The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-03-03
Relative Strength of Russia and Japan.

Relative Strength of Russia and Japan.
Now that hostilites have actually be-
gun in the Far East, it may be of in
terest to compare in general way the
resources of the two countries involved.
If this comparison be made without
reference to the probable theater of
war and the conditions hedging about
the movement of forces thither, the
combatants seem very disproportionate-
ly matched. The Russian empire COM
prises about one-seventh of tine land
surface OF the globe. Including intern
al waters, 1t covers an area OF S,66O,39o
square miles. and its population is estl-
mated at about 129, 1000, 900 inhabitants,
of which 2,095, Gle square miles and 1885,
2G4, 1876 inhabitants were in 1900 CON-
prised in European Russia 1t has an
annual revenue amounting to about
5000. 600, 900, and expenditures some
what in excess of that sum. The Rus
sian army on peace footing numbers
about |, 100,0 900 men and on war foot
ing about 5000 900 men. The navy is
understood to comprise about 10000
officers and men.
Japan, the island empire, comprises an
area of l6l, l9S square miles, including
fbTilOSd anu lu6 tStduolCS. IGo PoPu-
lation, including the islands Speclcal-
ly named, numbered 1000 600 inhabi,
tantS Its total area is therefore less
than one-iiftieth that of Russia. and its
population is but little over one-third
as large Japan has a revenue amount
ing to little over 1921, 000,0O0 and ex-
penditures little under S120, 600 900. Its
army on peace footing numbers about
1866, 600 and on war footing about Co.,
600. Its navy comprises about 10000
officers and men. Japan's total naval
strength is below that of Russia, but
her best battleships are superior to the
best of the Russian vessels, and her
available force at the probable point of
contact is believed to be greater Again
while her army OH a war footing sinks
into insignificance compared with that
of Russia, it will strain the resources
of the latter to bring to the scene of
war body of troops equal in number
to those that Japan may send against
them.
1t should be recollected in making
any estimate of the relative strength
of the two powers with reference to
the employment of military force in
the Far East. that the japanese troops
will be so near their base that they
whereas Russia's operations will have
to be conducted at a great distance
from the center of her power Russia S
troops, of course far Outnumber those
of Japan, but such of them as are to
be employed in the Far East have to be
carried over four thousand miles of a
single track railway, and it will take a
considerable time for her to send over
that road forces sufficient to cope with
those which may be readily placed in
the field by Japan. Toxic is but a thou
sand miles from Port Arthur Koto,
which is to be the imperial headquarters
during the war, is but eight hundred
miles away, and Sasebo, the Japanese
naval base, is but five hundred and six
ty miles from the Russian stronghold
Moreover, only hundred miles sepa-
rate the coast of Corea from that of
Japan, and her seeming ability to COM
mand the sea approaches renders the
landing of troops on the mainland a
very easy matter and, as a matter of
fact, considerable numbers of japanese
troops have landed in Corea within the
last few days. The immediate military
problem therefore, it Will be seen, i'll
wolves not merely a consideration of
the absolute strength of the two Op-
posing nations, but also comparison
of the relative amounts of military and
naval force that may he brought to
bear by each III a territory one-fourth
Of the distance from the japanese capt
tai that it is from the seat of the Rus
sian government. From that point of
view and for the purpose OF the imme-
date operations, the antagonists are
not so Unmatched as they might seem
if regarded simply from the standpoint
of area and p0pnlation.-Br adstreets.