The Indianapolis journal., 1904-02-06
.RUSSIA'S STEADY GAME
OF GRAB IN THE FAR EAST
Occupation of Manchuria and
Korea Only Stepping Stones
to Her Ultimate Purpose.
WANTS COSSACK WORLD

slender thread. The Japanese people, IN
famed by Russian aggression, are eager
for a campaign, and between the nation
in arms and the Cars forces there stand
only the ice-packed brain and the checking
hands Of three men-the president and for
eign minister of the Japanese Cabinet and
Marquis Ito.
Let us take a calm, nonpartisan view
of the situation, and see what it amounts
to. Russia has since the Boxer movement
taken from China and held the large line
marked space shown on the map-Man-
churia. This is one of the most colossal
grabs in history, and the events connected
with it are best told in tabular form as fol-
lows:
1S95-Russia compelled japan to surrender Port
Arthur
1S97-Russa seized Port Arthur.
19O0-Russia encroached largely in Manchuria.
1sO1-The Boxer rising enabled Russia to pour
After the war Russia promised China to
evacvate when order was restored
At the end Of the year Russia obtained from
China exclusive trading rights in Manchuria.
19O2-Further rights were ceded to Russia on
promise to evacuate Manchuria within
1sO3@Russia announces that she will not evac-
uate Manchuria unless more exclusive rights
given her-practically sovereignty.
Great Britain. japan and United States bid
China stand firm in refusal. Russia tightens
Russia promises to evacuate southernmost Man.
churia by. Oct. if special rights in the coun-
Japan protests; Russia strengthens her posi-
ton and refuses TO evacuate the country.
Russian troops assemble the Manchurian
border Of Korea and threaten japanese priv
ileges in that country.
Korea is vitally necessary to Japan as a
mainland extension for her rapidly-over-
flowing population. Hence her demand for
the evacuation of Manchuria is a measure
Of protection for her Korean rights.
WORKING HER WAY INWARD.
The Russians have designs upon Korea,
and have offered to divide that country with
Japan. Russias ultimate plan, as gener-
ally, agreed, is possession of the entire
northern coast line of the Japan and Yellow
seas-from Vladivostock round the southern
spur of Korea to the gulf of Liaotong.
In aid of her project she has put 100000
troops into southern Manchuria, and has
fortified the coaStlne of the Yellow sea,
and established menacing posts on the Kor
rean boundary.
This is the situation shorn of all COM
plex details, and if Russia succeeds in
maintaining her unWarranted position the
future Of Japan will be put back 100 years.
This the United States and Great Britain
do not desire, as the rise of Japan is the
most effectual weapon against the aggres-
sion of Russia.
The attitude of China, in the event of
a Russo-Japanese war, is one of extreme
Importance to Europe. If she elects to
fight either for or against Russia, Great
Britain and France, as the allies of the
possible combatants-in-c may be drawn
into the vortex by reason of their respective
treaties with Japan and Russia. These
agreements bring TO either country the aid
of the European ally in the event OF either
being attacked by more than power
The crucial period in the history of
this dispute will be in January. At that
time Russia will be in the grip of the
ice, which will hamper her movements
by land and sea. 1t Is the moment for
Japan to strike. With all her arsenals
and dockyards open, Japan would have
an advantage over Russia, who would
have no harbor of refuge or repair between
Vladivostok and Port Arthur. The former
would be closed by Ice, and the latter would
be the base where Japan might attack the
concentrated naval strength of her op-
ponent
This she desires, as her fleet, although
numerically inferior to that of Russia, is
. newer better gunned, and more speedy.
1t is the gunnery that will count in this
possible naval war.
JAPAN IS NOT AFRAID.
Japan has no qualms on the score of
Russia's huge army. 1t is as impotent as
Germany's army corps are to Britain. Su-
premacy on the sea will decide the issue.
In winter Russia is confronted with
immense difficulties in her one means of
troop transportation-by land. Her base
must be in Europe, and to bring troops
i'm winter time over the gradients and
curves of the Siberian railway is a task
which would be extremely slow, even if un-
molested. But l have reason to know from
a competent authority that Japan, by means
already provided, will blow up this rail-
way in several places, and so cut Russia's
As1atic army off from its base in Europe
BY this IT will be seen that Russia will have
two enemies-Japan and the ice.
Another danger lies in the social condi-
tions of Russia In midwinter the discon-
-
pinch of poverty. Their emancipation from
the tyranny OF local officials has only taken
place on paper. Defeat for Russia might
mean a revolution, and the desertion en-
masse of many regiments suspected Of So
cialism. A Russian victory, on the other
hand. might reunite the nation on the broad
ground of patriotism.
The comparative general forces Of the
two countries are as follows:
RUSSIA
Army (war footing).
100000 men.
5000 guns.
2S battleships
s33 cruisers.
Ia small craft.
$4,000 seamen
so 900 reserve men.
'six old vessels; and one-half the total are
third-class ships.
Army yoo,ScS (SSr msS. mf9S2tins!-
200 guns.
Navy
batteshps.
"a cruisers ,six third-class..
50 small craft.
1000 seemen.
%. COO reserve
IL Is TO be remembered that Russia cannot
withdraw her forces from European from
tiers and waters. For this reason the
whole of Japans strength as shown would
be available against Russia's Asiatic forces
This gives Russia and Japan the following
active forces. allowing for home defense: