New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-17

How win hostilities. II they take place between
Russia and Japan. terminate? What are the
hances for the plucky little island kingdom to
Yin from the gruf old Russian bear? How do
heir fighting forces compare? What kind Of
war would there be? questions answers to
which could be depended being an accu-
rate forecast would interest people all over the
world Russia Is 30 chary In dispensing In
formation regarding the numbers and move
nents OF her troops that It is difficult to make
an accurate comparison OF the relative merits of
the forces of the two countries.
War between the two countries would give an
opportunity to test the merits OF modern
vessels such as has not been afforded before. The
war between China and Japan furnished some
sharp and interesting fighting. but It was not en-
such a scale would be provided by Japan and
Russia. In the Spanish American War, while
the vessels engaged at Santiago were modern in
type. the Spanish vessels were neither fit nor
efficiently manned. So neither war gave the OPP
portunity that the great powers would like to
have for observing the possibilities and effect
iveness Of the floating fortresses which they
have constructed at great expense. Some OF the
military strategists have arrived at the conclu-
sion that until the naval situation had been
cleared up no aggressive military operations will
probably be undertaken. Either the fleets must
bat. or one withdraw beyond the sphere of con-
tact before either country would attempt an in
vasion Of the territory of the other.
Japan's fleet has a tonnage Of perhaps $780,
600 or 100000. Aside from torpedo gunboats
a.. destroyers CO. with 10 building) and mod
ern torpedo boats 46, with many building), her
fleet has displacement of Ill ga tons. 1t con-
sists of 6 battleships. armored cruisers and ID
protected cruisers Japan has also bought from
Argentina two cruisers. named them the
Kasaga and the Naisin, and they are on their
way to Japan, having passed through the Suez
Canal in the middle of the week. OF the battle
ships, four have displacement OF more
than 1000 tons. The remainder are Of
than 1900 tons displacement All
are supposed to have speed of Is knots
hour. The Oldest of these have been
a1oat only seven years and four have been in
service less than four years The armored
cruisers are almost exactly of the same size,
being just short Of 10000 tons displacement
Their speed ranges from 20 to 21.5 knots. None
vice. Like the battleships. they contain the
most modern appliances for warfare. The pro-
tccted cruisers range between 200 and 47S4
tons displacement. One has n speed of 81 knots,
another Of % knots, two OF 22.5. four of 90 one
of ID. two Of 17-8 and three of 1871. The squad
rons OF battleships and armored cruisers will
compare favoraby with any equal number Of
ships Of similar date in any navy. There are
other battleshps, still useful, but not con-
sidered Of great value. Sixteen of the so knot
destroyers built in Great Britain and -four
in Japan Japan has the great advantage OF
being able to her own fortified ports as
naval bases. She has four well equipped dock
Cnnttuuod an fourteeuth paxN