New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-07
WAR VIEWS OF EXPERTS.
Many Still Confident of Eventual
Russian Success.
IERoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

Washington. May 6.-Ths military experts
who have been holding the view that the Rus
SLAMS will eventually achieve success in the war
with Japan are not at ell disturbed. as some
Of their opponents expected them to be, by the
confirmation OF the reports OF the Japanese oc-
cupation Of the Liao-Tung Peninsula They adj
nit that they did not expect this. and they in
slst that It would not have been possible had the
Russians been prepared for the most rational OF
Japanese operations. The unpreparedness OF the
Russians. they say. was clearly in the direction
of numbers. and this Is explained by the theory
that the Russians must have been counting on
and preparing for the less likely among strategic
events. So far the Japanese in their encoun-
tiers on land as we'll as on the sea have far OUT
numbered the Russians. and the officers Of the
latter are now severely criticised for their te-
merity in refusing to give ground which the
Japanese could easily take by reason OF superior
force.
If there has been any element IN the war
which has engaged the attention OF experts here,
It has been the unwiIlingness of either Japanese
or Russians to surrender in the face of certain
defeat. Had the Russian commander on the
Yalu appreciated the situation as he should have
done. he would have retreated without DELAY
and at night giving the Japanese their present
position without such cost OF life. The resist
ance shown by the Russians must have its ef-
rect on the japanese. 1t shows that the Rus
slams are not going to give UP without some
thing more than a show OF warfare.
Army officers who have accepted as true the
report of the Japanese occupation Of the coun-
try north of Port Arthur say it is evident that
the Japanese are bent on taking the peninsula
and they consider IL proper strategy on the part
or the russians at this stage in the to re-
treat northward. Some OF the experts believe
this is the Russian plan and that all the rolling
stock of the railroad has been moved out Of the
way or the invader. who will be left to occupy
the peninsula as far north he can penetrate.
IL Is of advantage to the Russians to have the
Japanese In that part Of Manchuria, II they are
10 Do anywhere In that country, for IL win cost
Japan much TO supply an army there. and the
experts who feel that nothing can interfere with
eventual Russian success see IN such situation
an that Is or dement, TO the Russians and every
tnhs that Is harmful to the Japanese. The
latter, they say. in that event would be left In
Precarious position, and finally at the mercy OF
the russians, who are near their base OF sup
plies at Noukden. from which point OF mobiliza-
ton they can descend on their enemy when the
Japanese supplies and munitions OF war have
become exhausted The position in ManchurIa
adds TO the risks OF the conflict for the Japanese
and some officers have held that they ought not
TO have entered Manchuria at all They saw IN
is only a question of time when the Russians
viii reinforce their commands In Southern Man
churia, and will settle the question in the long
run on their own terms