New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-03
. STRUGGLE FOR SEA POWER.

Tho Russian failure to retake 2o3-Metre lilI
confirms the japanese in their possession OF thit
stronghold in the interio" line of Port Arthur
defences OF the exact value OF the loriIIl'd-
zion 10 the Japanese it is necessary 10 ldAe Il
cautious view 1t is said that the Japanese can
mount their heavy guns on the hill ana sweep
tho barhor of Port Arthur On the other hand,
If is asserted that 2O3-NIetre Hill is subject to
the fire of the Russian forts at EtSe-Shan, ana
that the Japanese viii be uhaDle 10 pant inc"
siege guns on II.
If the Japanese can shell the harbor from the
newly captured height their victory is one OF
tremendous importance. The immediate falI OF
Port Arthur would he of no great consequence
10 the Japanese were il not that its taking would
drive from their retreat within the hill-defended
harbor the remnants Of Admiral Wirens fleet.
The sweeping Of the harbor with big siege guns
from 203-Metre Hill would accomplish at once
this first objective of the Japanese without the
slow and costly struggles for the possession of
the remaining powerful strongholds of the Rus
SLAMS AT Else Shan and Tigers Tail.
Since the sailing of the Baltic fleet from Libau
| the struggle has become again as it was when
! japan struck its first blow-one for naval pre-
! ponderance in the Japan Sea. On paper Adj
miral Rojcstvensky's fleet is the superior Of Ad-
! mral TogOS. but the low morale of the Russian
navy. illustrated in the North Sea incident, and
| sells making up the second Pacific squadron rob
a numerical superiority of its meaning. There
| is however. cause for anxiety in Toxic if Ro-
! jestvensky's fleet should effect n junction with
! what is left of the Port Arthur squadron IT is
| 10 prevent this that Japan is bending all her
! energies. How vital it is to her is shown by
the stupendOus sacrifices she is making in hui
man life in order to drive the Port Arthur rem
, nant out into the open sea, where Togo can
smash il, before the fifteen thousand knot voy-
! age of ROiestvensky is at end.
That scant remnant Of once powerful fleet
| hiding beneath the shelter of Port Arthurs guns
| perhaps represents the naval supremacy of the
! East. At least, while the world. with its lessons
/ of The efficiency Of the Japanese navy before it,
| may incline TO believe that Togo would conquer
| all the forces Russia could get together Toxic
! is taking no chances. That is why Port Arthur
| ia being attempted 10y storm rather than nv
| starvation If General St0essers obstinate de
| fence continues successful for n while longer
| what promises to be the most dramatic period
| Of the approaches The Baltic fleet has nj.
| ready completed about half It's tourney. and in
seven weeks more should he i'm the Far East
| In the mean time Japan will bend all her eDer-
| gies to take Port Arthur. or rather chiefly TO
! take, II she mas not already got them in 2O3-
Metre Hill heights which will command the
| harbor so she may drive Wren forth 10 his de-
| struction.
II Japan cannot Immediately use her occr-
| pahcy OF -oo-hetre iiill 10 sweep the harbOr we
may next expect TO hear Of her soldiers storm
| ing the heights OF Etse-Sb8u or whatever forti-
| fcations command the hin with the cumbrous
name. How ouch Japan is willing to pay in
! blood ana lives for command of the harbOr OF
Port arthur is evident from the report that If
teen Thousand japanese lost their lives in TWEEN
| ty-four hours in the storming of 203- Metre Hill