The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-24
Warning Forces Glare at Each Other Across
the Banks of the YaIu---Korea Will Be
the Scene of Great Engagements.

space within the theater of war which
an army or armies may desire TO invade
or which ii may be necessary to defend
The theater of war in the Far East
therefore. comprises all of Manchuria,
that section of Siberia in which Nladi-
vostok is situated, Mongolia to the eX-
tent necessary to safeguard the Siberian
Railroad. Korea and Japan and the Lao
Tung Gulf. the Gulf of Korea. the yell
low Sea, Korea Straits the Sea of Japan
and such parts of the Pacific Ocean as
are adjacent TO Japan The field OF
operations. however. may be restricted
to the district lying between Mongolia,
China proper and the Liao-Tung Gulf on
the west, line drawn through Hardin
east and west on the north, the Sea of
Japan on the east, and the Liao-Tung
Gulf, Pechin Strait. Gulf of Korea. and
line drawn east and west through
Seoul in central Korea on the south.
The Topography of the Country.
T'he topography of the territory over
which a war is TO be fought determines
IN advance the general lines of strategy
to be followed by the contending armies.
IL the country is mountainous with few
we'll defined roads, as is the case with
Manchuria. the army acting on the
defensive has enormous advantages.
which the aggressor must overcome by
force OF numbers or greater skill in the
art of war.
The Russians. firmly seated in Man
churia with a constantly increasing
army knowing the only practicable lines
Of advence for the japanese, are in a pc
Sition to offer the strongest kind of OPP
position D the enemy. Any invasion
of Manchuria. except by way of Niu-
ciwang and the Lao and Sungari val
ieys must be over wide ranges of noun
taIrs. which offer a natural protection
for the Russian TANKS. Eight mountain
Ianees run northeast and southwest
through eastern Manchuria. The noun
tains. rising abruptly from the Sea Of
Jaran, offer barrier nearly 500 miles
Wild. between the coast and the Por.
! arthur branch of the Chinese Eastern
Railroad
Only two roads in the least suitable
for military movements pierce these
ranges. One is on the north; this starts
from Possiet Bay and runs northwest
through Hunchun TO Ninguta, through
tie valley of the Gai-Khe. and thence
| in q generally southwesterly direction,
thI ough Kirin to AIukden- The road on
the south begins at Fusan, Korea, and
runs in a generally northwesterly direc-
ton through Seoul, Pingyaps, Anju.
i Chong-Ju, Yongampo. to Wiju. where IL
crosses the Yalu and divides ipto three
i roads. one running southwestward,
across the lowlands and streams to Port
i Arthur. 10 miles away. another going
westward across low ranges and streams
t.. Niuchwang. 100 miles, and the main
!. read, which runs northwest by way Of
mountain gorges through Furg-W Wang
I Chang. TO Liao-yang. where it joins the
road running north through the valley
, of the Lao. TO Mukden and Hardin. II
lis along the Korean section of this road
that the japanese have advanced TO the
Yalu.
On the extreme west there is another
avenue of approach on the Russian lin'
of operation to which sufficient atteD
ton has not been drawn This is b.
way of Chin-Wang- Tao. along the rail
road running through the plain west D
the Lao River to Siu-Min-T ung. which
/ is due west of Mukden. only. compar
! atively speaking, a few miles. Thi
route should be fixed in the mind as
possible line OF Japanese advance. An
other road OF an Indifferent characte
J drops south from Kirin, along the up
; per Sungari and strikes the northern
: apex Of the Y2lu at Maofurchan. Their
, is a trail also from Kuju, on the east
err coast of Korea. over the mountain
and through Maofurchan. by which 4
= would be possible TO reach Mukden
The most practicable route. however
] for an invasion OF Manchuria, II Har
bin be the objective, is by way OF Niu
chwang and UP the valleys OF the LA
and Sungari. Any effort on the cente
OF left flank OF the Russian position
must be over mountain ranges