The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-05-13
MAY BE A DRAW.
Outcome of the War May Be Victory
for Neither Side,


! Washington May l2-"The American
press" said well Informed traveller who
has just come from the seat OF the
Asiatic war. but whose o1scial position
precludes the use of his name, may not
be over-estimating the Importance of the
japanese victories, for these are remark
able, but it is certainly overestimatine
very greatly their effect in Gripping the
| Russians. The war has not progressed
nearly so far most Americans sup
pose; nothing has yet occurred TO make
me regard the outlook as at all enc sided.
THE further westward the japanese
get the more their condition opproximates
that of the Russians in relation to q base
of supply, except that nthe fight for
the possession of the Liau-Tung PENN
sula, of which Port Arthur and Dainy
are the terminal points. the Russians are
at a great advantage; they have the rail-
road from Hardin down to these ports.
Hence, the Importance of the recently re-
ported landing on the eastern coast of
the peninsula. If the japanese army in
marching overland from the Yalu regions
divides into three columns. the Russians
will find it out, and can mass their men
by moving them up or down the railroad
just where they are wanted. The Jap
anese army might aim at a number of
strategic points on this line but march
ing overland it must show its hand much
earlier than the. Russians need to with
their railroad Unless this line OF COM
munication can he broken. the japanese
will continue to fight at great odds.
MANY of my friends in the east. includ-
ing a German strategist and a Russian
military oIscer who has gone over the
subject with entire calrnness, think that
before many months the war will develop
into draw game Japan will hold GER
tain places from which Russia cannot
dislodge her. and the further efforts OF
the japanese to push inland and west
ward viii prove fruitless. Then it VIII
become a question of endurance. and an
opportunity for the play of European
diplomacy. The Russians are not yet
crippled even on the sea. as most Amer
leans seem TO think. although they have
met with some humiliating losses 1 think
these Port Arthur reports today are much
exaggerated. just as was the first news
from there. Nor can we tell how IMPORT
ant was this land battle of May l. or to
what il will lead. There may have been
a great japanese victory without COM
mensurate results.
The newspaper correspondents in the
east have had 4 hard time. They have
been bottled up in Toxic. and other jap
anese cities for the most part. and treated
with Oriental politeness and to regular
rations. The japanese have not wanted
them with the army. for the reason thar
appeal to every government which IS
fighting in dead earnest: at the same time
ii did not want to offend the representa-
tives Of England and American news-
papers whose reports would have so
much 70 do in making public opinion in
the countries whittier Japan must chiefly
look for aid. Tho CORES ondents have az
last been allowed TO get near the scene,
but under limitations. / understand. TO
which they were not subjected In the
Spanish-American war and other recent
struggles While I was in Toxic, they
were still waiting. One day they would
call al The foreign Office and be Informed
that Efforts were making 20 press their
claims: the ner day they would be in
formed that the general star had their
REQUEST under adjustment hCt had not
vet been able to make an answer Fin
ally. they were given eoTl;uissary priv
leges which at q high price they found
very unsatisfactory. and they were able
TO see little o. nothing. / never knew
such d,syusted set Of men as these
were: but just n ! vSs leaving Japan.
on the ith Of April. the impression pre-
vailed that they were az last tn enter
the promised land and from what az
pears in the newspapers since ! have
been here I Judge that they have been
let tn
Mrs Mary Ee.fer has proved herself
heroine ~ Charlotte. y. Y. by rsscuing
with a rowboat a pleasure party who
were ciiuSinS 70 an overturned yacht
The members Of the New York CITY
Federation ot wonaens clubs are Super
stitIons. ard they refused 10 elec; thir-
teen women 70 the board Of directors
Miss Sophie Wright. secretary OF the
Kings Daughters. At New Orleans de-
elares that progressive eachre parties are
worse than gambling !