Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-31
RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

The Russo-Japanese war, which began in
the harbor of Port Arthur on the night of
the Sth of February, was due to Russia's
policy of playing fast and loose with her
promises as to Manchuria and to Japan's
fear that Russian aggression in Korea was
a direct menace, not merely to her colonial
development, but to her national existence.
Through its first three months the conflict
was distinctly naval one, the advantage
resting steadily with the mikado's fleet.
His seamen demonstrated that the torpedo
boat Is a fighting craft of immense capa-
bilities, while the seeming ease with which
they put out of action nine battle ships, ten
: cruisers and dozen and more torpedo
boats and other vessels, at loss to Japan
of but two battle ships, two cruisers, one
torpedo boat and transport, has opened
the eyes of the world.
On the last two days of April the Japa-
nese army, under General Kuroki crossed
the Yalu, driving back the Russians under
Sassalitch, and from that time interest has
conferred In the land operations, which have
included two of the greatest battles and one
OF the greatest sieges known TO history.
One of History's Greatest Sieges.
The defense, well as the SIEGE of Port
Arthur has been one of the most remark
able of modern times. Since the japanese
isolated the fortress on the 9Th of May Gem
eral Stoessel, It's commander, has MAIN
tanned himself, with force which has
dwindled from 10000 to 1900, against a be-
sieging army which has Appropriated 10O,-
coo The fleet. under Rear Admiral Without,
which might have been of primary value to
the town, was dispersed and in part de-
stroyed in August, while the battles at
Lao Yang and Shake river definitely cut off
any assistance from the Russian forces to
the north.
These actions at Lao Yang and Shake
river will take place among the worlds
great battles, not only because of the num-
bers engaged and the appalling casualties
but because of the desperate character of
the lighting. The statement that short
range warfare was thing of the past was
given the lie through the whole of the
eleven days action at Lao Yang, opening
on August p, when 100000 Japanese, under
Field Marshal Oyama. defeated lGO 900 Rus
slams under General kuropatkn. The to-
tai casualties were not less than % coo
Ihese hgures were surpassed at Shake
river, where the fighting continued Octo-
Der IL TO %. The number killed has been
officially given as 1900. with casualties OF
Gl.6I9.
Kuropatkin's promotion in November to
supreme command in Manchurla and the
simultaneous recalling of Viceroy Alexieff
shows that Russias government now shares
with the rest of the world the belief that
the general has been the genius and the
Ficeroy the marp.ot OF the years campaign
Cost and Lessons of War.
When 1904 goes out the war will have
lasted 327 days. and will have cost not less
th3n $opo,OOV,UoO 1t has taught the world
that what seemed impossible may be ac-
eomplished by good team work in an
army. The feat of the japanese in win
ming victories on ground of the Russians
own choosing, of outfianking them, of out
fighting them, and especially of following
Kuropatkin's mastery retreat so closely
after days and nights of continuous fight
ing, has been one of the remarkable
achievements of military history.
To the world at large the most valuable
result of the conflict thus far has been a
more definite understanding as to the right
OF search and of what constitutes contra
band OF war" which has been gained
through the prompt action and diplomatic
skill of Secretary of State Hay Through
his initiative IL has now become recOgniz-
ed part OF international law that fuel and
foodstuffs are not contraband per Sc while
the action OF two Russian cruisers In the
Red sea, in what will go down to history
as THE Malacca incident has determined
definitely the length to which vessel or
belligerent feet may go in the right of
search.
The North Sea Incident.
In the last days of October It looked as
though England might be drawn into the
conflict. Russia's Baltic fleet, sailing for
the far east under Vice Admiral Rojestven-
sky, on the night of the 22d fired upon some
English trawlers. The Russian command
ers later declaration that he had been at
tackled by Japanese torpedo boats, and
that the trawler sunk and the loss of Eng
nsh lives from his fire had been regfettabIe
but unavoidable accidents" was not be-
heved either by the British people or the
world at large The cutlery for "satisfac-
don was SO great as TO alarm all Europe.