New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-27
NOTES ON THE VAR.

Nothing in current news IS more suggestive. or
would be more important II true. than the re-
port Of n japanese landing at Possiet Bay and
an invasion OF Manchuria- Possiet Bay IS
little north Of the northeastern corner OF Coree,
In the southern end Of Sik-hota-alin. the mari
time province OF Siberia. and IS. OF course Rus
sian territory as It has been ever since Russia
seized that part Of Manchuria from China a
generation ago. But the Russian coast strip
there is narrow. and a score Of miles inland from
the bay the Chinese Manchurian frontier Is
reached. Vladivostok Is seventy-hve miles
away, to the east. The city OF Hun-Chun Is
Just across the border. in Manchuria, with a
range Of hills between II and the bay. Three I'M
portant hiehroads run inland from Possiet Bay.
One runs north and east to Nikolsk. IN Russian
Siberia, an important place on the railroad north
OF vladivostok. being the junction OF the three
railroad lines. one running down to Vladivos-
tok one northward TO Khabarovsk and one
north and west TO Hardin. and thence through
Siberia 20 Europe. The second runs north 10
Ninguta. another Siberian city. on the railroad
between vladivostok and Hardin 1t was some
where in that neighborhood that the Siberian
railroad was recently said to have been broken
by the japanese. The third runs west to Kirin
and thence to Kwang-Cheng-Tsi on the main
line OF the Manchurian railroad from Hardin TO
Port Arthur. Thus japanese invasion from
Possiet Bay would threaten either Port Arthur
or Vladivostok, or both Of them. with the cutting
off OF railroad communication. At the opening
OF the war It seemed possible that operations
would be undertaken in that quarter; and n
discussing plans OF Campaign on FeoruaTy
The Tribune mentioned the possibility or pre-
cisely such an invasion that which Is now re-
ported.
We have had few official dispatches from
Toxic. the japanese government preferrins d
Iolicy Of mastery silence. But one comes to
hand declaring that the action Of Wednesday
morning was not successful In blocking ths
mouth OF the harbor Of Port Arthur. Russian
official dispatches. which have been plentiful
have also insisted that IT failure, and
that the harbor gate remains open the
channel at the point at which at least one
OF the Japanese hulks was sunk. according
to the Russian report, IS only $50 yards wide.
and twenty-five feet deep at low water ana
thlrty-one at high tide. single hulk In such a
waterway might prove formidable obstruction.
Two or three. side by side or end 20 end. might
entirely block II. OF course. there Is always the
question of the strategic wisdom of thus bottlins
up a feet We note tina. British authorities. &C
cordlns to the dispatches OF our London corre-
spondent. regard the japanese attempt as heroic
but foollsh-a bit OF false strategy. There Is
reason to think II well. too. that the similar at
tempt at Santiago did not more fully succeed
Still, I'm such a case as this. while may say IL
would be best TO keep the gate open and let the
inferior fleet come out and get smashed. how TX
II will not come out. but remains inside, thus
compelling the superior feet to remain on guard
when it is wanted for service elsewhere?
1t Is entirely conceivable. for example. that
the Japanese want to block the harbor entrance
at Port Arthur. and then leave only a few
ships on guard. while they send the bulk OF the
feet around to yladivostck- There can be no