
hardly be found, except north of Muk-
den. Japan therefore, has already ac-
auired a strong hold on Manchuria,
after having swept the enemy out OF
Korea, and, unless arrested in its on
ward march. will soon reach the main
line of the Siberian railroad. Then,
after the capitulation or, capture OF
Port Arthur. the Empire of the Mi
kado would be in a position to redeem
its promise of re-delivering the pos
session of Manchuria to China, al
ready having the legal title.
Down to the present, therefore. on
the land and on the sea, japan has
been triumphant Its acquisition OF
dangerous position of Vladfvostok is
another. But, taking the whole situa-
ton together, it cannot be said that
the Mikado's reported prediction that
the war will be long is not likely to
be, verified. The marvellous element in
the contest is the unprecedented adj
vance Japan has made in civilization,
which, as humanity is now constituted,
includes the ability for defence and Of
fence. When the signal was given, it
was as ready as Germany when Won
Moltke touched the button that herald
ed the doom of Imperial France. It's
movements on the water and on the
land have been made in perfect COM
bination and on a settled plan, COM
plete in outline and in detail, and from
which no substantial deviation has oc-
Cured. It's knowledge of the fighting
grounds has proved to be as minute
and correct as a typographical report.
No element of a great campaign has
been overlooked. Neither delay nor
undue precipitancy has been permitted
The game of war has been conducted
like game of chess, and every serious
check has been received by the Rus
slams. Check-mate to all. appearances
is the logical end.
1t may be. it is barely possible, that
the japanese army will be pushed for
ward after the retreating Russians,
until Kuropatkin can select the battle
ground and gain a great victory. But
the history of the last seven months
points the other way. Kuropatkin is
an able General whose advice has not
been wholly followed, and who, under
the circumstances, has shown military
genius in selecting alternating lines of
retreat. So far, however, he has been
fully equalled in ability and over
matched in numbers and in resources
and munitions. Judging from the
record and from historical analogies.
his chance of retrieving his failures is
small.
Friends of Russia, in Europe and to
some extent in the United States, are
busily engaged in sounding the note
of the yellow peril" 1t is essential.
they say, that the march of Japan
should be checked for the safety of
= the world and they claim that the
"cockiness'' of The japanese is so in
tense that, unless they are stopped,
they will exclude the great powers
from Asiatic commerce and virtually
Mongolianize a continent. All this talk
is simply ridiculous. Except in the
single item of fanatical loyalty which
is a powerful element in it's success.