Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-05-17
THE GREAT WAR,

The dispatches from the seat OF war
now indicate that great battles are I'M
minent both on land and sea, in which
perhaps. the war may be practically
decided,
At this time therefore, the opinion
OF a French military expert on the
Russian retreat Is OF interest. Lleuten-
ant. Qolonel Rousset thinks that the
failure Of the Russians to prevent the
Japanese from crossing the Yalu can
he accounted for only in this manner:
| Gen, Kuropatkin, he thinks, has seen
through the strategy of the Japanese,
| who must combine their armies on the
field of battle, moving from widely sep
arated bases, in order to administer
| decisive defeat to the Russians, and
he has withdraw. from the Liaotung
| peninsula, leaving a garrison IN Port
| Arthur, TO give them an opportunity to
| form junction and to fight the de-
clsive battle he also desires. II this Is
not the explanation, he says, then Ku-
ropatkln's withdrawal and the conduct
of his campaign is an avowal of Inn
potence. and Russia cannot long main
tain the struggle.
1t Is also interesting to note that. as
the possibility dawns upon the world
that Russia perhaps has now found
her Waterloo. the fears for the conse-
quences OF her defeat are becoming
more general and more defined. Prof
Frederick starr OF Chicago. for in
stance. does not hesitate TO say, that
the success OF Japan over Russia would
mean the ultimate supremacy Of the
yellow race and the final subjugatlon
Of the white race. He says every race
has its day, and the day OF the white
race may now be about done. . This
may be considered an eccentric state
ment. but 1t indicates sufficiently the
nature of the misgIvings Of some
thoughtful persons
Asia has about $50 ,OOO 900 people--half
the population Of the earth. The Jap
anese are the only Aslatlc nation that
has maintained its independence. All
the others have been conquered. or di-
vided into spheres of influence, Even
Persia is under the sway OF Russia. A
complete victory by Japan would mean
a general awakening Of Asia TO a real
izaton OF its power. An eastern con-
temporary we'll remarks:
1.-THE Chinese people will be given a
confidence I'm the possible results of de-
fenllve action on their part which viii
go a long way toward permitting them
rot only t1 retain such political inde-
pendence as they stlll possess, but to
regain a great deal Of that which UNI
der forced treaties they have been CONF
PEELED to part with. Russia may not
md it as easy to maintain her strict
control oyer the Tartar tribes in the
great central sections OF Asia. England !
may find that the wish for lndepend- |
enue I'm india IN spite of the knowl- |
edge that but FOR her outside control |
the Hindu and Mahometan would fight |
for ascendency VIII be much more |
demonstratiye than II has been. and |
may require the maintenance of larg- |
er Indian army made up Of white |
troops. The same experience will come |
upon the French In Tonquln, and even |
In our own possession Of the Philip |
pine Islands the Japanese victory viii |
cause fermentation in the minds of |
those who have not brought themselves |
to believe that Americans are their |
rghtful rulers. Everywhere the senti- |
ment OF Asia for the Aslatlts will re- |
ceiye increased support. and although |
Japan is not likely TO give any direct |
recognition TO 6gitations along these \
lines, her example, IL she energies from |
this war triumphant will not improb- |
ably be the beginning OF the end, pro-
longed II may % through generations.
of the western worlds attempt 10 lord |
Il over the eastern"
The battles now fought ore therefore |
truly epoch-making. 1t Is all the more |
pity that the news should be 50 unre-
liable, and tardy. For Me war Is Of in
terest to an the world.