The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-02-18

In response to your request for
something about the seat of war, |
will Just touch upon some of the
stragetic points which / CHANGED to
visit In a tour Of some two thousand
miles about the Japan and Yellow
Seas.
Starting out from Nagasaki, in Ja-
pan, the first place | struck that has
become conspicuous in the present
war was the vicinity of Saseho, the
point of assembly and departure for
the japanese fleet. To me it was
noteworthy as place of refuge for
two days from a typhoon which very
likely would have sent us to the bot
tom had we been out on the open. l
would rather take my chances In
battle than in one of those terrific
storms of the Eastern ocean. Knowing
we'll the threatening aspect of affairs
over there [ could hardly dream that
within a year and a half the magnifi-
cent war fleet of Japan would be go
ING for Russia hot-footed right over
my tracks. Indeed, / could not dream
Of much Of anything under the wild
roar of that tempest, the tossing OF
the ship, and the awful smell of the
ships cabin.
Fusan was my first landing in Ko
rea. It lies lust across the straits, a
hundred miles westerly from Japan,
and is destined to be, when a rail
road now building becomes connected
with the Siberian railroad. the East
ernmost terminus of Asiatic rail
roads. Fusan is a place of perhaps
twenty thousand people, with Japan
csc and Korean settlements. For 300
years the japanese settlement has
been held as an outpost for their
trade and extensive Korean fisheries.
/ Though not vet much heralded it is a
place that cannot fail TO become of
great strategic Importance, as the
commercial gateway into the heart of
that country. Under the japanese,
who are now building 800 miles of
railway into the interior. Fusan IS
alive with engineering operators need
ed to make it great mart Of trade.
twenty-five miles to the southwest
of Fusan, shut in behind islands and
promontories lies a secluded harbor,
/ that more than any other spot is the
lstragetic prize for which war IS be-
! ing waged. It is the harbor of Ma
/ sanpho. For position and security it
must become the Gibraltar of those
iseas. Whoever holds that has the
key to the situation. Within two or
three days of sailing distance lie the
possessions of Japan, Korea, China.
Germany, England and Russia. To
which of the two great nations now
! in contest will it fall as the prize of
war? Russia wants it. About four
years ago she thought she had its con-
cession safely in hand through diplo-
matte wheedling. Once it were hers
/ she could dominate the straits of the
/ japan sea, link together Port Arthur
and Vladivorstock. now so isolated
from each other by 200 miles Of sea
route, bid defiance to Japan, and
gather TO herself for commercial as
well as governmental a prestige over
/ 500 millions of Asiatics. But just
! then Japan interfered with the trade;
had it called off, and then bought up
/ the land about the harbor by individ-
i ual purchase. The japanese felt they
could not afford to yield that KEY of
/ influence to its colossal rival. Till
now neither party has ventured upon
/ its occupation. When / was there it
was but lonely spot, only the crud
est beginning of town, on the land
locked bay only a little mat covered
quarantine boat not much larger than
saucepan and asmall italian gun
boat rode at their quiet anchors. Now
Japan has taken naval possession of
Masanpho. And they say, whatever
may be the issue Of the war they will
not let 90 Of it.
Though Masanpho seemed peaceful
enough when / was there it became
the scene of a small international
struggle between my travelling party
Of three Americans and the officials
Of Korea We had committed the un-
pardonable crime Of taking out Of the
country without a license, for the
space of % miles four Korean coolies
and our Korean servant. Tt seemed
as if the only expiation for such an
/ offense against the edicts Of the