Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-25
THE EASTERN WAR
EXPERT CONSIDERATION oF THE
RUssIAN-JAPANEsE CONFLICT.
By FRANKLIN K. YOUNG.
fCopyrichted, 1901

Copyrighted, 19O4)
According to the latest dispatches bat
tie of some magnitude has taken place at
Port Arthur. but who gained the victory
and the extent of this victory are not en-
tirely clear According to what purports
to be an official dispatch to the car from
his viceroy Alexieff, it appears that the
Japanese squadron attempted to enter the
harbor. This attempt, it seems. was frus-
trated by the Russian land batteries, sup
ported by the Russian fleet. AS near as
can be ascertained. six of the attacking
vessels were disabled, with no losses to the
Russians Later dispatches indicate that
the japanese fleet is still blockading THIS
| fortress. but this is contradicted by Brit
| ish telegram from Wei-Hei-Wei, which
states that four Japanese battle ships ana
nine cruisers passed that port February "a
bound eastward. There is reason to believe
that brilliant encounter was the result
of well-conceived attempt by the Japa-
nese admiral to force his way into the har-
Dor of Port Arthur and destroy the entire
Russian fleet. The attempt bears the ear
marks of that intrepid yet well-balanced
energy without which no success in warfare
is possible 1t is quite clear that the Jap
anese attack was made in their lines The
first consisted of transport steamers load
ed with combustibles the purpose OF which
was to give light by which the attacking
possible further result of binding the eyes
of the Russians by an enormous volume OF
smoke and sparks from the burning ships.
There is a supposition that the vessels
were loaded with stone and 1t was the
purpose of the japanese admiral to sink
the vessels in the channel in order to pre-
vent the egress of the Russian fleet. There
is reason to believe that the Japanese have
a better conception of scientific warfare
than evinced by such crude makeshift as
blocking up the entrance of the harbor
which they are attacking and into which
it is their object to force an entrance.
Filling up the channel is something often
| resorted to by the defending party. There
are numerous instances in which the de-
tenders of a seaport have awaited of this
| means to keep out the enemy. 1t seldom
has been successful. Behind this first line
followed second attacking force COM
posed of the Japanese torpedo boats. Clear
ly it was their intention under cover of
the confusion theoretically to attack with
| their torpedoes and, If possible destroy all
the Russian warships. The third line in the
japanese battle order consisted of their
battle ships and cruisers. The purpose of
the latter was to follow up any success OBJ
tanned by their torpedo boats. even to the
extent of silencing and passing the for
and taking possession of Port Arthur. A
further military purpose of this third line
was to cut the retreat of the torpedo boats
from any pursuit by the Russian cruisers
in case the attack failed. This plan and
its attempted execution is magnificent and
1t is war
The attempt was justifable, and the loss
of a few ships and few hundred men Is
of small consequence That the Japanese
admiral so sagaciously planned the attack
and so accurately executed its evolutons;
that. in spite of the fact that he was re-
pulsed. the retreat of his second line was eff
fected in good order, under cover of his re-
serve squadron, is a display of talent for
war on the sea which every military mind
will recognize. On the other hand, there is
something good to be said for the Rus
slams The Russians were attacked at an
hour and in a manner which. as the jap
anese admiral sagaciously planned for, gave
every advantage to the aSSailant. 1t is quite
likely that the Russian pickets, both on
land and water. were attending their duty.
Nevertheless the fact remains that the
Russian garrison in the forts and the men
of the fleet We're called to arms out into
the cold and darkness from a sound sleep
in their warm hammocks. So accurate and
well sustained was the fire of their cannon,
both from the forts and from the ships,
that the first line of Japanese vessels SEEM
ingly were sunk in short order, and before
it was able to produce an effect Not
WlthStandinE the destruction or their hrSt
line, the Japanese torpedo boats seemed to
have resolutely pushed into the attack Re-
ports are conflicting as TO the damage done
to these. 1t is clear that they We're re-
pulsed with ease and decisiveness by the
splendid craftsmanship of the Russian gun
ners. The facts brought out by this bat
tie seem to be the truth of the Russian
statements that their fleet has suffered no
permanent injury from the early naval as
sauts of the japanese. Another fact es-
tablished is the efficiency of the Russian
| gunners: in the dark and cold of winters
| night to sink half dozen steamers in mo-
| ton is good shooting. If the report is true
! that the Japanese fleet was sighted going
! east the maneuver at this moment is mex
plicable from the military standpoint. The
| contrary report that the japanese feet
still blockades Port Arthur most likely 10
| true.