New-York tribune., 1904-08-13
AFTER THE SORPIE.

r1,bo Russfap navy has shot It's bolt and has
NOT bit tbe marx. That seems to be the story OF
tho Port Arthur sortie. The object Of that dash
ing move was To make good the neet escape
to join the Vludlvostok squadron or the baIue
Aeet. or nj least 10 iniict some heavy loss upon
the japanese, even though the Russians perlsneo
in So doing. II does not appear that any ma
terial loss las been inflicted upon the Japanese.
We could not expect the Japanese themselves 10
reuort il if there were any; but we may be sure
the Russians would make II known al the earh-
est moment. and II seems likely that the chinese
would learn of II and spread II 10 the world IN
that particular, then, the sortie failed. NeltheF
does II appear that more than small part OF
the Russian fleet has escaped One torpedo
boat got TO Che-Foo, where 1t might have lalh
In safety until the end Of the war had not the
Japanese gone in and seized it, OK when Incl
dent we shall presently say more. Several
others including a damaged battleship have
reached German waters at Kiao-Chau, where
they will probably have TO lie Still till the end OF
the war for If they go out to-day they VIII run
the risk Of meeting the Japanese just outside
There are rumors of few other minor vessels
scattered here and there. The bulk OF the feet
Including all the battleships save the one, Is sup
posed TO have put back into Port Arthur.
Such an outcome Of this brave essay must be
disheartening TO the Russians. They can scarce
its chances Of success or even of profit will DO
far less than those Of the first one Yet If they
do not make one there is nothing left for them
but 10 perish like rats in trap. The Japanese
are remorselessly pressing In closer and closer
TO the citadel. Already their guns are throw
Ing shot and shell into the heart OF Port Arthur
The place scarcely be much longer tenable
There IS no hope Of succOr. II the Baltic fleet
starts tomorrow, as has been promised 1t can
within two months, and it is idle to suppose
Port Arthur can hold out so long. As for Gen
cral Kuropatkin. he continues his retreat to the
north IT is a mastery retreat no doubt, for
which, In the circumstances, he deserves much
praise. Nevertheless, II is a retreat away from
and not toward Port Arthur. No help can be
expected from him. The place appears. so far
as human knowledge and power are concerned
to be doomed, and the ships that remain within
its harbor are doomed with it.
The incident at Che-Foo. TO which we have re-
ferred. is n dsquieting one, filled with ominous
potentialities. Upon the face of the case, the
Japanese seem to have committed one Of the
gravest possible breaches of international law
If the reports are true. they have violated the
asylum OF a neutral port by entering it and
making war upon law-abidlng vessel It is
said they did not know the Russian ship had
been dismantled. That does not matter 1t was
CHINA business, not theirs. TO look to that
Some say they merely tried 10 find out II she
was dismantled, and that the Russians attacked
them while they were so doing But that was
not their business. either. II was for the Chi
nese TO see that the vessel was properly dis
mantled. All the Japanese could do was to
hold China responsible for the conduct OF the
Russian ship to which she was giving asylum.
They had no more business to go In there and
do as they are said to have done than thev
would have TO enter New-YorlI Harbor and seize
Russian ship. The incident as reported, is SO
surprising and so inexrllcable that we must hone
IL will prove to have been misreported or that
the japanese government VIII promptly dis.
avow Nhd make amends for what seems TO have
been an indefensible act. We do not want TO
see Japan breaking the law of nations II would
be an unspeakabie calamity TO have the neutral.
ity OF China violated and the whole Chinese
Empire thus involved In the war