Arizona republican., 1904-10-30
Russian Incapacity.

Russian Incapacity.
 The great significance of the almost incredible act of the Russian warships in firing upon a British fshing fleet is in it's national and not it's international aspect. The latter is quickly settled. The Hague tribunal is to have juris- diction, and all danger of war between ! Great Britain and Russ:a because Of the outrage has been avoided. Of 1 course no one for an instant could sup pose seriously that Russia intend ed to foIce a war with England by a wanton attack upon her citizens. That the act was deliberate or premed- itated is unthinkable. The action of the Russian government with reference to the capture of British merchant yes sells earlier in the war is conclusive. What Russia then disavowed under circumstances where she had a possi- ble grievance she must now disavow where she has none. The fullest repa- ration that can be made will be made, and there will be no international complication arising out of this sad affair.
 Its relation to Russia herself and to he conduct of naval affairs is the really important point. It stamps her in the eyes of all the world as utterly lacking either in capacity or in civiH- zation. It is a mark of the highest possible ineffciency. and the heaviest disgrace that could fall upon any great power. Here is a squadron of warships thousands of miles away from any possible enemy, sailing over peaceful seas, which upon sighting lot of fishing trawIers turns it's guns upon the helpless boats. What sort of management is this? It denotes either condition of utter panic or a reck- lessness equal to that of the small boy with his first gun. Clearly Russia ought not to be permitted to go abroad any where with a warship
 The recurrence of this event after the experience of the Russian cruisers in the Mediterranean and the Russian Vladivostok ships in their foray on merchantmen of neutral nations seems to be conclusive. Russia has no busi- ness with q navy until she learns how to use it. Ii she has displayed little ability in biting her vessels against those Of Japan, her unfitness is a thou sand times better displayed in her in- ability 10 distinguish between friends and foes. Partly this is due to the lack of naval experience. The men who command her fleet know pracu- cally nothing of war upon the high seas. their nerves are at high tension; and. stung by the many mishaps that the Port Arthur fleet has experienced. they are ready to take any chance of injuring a friend rather than let possible enemy approach
 Behind that is their temperament and the despotic system to which they are accustomed. They know only regime in which supreme commands are issued from above, and anybody who does not instantly obey or clear The path is food for destruction. The Russian attempts, in his war with another power. to apply everywhere the Russian autocratic system. When he runs up against the obligations of international law he is probably almost as surprised as is the power that he has outraged.
 The incident, we repeat, will not change international relations or af- feet, probably, the course of the war with Japan. It sets upon Russia. how ever. in the eyes of all the world a more indelibIe stain than would follow the loss of many battles. This dread ful act by which innocent men perish cd and which will bring the offender to abject apology. is an open confess sion of incapal'ity. In addition to the irritation that it causes it will fix in the minds of the whole world the place of Russia as a world power and dis place her from the company of those who have been her peers. A few more episodes like this and the nations may unite to compel the retirement of the Russian navy altogether. and forbid the building and operation of warships by that empire until she has grown wise enough to know how to handle them