New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-10
NOTES ON THE VAR.

A Russian dispatch. General Kuropatkins
tells US that the Japanese advanced very eau
tiOusly upon Feng-wang-Cheng. At the same
time English dispatch says the celebrity Of
the recent japanese movements was remarka-
BILE. Between the two there is no discrepancy.
Taken together. they lucidly set forth the whole
manner OF the Japanese campaign and 20 far
toward explaining the success it has thus Tar
attained The Japanese have been particularly
cautious IN their advance until they have made
all preparations and fully assured themselves
OF the ground before them. Then they have
moved and struck with startling swiftness.
Another observer at the front says the Rus
slams are being defeated because OF their per-
functory. old fashioned methods. That may be.
We said in these columns at the beginning of the
that the Russians would probably not be
found so up to date as the Japanese. But that
fact is poor basis on which to estimate the
whole course and ending OF the war. Remem-
Der that precisely the same was said. and was
largely true. of the British at the beginning Of
the BOer war. But in the end Roberts and
Kitchener 'got there. all the same" The Rus
slams may or may not get there" but their
doing so will not be determined by any such
detail as that at this stage Of the conflict.
Speaking OF the South African war. # was
then that the verb ito commander came into
general use, Now 1t is being used in East Asia
as II ito the manner born" 1t is a notable
down 10 five years ago the act IL expresses was
performed Just as frequently as now, and some
other word words were used 70 express II
Who can tell Ofrhand what those words weref
Ehr-Tai-Tsu and other places mentioned as
the scenes OF cavalry fights in General KuroS's
advance TO Feng- Wang-Che are on the
straight high road to the latter place from
Kulien-Cheng. The Japanese plan was. then
to follow the enemy swiftly by the shortest
n mn nd rrily yn1 a
fore he had time to recover from the former
decentralization. Some thanking detachments
were sent by other roads. however. and tneSe
converged upon the common goal Just at ths
right time-a trick the Japanese practised 70
perfection in the Chinese war ten years ago
The Japanese seem to have been LANDING
simultaneously at many places on the Regents
Sword. and swarming all over the
lower part OF it. Pu-Lan-Tien. which they are
said to have occupied. is ON the railroad near
Port Adams. Wa-Fung-Tien, which they also
seized. is on the railroad a dozen miles furtne'
north. Beyond doubt. then. the Russians VIII
have no more use of the railroad TO Port AT
thur There are also reports of Japanese troolSS
IN the neighborhood of kai-ChOw, also caL's
Kai-Chau. and Kai-Ping. That is an importssn.
town on the railroad less than twenty-nSr
miles from 4tng-kOW, the port or NeW-ChMans-
Practically, then. the Japanese are in fun Of
cupation Of the entire peninsula. eXceptlhg "a.
extreme tip, where Port Arthur resoluteiy hOir rv
A,a
built 'by order of the Gar is said 70 De IN - -
hands of the Japanese, affording them u
harbor for their fleet. less than SCOTS y
miles from Port Arthur.
Reports of Russian raids into Corea may y
true. There IS reason TO believe that de'a0"
ments OF Cossacks were sent TO various poiHS
along the border long before the JapaH0
crossed the YaIu. Some OF these may not ~
have heard what has happened at kulien-Cnehs
or II they have may think the best service ~
can render to the Russian cause Is 70 efedsos
disturbance in Northern COrea and perhalIs
provoke some OF the tribes to rise. Inc - -
U.s. anything TO annoy and hamper the JapaiiS'
The Russians estimate that they W.
outnumbered by the Japanese six to one on "
YaIu. Those were heavy odds. though IL nus.
be remembered that the Russians were on ga "a
defensive, in entertainments while the Japa..rk
had to cross a broad and swift river 10 aesari
them. Those circumstances went Tar ~"
counter balancing the difference IN numo@H