New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-08
THE JAPANESE ADVANCE.

Push things" appears to be the japanese
order of the day. We said yesterday that Gen
eral kurOki would not be compelled TO advance
upon Feng- Wang-Cheng ana there fight General
huropatkin until he was ready TO do so and
felt strong enough TO do with success. He
seems 10 have got ready for such advance
very quickly. Dispatches from Seoul and from
St Petersburg both announce the japanese oc-
cupation Of that important and strongly fOrti-
fed town. There is, however, a difference be
tween the versions of the news. That from
Seoul tells US the place was taken after a hard
battle. That is in accordance with what We
were told from Russian sources a few days
ago, namely, that General kuropatkin was hur-
rying thither with n powerful army 10 avenge
the disaster the Yalu and 10 drive the
Japanese back into Corea. The version from
St Petersburg. on the contrary, says General
Kuropatkin decided not 10 make a stand at
Feng-Wang- Cheng, but retired from il and
let the Japanese occupy II without resistance
That story is in accord with the policy which
General Kuropatkin is said TO have prescribed
the Yalu, but which his subordinate failed
20 fulfil. If IL is true, there arises again the
question which was provoked tho other day:
Where do the Russians propose to make a
stand against the Japanese? There is always
the theory OF grand strategy, under which the
Russians are Turing the japanese on TO a fate
comparable with that which NapOleons army
met at Moscow. But il is made 10 seem i'm
probable by various considerations, one beiES
that the Japanese know that whole country,
with its roads and mountain passes. a great
deal better than do the Russians, and il is not
well 10 try 10 trap formidable enemy who is
more familiar with the trap than you are your
self.
At Feng -Wang-Cheng, at any rate. there
would seem TO be little or no hope OF Rus
sian stroke that would destroy the Japanese
army. To infict such a blow II would be
necessary for the Russians 10 surround the
Japanese with overwhelming forces. But they
could scarcely do so there The japanese have
two open roads behind them, along either OF
which they could retreat ia a place OF safety.
One leads back TO the Yalu River and the other
down TO Taku-Shan, on the shore OF Corea
Bay. or course IL they went on TO Moukden
or even TO Liao-Yang there might be a good
chance for the Russians 10 get behind them
and cut them off. But they have not yet gone
on thither. and they may not do so until they
have disposed finally OF Port Arthur and thus
secured the whole OF the Regents Sword PENN
sula as base OF action. When they have COM
plete mastery OF all below a line drawn from
the 1alu 10 the Lao, n nOrthward advance
therefrom may be undertaken. But such mas
fiery has not yet been secured, and may not be
for long time. Much depends upon Port Ar
thur and the capacity of the Russians for de-
Tending il. on several occasions the Russians
have showed wonderful ability I'm defending
fortresses, above all At SeDastopOl. in the Cri-
mean War. But al Sebastopol they had the
services OF TOdleben. both TO construct the
Notifications and TO direct the defence OF them.
IL remains 10 be seen whether Major Won Han
neken. who designed the Notifications OF Port
Arthur was a TOdleben in engineering and
whether General Stoessel is Todleben in fight
ing At first. IL is well known, Port Arthur
was fortified on the sea front, 10 the neglect
OF the landward side. There has been time I'm
these last three months for the Russians 10
construct works along the land front and to
arm them with powerful guns taken from their
disabled ships. IL the opportunity has been i'm
proved. the japanese may find IL as difficult TO
make an impression upon the place by land as
they have already found II 10 be by sea.
Not the least noteworthy feature OF the IAN
anese advance is the effect il is producing unon
the European mind. That thoughtful and con-
servauye paper. The Spectator" of London
Is actually moved 10 renew a quasi-warnino
against the yellow peril" Beyond doubt II IS
startling thing 10 see an Asian power q, The