Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1904-02-10
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RELATIVE STRENGTH OF RUSSIA
AND JAPAN.

RELATIVE STRENGTH OF RUSSIA
AND JAPAN.
In an article on Korea as Prize
of War in the February Review Of
Reviews, J. Sloat Fasset sits forth in
terestingly the relative strength of
the contending powers, Russia and
Japan, and the following is his re-
sumo of relative conditions:
" GAS to the relative strength of Rus
STA and Japan available for the pur-
pose of a land and naval war in the
Orient, there is considerable differ
ence of opinion. According to the
military budget of Russia, her army
would seem to be about 100000.
According to the budget of the JAP
anese Empire, her army would seem
to numeber about 100000, with re-
serve strength of 100000 more. Many
Russia's military strength as in the
neighborhood of 100000, and even
higher, and some estimate the mill
tary strength of Japan as at 100000
and higher AS to the efficiency of the
military organization of the two en-
pires, critics differ. The naval
strength of Japan is confessedly
greater than the strength of Russia in
Oriental waters. Russia has on the
Asiatic station seven battleships, with
one battleship, the Ossliabia, at pres
ent in the Mediterranean, which be-
longs to the Asiatic squadron, and
another, the Alexander III, which is
to be sent out in the spring of 1904.
She has four armored cruisers al
ready in Eastern waters, with another
on her way out, which was at Bizerta
on December Is last. She has six
protected cruisers of the first class in
Oriental waters, with two on their
way out which were at Bizerta on
December 10 last, and one protected
cruiser of the second class. She has
twelve torpedo-boat destroyers in
Oriental waters, and seven on their
way. out. She has six torpedo boats
1 at Port Arthur, ten torpedo boats at
J Vladivostok, and four on their way
out from the Black Sea.
Japan has six battleships and six
armored cruisers, eighteen protected
cruisers, nine unprotected cruisers,
and a greater number of torpedo boat
and torpedo-boat destroyers than
Russia, and has two armored cruisers,
which she recently purchased, on the
way out. France, the possible ally of
Russia, has only one battleship in the
Orient, four armored cruisers, three
protected cruisers, with number Of
smaller boats. England the possible
ally Of Japan, has five battleships on
the Asiatic station, two armored crui-
sers. eight protected cruisers, and a
large number of torpedo boats and
torpedo boat destroyers, and smaller
boats, besides having at the East In
dia station five protected cruisers.
Il Neither Russia nor Japan can well
afford to have war, for it takes money
to conduct. successfully, modern war.
Russia's national debt is in excess of
$4,000 100000, and the most recent ifs
cal report shows deficit in revenues.
RJapan's debt is $279,0o0 900, and she
Japan's debt is $279 100000, and she
: has only about $26,00O,oo in cash on
I hand. But the issues at stake are SO
important, events grow so rapidly,
II the concern Of Russia and Japan Is 80
intimate, and the actual situation OF
Japan is so desperate, that ordinary
B considerations Of prudence may be
brushed aside and war begin, the out
& come Of which no man would be rash
4 enough to undertake to prophesy, fur.
Their than that 1t is bound to be Of
most momentous interest and conse.
qnence to the world at large al
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