Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-01
THE EASTERN WAR
EXPERT CONSIDERATION OF THE
RUssIAN-JAPANEsE CONFLICT.
By FRANKLIN Z. YOUNG.
(Copyrighted. 1e04.)

fCopyrignted. ly04.D
The operations Of the Japanese fleet I'M
der Admiral Togo have displayed much
talent and fine energetic aggression. But
from the standpoint of military critics all
these attacks on Port Arthur have not
advanced the cause Of japan to an ex-
tent in any sense commensurate with the
time wasted. According to the reports sent
out from British sources it would seem
by this time that the Russian fleet is
very nearly demolished. If there is any
truth at all in the reports of the last
naval battle before Port Arthur it Is mani
fest that combat took place between
Japanese and Russian warships in the open
sea off the harbor. This is a very singular
circumstance, and it denotes one of two
things. Either the Russians were tricked
into the idea that the Japanese fleet had
departed and sent out a squadron to re-
connolter, or, what Is more probable, the
japanese fleet advanced toward the har-
Dor in such numbers and with such de-
termination that the Russian commander
was obliged to counter attack. 1t seems
quite likely that the Russian commander
feared the success of the japanese evolu-
tons and nothing can be more compli-
mentary to the plan of attack thus SEEM
ingly devised by Admiral Togo. Outside
of this there is little to be discerned at
the present moment.
The losses and injuries on both sides most
likely are heavy, but it is quite clear that
the victory remains with the Russians, for
the reason that they effected the purpose
for which they fought, namely, to prevent
the japanese fleet passing the forts and
entering the harbor of Port Arthur. On
land there is reason to believe that the Rus
slams have taken up a position upon the
westerly end of the northerly- mountain
range in Korea. This movement apparently
is made in large force and seems to be due
to the fact that the Russian commanders
recognize the hesitancy of the Japanese
operations on land and feel strong enough
to hold this advance position until the ar
rival of reinforcements from Manchurfa.
This action by the Russian army of the
Yalu is supplemented by operations OF the
Russian force acting from Vladivostok. Ac-
cording to the dispatches, large bodies of
Cossacks are overrunning northwestern
Korea, and already are patrolling the east
erly coast. The advantages thus acquired
by the Russians in the past three weeks are
tangible and permanent. They come under
the head of strategy, and properly availed
OF should exercise a more or less decided
effect on the campaign a whole 1t al
ways should be borne in mind that the pur-
pose of Russia in this war is two-fold; that
is, her objects are to occupy Korea with
her troops and to destroy the japanese
army. To gain time to concentrate an over
whelming mass of soldiers about the falu
river is all that she desires to do at the
present moment The Japanese have oblig-
ingly afforded her not merely time and OPP
portunity to do this, but they seemingly are
landing their whole army in Korea, thus
making it possible for Russia to effect both
of her much-desired ends by one fell swoop.