The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-01-09

the booty of war Japan really needed that terri
tory as an outlet for her dense population. IL
lies almost at their door, and they understand, as
no others do, the characteristics and sprif OF IT'S
peope. Out of Manchuria, three territories CT the
size of Japan could be carved but her population
!; eiobtcen times as dense as its own. If all Aus
+,;oTTunoary were crowded into Montana, he
pressure of population would approximately equal
that in Japan But Russia, surprised at the easE
victory of Japan over China and vexed at the
brown mans ambition, induced the other powers
of Europe to unite III protest SO Japan WAS
forced to relinquish what she had fairly won. One
other possible outlet is left for the Japanesc--
Korea 1t is to safeguard her Interests mere
threatened by Russia which has brought affairs TO
an acute stage Notes have passed between ICkio
and ST Petersburg but Russia, usual spars for
delay.
Neither nation is in condition, inancial'E,' to
90 to war, but that will not stop them FROM fight
ing, if fight they must. Russia spends billion
dollars per year. most of which is raised b. grind
ing taxation. Her public debt is more than So.
50O,0oO,0Oo and she pays $150000,00O year i'll IN
terest In war time Russia put i'll he field
100000 men and $4,000 officers for whom there
are 100000 horses Shrewd guessers say there
more than 100000 Russian soldiers in Mau"huria
how.
What has Japan with which to meet all ;his!
Quoting from a writer III Every body's Magazine:
TO begin with Japan's people ere animated by 4
patriotism which borders on fanaticism, and
which counts it privilege to make any sacrifice
for the national honor. The Russian autocratic
government, unhampered by popular feeling:
though it may BE-, will have 10 such advantage IN
this war as it might with western nation FOR it
will meet government enthusiastically supported
by every citizen from prince to ricksha cGGlic
Japan is poor, but such people engaged i'll such
war will count nothing hardship of dcrriva-
ton which furnishes means to the common end
And there certain advantages of position II;
her favor which Russia will not find it easy to
overcome. Japan is compact aId we'll withia her
self. Her population of 460ON,0OO can support no
such army that of her antagonist, but what there
is of it is in position to be used suddenly and to
strike swiftly"
As against Russia's peace ser.y OF 1,100100.
Japan can muster by the mcat rigorous summons
icsa than $4,000 The japanese debt is $2500OO.-
O00, only one-fourteenth GREAT as Russias huge
debt, only one-ffth as much per capita, bue it is
large enough Tor Japan.
well known military o!sec-er has said III
Sreaking of war between japan and Russia that
he foundation of the strattgilal future will b.
The command of the sea-" III lat brief sentence
ilca the key to the struggle. To save herself,
Japan must win in the naval cor test No ore re-
aii7cs it better than, the japanese and their new
ravy has been built to insure them the victory
Four of her battleships lead the worlds navils In
number of ships Russia outclasses Japan. But
the Russian ships are divided into three fleets one
ii the Baltic, $4,000 miles from Port Arthur, and
another 5000 miles away in the Black sea. To re-
into"ce the far eastern feet after war begins VIII
be impossible, for Russia has not a coaing station
on the way, and to the friendly French stations
would be violation of neutrality by the French,
which, under the terms Of her treaty with Japan,
would force England into active assistance with
he. ally.
Such in brief, is the situation ii lay1nan
woe bold enough to predict rcsults. and many are
vain enough to do so, he would give the best of The
lighting at the start to the japanese. But towards
the end it will look like a small man trying to stop
great stone from rolling down hill by getting IN
front of It, He may check it at the start but after
while his strength gives out; he is obliged to let
go, and the stone rolls over and brushes the life
out of him.