New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-16
THE RUSSIAN ADVANCE.
Senator BeUeridge's Brilliant Refec-
ton of the Glamour of BigneSs.


makers. We mention that fact first, for the
reason that Of the two beautifully engraved
maps which illustrate his book one is used as
q frontispiece. where it strikes the eye before
anything else in the volume. and It is one of the
most inaccurate and misleading maps we have
ever seen 1t purports to show, by different
shadings the successive areas Of the Russian
Empire at various epochs in its history, ana 10
give the approximate dates of the chief acquisi-
tons. Incredible as it may seem. this amazing
product OF the photographers fancy shows Rus
STA in the tenth century TO have been COM
pact realm. extending unbroken from the Cas-
plan Sea 10 the Baltic, from the Black Sea to
the Gulf OF Finland, and from the Volga to the
Vistula, at least to the Bug. OF course. as
the proverbial schoolboy knows, Russia did not
then. for some centuries later, possess such
q domain. The area indicated the map as
Russian prior TO the year 1901 includes Nov
gorod, which was not Russian until 1471; Lithu-
ania, which Russia did not begin TO acquire
until 1917 and which was not fully acquired
until the partition of Poland was completed. In
1895: the Ukraine, which Russia began TO con-
suer in 1856; st. Petersburg, which not
possessed fully by Russia until 1902; Esthonia
Lvonia and Courland, which were not Russian
nntf ITO, 1721 and 1895. respectively. and the
Black Sea httoral east Of the Crimea- which was
the last century. In Asia, too, Russia is shown
as possessing eli her present territories prior
20 1909, excepting Khiva and Bokhara- The
TACT is that she did not get the great island OF
Baghalien until 1S75-no Russian set foot upon
before 1S57-and her possession Of the Amoor
provinces dates from 1855 of Vladvostok and
The Manchurian coast from 1880 Of Tashkend
and Turkestan from 1S65-'67. and Of Merry from
1883. These are only few Of the major mac
suracies Of the map. They are sufficient TO
mark IL not only worthless but mischievous.
The second map is no better In some re-
tpeots It is, Il possible, worse. 1t contrasts the
urea OF the Russian Empire with the remainder
pf Europe and Asia. It makes Cambodia a part
" Siam. and the French colonial empire in
Anam and Tonquin part of China, gives the
Ruriles TO Russia, and seems TO divide the Aleu-
tan Islands between Russia and some other Eu-
topean power. Worst of all. the map. though
Intended TO show proportonate areas is drawn
sn Mercators projection, which Of all systems
shows relative sizes Of countries with least ac-
turacy-or with most glaring inaccuracy. The
apparent of Russia is enormously exag-
yerated, to give hopelessly false idea
Thus. the width of the Russian Empire from
EAST 20 west is made TO appear nearly three
times that Of China. while in fact it is less than
twice it There is similar distortion from north
attitude being made TO appear far too great.
Thus. on the map the distance across Siberia
from Cape Chelyuskin to the southern end of
Lake Baikal is made to appear as great as that
from Lake Baikal to the coast Of Java, when
matter Of fact the former distance is less
han half the latter. In brief Siberia, in pro-
portion TO the rest of ASIA is made to appear
more than twice extensive from north TO
south and from east 10 west as 1t really is. The
of distorted map for such purposes of
comparison of areas really seems inexcusable.
IL is true that accurate representation Of a
continent possibly be made on a plane
surface. But that is excuse for selecting the
east accurate of all methods Of cartography.
The appearance of such maps in Senator Bev-
sridge's readable and Illuminating book must
explained suppose upon one of two theo-
lies. One is that the author as We have said
s not fortunate in his map makers. but has been
nexcusably i'll served by them The other. which
nay TO many seem the more probable, is that
he maps were purposely made as they We're I'm
order TO set forth the Russian view of the sub
ect in harmony with the reflection OF that view
which is presented by the book itself. For the
pook does present just such reflection and
hat IS by means the least Of its numerous
merits The author was apparently so well
somed into the very heart of Russian affairs as
70 get what few non-Russians have ever been
able to get-a view Of Russia from the Russian
point OF view. Now the Russian view is essen
tally exaggerated or distorted. Russia seems to
Russians much larger than TO any one else and
much larger than it really is-just on these
maps. Russia is State: Russia is a
Worldl" the words of Mr.. Pobiedonostsef,
quoted IN the volume before us They are an
spitone OF the Russian estimate of Russia But
What are the facts? The Russian Empire COM
prises only 43 per cent Of Asia and 30 per cent
Of Europe in area. 1t has less than per cent
pf the population OF Asia, and less than so per
cent OF that OF Europe. In population Euro
pean Russia is not twice as great as Germany
lnd is little greater than Germany and the
United Kingdom united. 1t is only about % per
cent greater than the United States and at the
present rate viii soon be outstripped by this
country. Russians speak Of the enormous ex-
tent Of their country. But Russia in Europe is
pnly two-thirds as great in area as our own
States and Territories. and is nowhere near as
large as Canada Brazil or Australia The
Russian Empire is big, no doubt. 1t might be
called big, rather than great. But it is not even
rs big IL seems TO the Russians
Another Enthusiastically Russian view is re-
aected most vividly by Senator Beverage in his
chapter concerning the massacre at Blagovest-
shensk. which has been enrolled among the
worlds historic horrors. He gives a composite
aigest OF the accounts given TO him by Russian
colonel. a Cossack officer and a presumably
hussiaD lawyer. In brief, il amounts TO this:
The Russians OF Bagovestchensk got into
panic. fearing attack from the Chinese across
the rivera mighty stream a mile or more wide
So they rose against the Chinese, and the latter
men. women and children-were driven by
the few Cossaclzs" down to the river and massa-
cred wholesale. Three OF four thousand OF