New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-03
THE JAPANESE ADVANCE.

THE JAPANESE ADVANCE.
Rismarck's favorte method of deceiving or
misleading his diplomatic adversaries was by
telling the truth. They assumed he was tell
ing an untruth and something else was the
truth and so deceived themselves. The Japan
csc have applied Bismarcks diplomacy 10 war.
They have been threatening TO cross the Aalu
at VIII. The Russians have assumed that
they were merely feintIng there and were plan
ming 10 make an unexpected rush elsewhere
But the japanese have actually done just what
they threatened 10 DO and a result have
easily beaten their opponents who We're look
ing for them elsewhere and preparing TO repulse
them at some other point. This. at least Is the
most plausible explanation of the doingS OF Sun
day compatible with the reports we have had
OF the Russian strength on the Ialu. II Cen
eral Kuropatkin has indeed between two and
three hundred thousand men in Manchuria, we
must assume that he has put at least quarter
of them along the Yalu TO confront the Japan
csc advance Where else could there be greater
need of them? But we are now told that not
more than five thousand Russians were there
10 oppose the japanese. Where We're the rest!
We assume that they were further up the river
or along the shore near Ta-KuShan, not dream
ing that the japanese would attempt frontal
attack upon fortified positions at the widest
part of the river Yet that is precisely what
That Russians at 81. Petersburg headquarters
should strive TO minimize the importance of the
operations is natural We can. however, scarce
" gree with them in regarding the Japanese
crossing of the Yalu as n mere matter of rOu-
tine. of no real significance and as no reverse
whatever for the Russian arms. There IS
strong evidence that the Russians have for
weeks been planning TO hold back the Japanese
at the Yalu and that at the last moment. when
al attack. they resisted them stubbornly as
possible. The fact that the Japanese captured
twenty eight pieces of artillery shows that they
stOrmed Russian Notifications which the Rus
slams had hoped TO hold. If the Russians had
meant not seriously TO oppose the japanese ad-
vance, but rather to lure them on TO destruction
ia the heart OF Manchuria, they would surely
not have sacrificed their artillery in that fash
ion. but would have hurried it off, leaving only
a few regiments of quick moving Cossacks 10
entice the japanese on with show of resist
ance Whether the Russians had all their avail
able forces there. or. as we have suggested. had
sent them elsewhere and were caught mapping
by q clever strategical trick, we cannot escape
the conviction that they have suffered n posi-
tive reverse of no little magnitude, and that
they are now in n less advantageous position
than a week ago Instead of holding the Japan
csc in COrea until they were ready 10 drive
footing in M&nchuria, and will have 10 drive
them out OF IT as well as out OF COrea-if they
can.
The moral effect OF this japanese victory can
scarcely fail to be considerable Russians and
Americans and others, too, have been saying
that while the Japanese have shown themselves
clever at sea fighting. they would be beaten
badly the moment they came in contact with
the Russian army On land. Now, here is the
Hpc+ hatu lao milo
the japanese nave won victory land as
clean cut and unequivocal as any on the sea
That does not necessarily mean that they are
going TO keep on winning all through the war;
but il Will nightly encourage them and It will
set the whole world 10 wondering when the
Russians going TO turn the tide and begin
winning victories If not at the Yalu, will it
he at the Lao River? Or will they abandon
Lao Yang and Moukden, as they have aban-
dOned An-Tung and fall back to Hardin and
seek 10 contest the passage of the Sungari? 1t
is very well 10 speak OF the losses at the Yalu
as 'pawns in the game; but a successful player
does not sacrifice pawn without gaining some
compensatory advantage, such as is not yet APP
parent OF the Russian side. Moreover, it IS not
merely question Of pawns, but also OF pO-
sition. Eight hundred men and twenty-eight
quick firing guns can easily be replaced: but
not so easily Will the commanding hill forts
along the 1alu be reganed and complete Rus
sian occupation Of Manchuria be restored The
japanese have now shown not merely that they
were abe-to surprise and damage the Russian
feet with their superior fleet, but also that
! they have been able with their army to cross
wide and rapid river IN the face of Russian bat
teries and to defeat and drive back Russian
army by making frontal attack upon its IN
trenched position That is an achievement
which commands military respect