Arizona republican., 1904-05-19
PHoENIX. ARIZONA. MAY 1s, 19
The Russians in Retreat.

The dlspatcheS rom Sl. Ie'eIspui : la yesterdays Republican finally con
 Rraned the rumors that the seaport of
 Rpalny. with its piers and docks and
 warehouses, had been destroyed. By
 destroying the town which they had created at such tremendous cost, the
 Russians have prevented property O; immense value from falling into the hands of the Japanese. Most import ant Of all, the Japanese have been de-
 prived of a strong base of supplies from which to operate against Port Arthur.
 There is, in fact, nothing in the news of Dalny's destruction to warrant the
 coAcsusion that the Russians have fall
 cH into a state of despair. It is an- ether proof. rather, that Russia makes war as no other nation makes it. With her war is a grim business. and she cares little for the plaudits of the grand stand. In this one respect, in deed. she is oriental enough to be like Japan. Russia is always ready to re- treat and give her enemy the glory" of
 a seeming victory. if retreat accords with her own ideas of making an effec
 tive campaign. And if. to carry out her plans for destroying her enemy the de-
 struction Of property or the sacrifice of men on a vast scale becomes neces- sary. Russia destroys and sacrifices re- soIutely and without hesitation.
 Napoleon learned this to his. cost at
 Moscow Marching into Russia's cap ltal in September from his dearly
 bought victory at BOrOdino, the great emperor thought to have tAe czar suing for peace at has feet within a few days, and already was mapping out his campaign soT the conquest of Asia. He found immediately. however, that he had cap tgred an empty shell.The Russians had carried out of Moscow all of their trea- sure and portable valuables Of every kind, and two nights after NapOleon's veterans had quartered themselves throughout the city. the Russians that had been left behind applied the torch to Moscow in a hundred places. Within a few hours Napoleon found that he had won desolate waste. Having expected to draw supplies for his soldiers from the granaries and warehouses Of the Russians, he was compelled to see the French army de- prived Of it's food supply by the great Ere. Sadly the return march was begun in October. Hunger and cold as- sailed the grand army. Upon ltH Hanks were the lowering Cossscks. to cut down the weak cad struggling. IL was net un- tii December that the magnificent army r'Aieh had left France in June again rgOssed the Nieman. And what an agulY N sas. or the 100000 soldiers ~-b-Q Bad started with Napoleon in June but -0.e0o lived to see France again. The others lay frozen on the Russian snows or dead on the battIehelds of SmoleIsk or BOr0aino. or had met death at the terrible crossing Of the Beresina.  The flower Of French manhood was gone. It was possible for Napoleon To raise other armies. but his prestige was gone also. with the 4O0.OOO soldiers who had been sacrificed in battling with a Russian retreat With Napoleon the Russian campaign of 1872 was the be- ginning of the end. Waterloo was the foreordained finish.
 Napoleon had refused to take warn ins from the fate of Charles XII. of Sweden. who century be:ore had been lured to his destruction by the retreat ins Russians. Now, a century after Napoleon, the Russians are employing the same tactics against the Japanese. Will Japan be able to avoid the snare that proved % fatal to Charles XII. and Napoleon the Grea;-two Of the great est warriors the world has known? It may he taken for granted that if Kuro- patkir can lure the Japanese army into She fo- interior of Manchuria he will make my sacrifice or money and men 60 accomplish his ends. And he will hght desperately when necessary. jus, as Kutuson fought Napoleon at Boro- dino. Kutuson chose his own ground and still fought a losing battle wi.h it Was the bloodiest bat- tleheld of the century. The losses ag- gregated 10000 men. And it was all in pursuance of the Russian policy of the enemy on and on. farther and farther away from his base of sup plies. Russia ir rich in men. and they will be sacrificed lavishly to carry out the Russian plans. Kuropatkin will fight. just as Kutuson fought. but if possible he will follow his policy of re- treat rntn Japan has been drawn a fa- lgl d.stanSe from the gcl. Meanwhile