The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-05
FALL OF PORT ARTHUR
NOT A DISTINCT BLOW
Japanese Would Gain No Great
Military Advantage in Selling
Russia's Naval Base.
WHITE GIVES HIS VIEWS

CHICAGO, March Ain an address before
the Chicago Press Club on the Russo-Japa-
nese war, Mr. Trumbull White, the we'll
known foreign correspondent and author,
tonight predicted that with the advance of
the season and the extended military oper-
atoms, the movement of the Japanese
against Port Arthur would lose its relative
Importance. Mr.. White illustrated his adj
dress with large number of views made
from his own photographs OF Siberia, Man
churia and Korea. He said in part:
1T am unable to consider the movement of
the Japanese against Port Arthur to be of
such Vital Importance in the outcome of
the war as 1t is generally estimated TO be.
OF course, the fall of Port Arthur would
be distinct blow to Russian prestige, and
corresponding gain TO the Japanese cause.
Nevertheless, the effect would be largely
sentimental 1t may be suggested that the
another naval base, and that by the elirni-
nation of the Russian feet at Port Arthur
the islanders would be able to shift their
transports at will and make landings wher-
ever they chose. To all appearances. how
ever, they have that condition in effect now
1t is true that the capture Of this southern
terminal of the Siberian railway would
give the Japanese q line of advance north
ward into Manchuria. But il is equally GER
tain that they would be advancing TO the
very place where the Russians are best
and where they are constantly growing In
military force. 1 believe 1t will appeaS a
little later that the assault on Port Arthur
was intended largely for its sentimental
effect, and to distract Russian attention
from much more important movements in
northern Korea along the Yalu river and
northeastward toward VladivoStok.
The Russians are claiming world sympa-
thy because they are a Christian nation
fighting against heather. L do not consid-
e. the position well taken. Ii is true that the
Russians are among the most religious of
people. but / was unable to discover in any
part OF Russia. Asiatic or European, that
the religious system in force had any visi-
bic effect, good or bad, on the intellectual
moral or spiritual life Of the people, either
the Russians themselves or the native
races with which they are in contact.
Predictions to the outcome Of the war
must be made with many reservations.
think IL true now, however, as | have said
many times before. that the japanese navy
is stronger than the Russian navy tdat can
be brought into action on the Pacific. and
that the japanese army which can be
placed in the field and maintained for cam
paigning in Manchuria, Korea and eastern
Siberia Is stronger than the Russian army
that can be brought into the same field for
several months. So far land operations
are concerned, this advantage in favor of
Japan has been lessening continually for
two years. and il is the best evidence OF
the patience of Japan and its desire for
peace that IL did not hasten the war with
Russia long ago when the Siberian Rail-
way was less important factor than IL is
now i'm the reinforcement and maintenance
OF the Russian army in the far East"