Arizona republican., 1904-01-11

1s.O0O' tons. five provided with four 12- inch guns and two with 10-inch. The seven Japanese battleships are uni formly provided with four 12-inch guns, and wisely limit themselves to 6-inch for their secondary armament While their guns. therefore. are more home geneous than those of the Russian navy. they include two vessels. Chin Yen and Fuji. too old to be of much value. and the displacement of the rest runs from GOO to 15.o00 tons. Practically a naval battle will give al interesting test between the larger type of battleship and the smaller, Russia having the latter.
 The modern battleship depends so much upon the character of the men who handle 1t that it is impossible to look upon them as mere machines, but naval experts would probably agree that the seven new battleships of the types which Russia has on the ground are very even match for the five new. ones possessed by Japan. So far as mere material force goes. however. Russia on the Cceap has a probable, not a certain. advantage, and Japan the better equipment. naval base and organization.
 Russia cannot move the rest of it's fleet to the scene of action under six weeks. and 1t cannot do this at all u1- less under a positive assurance that the appearance of England upon the scene would be followed ny actioG from France. On the contrary. therc is eV- cry reascn 10 believe that Francs has declared neutrality, and that the n5si- ton of England is sufficiently dubious to render it necessary for Russia tC keep a part of its fleet Il the BacN sea and the Hattie The tr2o'y be- tween Russia and France applies to European needs. anl neither Franc" nor Russia is. under its terms. required to aid the other iu d!st9uz enterur!SeS. Russia has battleshln in tho M eiit- crranean and a small fleet Cf seven de troyers and four torpedo boats strung out at various points along the route Were war to come. the problem c coalinC would probably prevent thase vessels from Teach!ng the scene os ac- ton, as they can only cCal once in three months at the ports of a neutral power. and the stations along tho route practically all belong to Eng land until Saigon Is reached.
 
 battle must be fought with the forces on the China sea. The issue Of glis battle will leave whichever power wins able t- decide for itself the next step. If Japan wins. it will probably occupy Corea, and can. from that point. by a swift blow. cut the Russian line in two. separate Port Arthur from VIldiv- ostck and roll up the Russian force in detail. IT Russia wins, Japan will instantly pass from the position or an important power on the worlds stage to join the list of Asiatic nations which are no longer considered of weight by European bowers in deciding the worlds affairs. The Japanese fleet out of the way after a naval defeat, Rus sia can occupy Corea at leisure. and when summer comes either threaten Japan with invasion Or force 8 peace diegra ceCul to the island empire
 Russian resources are undoubtedly immeasuredly. greater than those Of Ja- pan. and the great power can, If it chooses. weary the lesser to defeat, in sDi-e Of initial victory at the start. But the Crimean war showed. a@ did the Russo-TUTkish struggle. that Rus sian resources are not organized and carrot be brought to the scene of the conflict. Tn the effort to keep Sebas- tOpol full of men, munitions ar1 pro- visions. the Russian empire foua1 it- self exhausted by taxation, by levies of men and by the Reorganization or production and trade.
 The vast amCrphous bulk Of the em- pirc proved wholly unequal tO the struggle at one point on a distant frontier. Today the scene Of opera tions Is az far from St. Petersburg a7 was the Crlmea, from the capital fif- ty years ago. Whether Russian organ izatiCn in the army and navy has inn proved since then, or even since 1878, no one can tell. Neither Is anyone aware whether the Japanese are really qual to the task Of fighting the mod ern irOnclads, and Of feeding and di- recting the modern army against a European foe, with whom TO panic can be expected. as was the case with China.-Philadelphia Press.