New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-11
THE PRoGREsS OF TIE WAR

Our impressions yesterday OF the serious nat
ure Of the blows inflicted upon Russia by japan
seem to be amply justified. About half the
effective force Of the Russian Navy was put
out Of service in the course Of a few hours.
Little news comes from japan, and there is
yet no positive report OF any important loss TO
her feet II is probable that if any had Oc-
Cured we should have heard Of Il from some
source. Any slight damage to japanese ships
may be disregarded, for the reason that the
feet IS easily able 10 protect 4 wounded mem
Der. and the facilities for prompt repair are
ample and close at hand. That cannot be said
OF the Russian ships, for there is only one dock
for them, at Port Arthur, and it is said to be
entirely inaccessible to ships Of great size. Big
battleships such as the Retvisan. for example.
cannot get into the inner harbOr. even. not to
mention the dock. For such vessel to have
a torpedo hole in her below the water line, and
then TO be beached on the open coast outside
the harbor. must come perilously near to mean
ing her total loss.
In another respect our first impressions are
confirmed, namely, that the japanese would
show themsel1 es as patient as they were dash
ing, and as tenacious as they were daring. 1t
win he remembered that they displayed these
qualities 10 the surprise Of the world, in their
war with China. They made at Port Arthur
one OF the most successful night attacks and
surprises in the history Of naval warfare. But
then the next day they returned again and
again to the attack IN the light, and with their
opponents fully warned Of their movements.
Also at Chemulpho they are reported TO have
given the Russian ships a certain number of
hours in which 10 get ready. come out and be
gin the fight, and To have waited patiently until
the time was up. There is, by the way. some
- -
ginning the war. Russia resents The sudden at
tack upon Port Arthur as n treacherous one,
made without due warning. There seems TO
be little ground in any case for such structures,
because formal declarations Of war are no
longer required by international law. nor even
prescribed by custom. while, for warning
the weeks OF constant preparation on both sides
for war, and the breaking Off OF diplomatic re
lations, coupled with the direct declaration by
japan that she did so I'm order to be FREQ 10
take other action, We're certainly ample warn
ing Of impending war. There is. however. an
apparently authentic statement, made upon high
authority. that the first attack was made and
the first hostile shots were fired. not by Japan
at Port Arthur, but by Russia at Chemulpho
II this shall be confirmed. as seems not i'm
probable. Il viii be an effective and destructive
reply 10 the Russian complaint
We may now regard the japanese as having
fun command Of the sea. The remains OF the
Russian feet are apparently doomed either 10
destruction or 20 capture. The japanese are
therefore free TO proceed 10 their invasion and
occupation Of COrea, and they seem 10 be carry
ing that process forward rapidly. The Rus
slams are also probably pouring troops into
Corea from the north. and al any time we may
hear OF a land battle In which the result OF
the sea fights may be repeated or may be re-
versed. Upon land the belligerents viii meet
on FAR more equal terms than on the water.
The strategic advantage is, however, on the
side OF the japanese. For the Russians must
invade Corea by land, and by way OF the one
great road from New-Chwang to WIFI cross
ing the lower part Of the Yalu River; for at this
time Of the year the passes over the Shan-Ah
bic. But the japanese, with the command Of
the sea and with their enormous transport ser
vice, can land armies at almost any point on
the Corean coast and they might moreover,
by sending a naval and land force TO the Yalu
River, cut of the Russian line OF communica-
ton at the rear, and give the invading army
serious trouble. There are other possibilities,
such that OF storIning Dalny and OF cutting
the Port Arthur Railroad at Kai-Chow, which
the near future may develop. What is certain
is that the japanese are showing themselves
masters Of the art Of aggressive warfare, and
that for the present they seem to have the
upper hand