The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-02-11
THE WAR IN HE EAST.

At last the agony Of suspense is over
and Japan and Russia are getting
down to business There will be
bloody times aud the whole world
will await the results, which, what
ever they are, must b. OF great inn
portauce. Especially will this war be
watched by other countries because it
is the first time in recent years that
two great nations have stripped for
battle with the chances Of war really
in doubt. During the rast decade
there have been four wars OF consider
able importance In 1894 japan and
China fell out and as a result japan
for the first time became recognized as
a nation that it was well to reckon
with in figuring out International
politics China at the same time was
relegated to the background as a great
example of weakness.
In 1897 Turkey aud Greece went to
war but the struggle was important
more because of the eagerness with
which the great European powers
watched it and the possibilities OF
their becoming involved, than because
it was of international consequence in
itself The war between the United
States and Spain at its outbreak babe
fair to be struggle of first impor
lance. but it took but short time for
America TO put an end to all of
Spain's hopes. With the loss of COM
paratively few men the maps OF two
continents were changed and the world
beheld the United States taking rank
as a naval power of first grade, and for
the first time recognized the enormous
resources this government could call
upon if necessary. From 1899 to
1902 the fight between England and the
South African republic dragged on I'M
til it finally wore itself out There
have been other wars during the time
but they have been of little conse-
quence
Now the youthful, wide-awake
Japanese nation, but ten years ago
brought into prominence by the war
with China, is to measure strength
with Russia At first thought it
seems as though Japan is presumptu-
Gus. With a population of 43. 1853, =
1913 in 1898 Japan is to be pitted
against Russia's 1919, 004, 5l4. Japan
has less than two hundred thousand
troops on a peace footing and on war
footing can probably muster six hun
bred and fifty thousand. Russia has
about an even million of soldiers OH a
peace basis and four and one half mil
lious can be called upon for war The
figures look bad for Japan.
But the battle is not always for the
strong. Japan is near to the seat of
war on land She can handle heI
troops much more easily than Russia
and with far less expense srd risk.
If she can strike quickly, before Rus
STA can pour her countless thousands
into Korea and Manchuria, she may be
able to overcome such troops as are
already there, though just how many
there are nobody can tell except
the Russian authorities. Moreover, re.
suits on the sea may go long way
in deciding the issue and there Japan
has slight apparent advantage. The
Japanese will be fighting, as they be-
lieve, for their very existence an q
nation, while the Russians will be
more like machines Perhaps japan
can win on the sea and at the same
time pur the Siberian railway out OF
commission and win on land at once.
If she can do that she can stand of
Russia in all probability in spite OF
the latter's efforts.