The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-12-24
The Russo-Japanese War.

The war between Japan and Russia is the
most savage and ferocious ever known and
the slaughter of men the greatest. Hand to
hand contests have been frequent, the bayonei
playing a prominet part. All known means
to destroy life have been used. The Japanese
use hand grenades, dynamite and explosives
of all kinds against the Russians. The Rus
slams have used barbed wire to entangle the
Japanese, and about two weeks ago dug a
trench eco yards long and 80 feet wide, filled
it with petroleum and covered it with bushes
and grass When the Japanese advanced
they rushed pell-mell into the trench, aud the
Russians set fire to the oil, burning hundreds
of men to DEATH
The loss of life has been appalling. In the
capture of 2O3 Metre Hill alone, near Port
Arthur, the japanese sacrificed $1,000 men.
In all the Japanese have lost close to 10000
men on land and sea, and quite a number OF
TRANSPORTS and warships The Russians have
lost heavily also, but not to the extent the
Japanese have, for they have usually been
protected by intrenchments. The Japanse
not more than half dozen torpedo boats
being fit for service.
The Russian Baltic feet, in three divisions,
is moving toward Japanese waters. Their
place of meeting is unknown, though naval
critics have designated several points. The
ships will be combined before getting too close
to the Japanese fleet. Where is their OBJ
iective point-Port Arthur VIadivostok or on
the coast of Japan-is matter of speculation.
1t is expected the three Russian divisions will
be Joined in a day or two and will be i'll
japanese waters the first week III Jan
uary The japanese, it is thought, may try
to prevent a union of the Russian squadrons,
and they no doubt will be prepared to receive
the Baltic ships. When the contending fleets
do meet some hard knocks will be delivered.
Should the Russians lose, their sea power
would be gone, except a few ships III The
Black sea and the Baltic. With the loss of
their fleet the Russians would be put TO Sc
rous disadvantage They could drive the
Japauese land forces to Vladvostok and Port
Arthur, but no further, as at these points they
would be under the protection of the Japanese
fleets. The war has been on for nearly eleven
months, and it may be said that no special
advantage has been gained by either side.
Probably go. 900 men have been killed and
wounded debts amounting to millions have
been incurred, taxes have been increased, and
pension lists swollen. And for what reason
commercial advantage alone. Russia built
railroad 1000 miles long to Port Arthur, rs
an outlet for trade in the East Japan OBJ
iected, fearing Russia might gain the ascen-
dency in the Orient, and is aiming at a mo-
nopy herself. Negotiations for the evacua
ton of Port Arthur were on for several years.
Japan concluding that Russia did not intend
to give up the port, sent her fleet to attack the
place the first of last February. two days be-
fore war was declared. Russia seems to have
been unprepared for war, while japan had
been making ready for two years
Should the Russian Baltic fleet be able to
cope with the japanese ships, Russia will not
be many months in disposing of the japanese
land forces in Manchuria.