The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-08-26

The GAME AT STAKE
Port Arthur and It. Value to Both
Russia end japan

Port Arthur and It's Value to Both
Russia end Japan
Mukden correspondence Of the st.
Louis Republic: at the time these
pages are being written the fate of the
great Russian fortress at Port Arthur
hangs in the balance. At the time
they are published Port Arthur may
be relieved or it may have fallen. If
1T is relieycu, the Japs will haYc failed
in their great object in the war and
might as we'll endeavor to make terms
for themselves as soon us possible; but
il they haye succeejed! 1t is almost
impossible to overestimate the blow
Russia would receive by the fall of
Port Arthur.
The hundreds of millions OF rubles
sunk in the magnificent wharycs and
splendidly built town OF Dalny, and
in the dredging, building and fortii-
cations of Port Arthur will have been
shut out forever from the Pacific, for
the seizure of Saghalien will enable
the japanese to enclrcle Vladivostok
with girdle of forts extending from
Masampho to Cape Elizabeth: and the
great 'rransSiberian railway will have
failed Of its main object, for it will
have no ice-free terminus in the far
east, and will meyer have anv chance
OF paying its current expenses, let
alone being profitable Investment,
unless the Russians agree to the most
humiliating terms of peace.
These terms would comprise IN the
first place, the construction by the ia
panese OF a branch line from Korea to
Lao Yang-a concession which would
have the effect of placing, after a
time, all the carrying trade between
America and Siberia in the hands Of
the Japanese, and of making the Ja-
panese port of Fusan the real termin-
us of the great TranS-Siberian rail-
way, and, in the second place. the
perpetual limitation of the number of
Russian vessels in Chinese waters to
perhaps not more than one or two
small gunboats.
These humiliations would be STU
pendus, but they would be only the
prelude to others more stupendous
still, which would follow the awaken
ling of China by the roar OF rs Japanese
canon.s pussia's prestige in Asia
would be forever shattered, England
wonld lose no time in grabbing Thib-
ct, and the Sikh and the Ghurk;l
would laugh at the idea of India be.
ing invaded by the men who had been
thrashed by the little Jap. Russia S
expansion would be forever stopped.
II l were Russian the mere
thought OF how much depends upon
Port Arthur would be almost unbear-
able. Even to one who is absolutely
Impartial, the surrender of the 10000
white men to yellow army, an army
which they regard as heather, must
seem one OF the most tremendous dis
asters which European nation could
1 possibly meet with as we'll as one OF
the most important turning points in
the history Of the world.
Then the scenes by which this sur
render--lf there be a surrender-will
probably be proceeded must strike the
most sluggish Imagination. If they
find themselves without ammunition,
without one hope of relief and expos
ed to the fire of the japanese fleet and
of same Of their own captured batter
les, the Russians will undoubtndly be-
have as they did at Moscow in 1872
they will blow up their dock, burn
every house ana barrack in the town
and finally blow up all their remain
ing warslips.
7. By that time the entrance to tile
harbor of Port Arthur will probably
have been blocked by the japanese,
and the warshlps will haye to be
blown up in the small inner harbor.
in spite of the loss of lite ashore,
which is most sure to follow. .
This blowing up OF a whole fleet will
be the most awful spectacle that war
fare has so far exhibited; indeed, im-
agination staggers at the thought of
it. Now it is not at all likely to be
followed by Il general surrender, for so
far there have been no surrenders in
this war. A few days ago several
sotnias of Cossacks exterminated a
number of japanese squadronsa at
Wafangou, and in no single instance
during this fierce hand.tO-hand Strup-
gle was quarter asked for or given.
Russian officers tell me that onsetae
= occasion Of ono of f),o povol onrono