Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1904-02-10

human race, in her possession, with countless mil
lions Of lives at her dispOsOl, Russia could carr.
her plan Of conquest back into Europe by way o
COnstantcOple.
! Never was conceived a scheme OF vaster proper
tions
II japan had been left undisturbed by Admira
Perry, it is quite probable that Russia would haV,
been able to advance to the lower end Of KoreaI
peninsula in one continued march OF force and di
plomacy. But Japan, with her students in th,
great schools OF Europe and America, awakened t.
acute sensibility, has recognized that she mus
either fight now or look forward to the day when
greater conflict will be made against overwhelming
odds.
AT this hour, Japan, it is believsd, has the nava
and military force necessary not only to drive Rus
sia from the borders OF Korea, but even to destroy
her power in the valley Of the Amur Russia had
no idea OF bringing about conflict at this juncture
She had depended upon the confusion in the Euro
pean and American mind as to her Far East prob
lem. If necessary, she weuld pretend to retreat
from Manchuria. Expert in diplomacy, she hoped
to distract the attention OF the world by expressions
calculated to allay distrUst. But for she has
OVerreached herself. The civilized world has sud
denly awakened to the true situation.
If the Trans Siberian Railway we're twenty Years
old, dOuble-tracked aud up to date in every equip
ment, with officials trained by long service, the
matter would be different. But no military mar
having experience in handling troops over our ne w.
ly constructed Western railways, will believe il
possible to move any considerable body of troops
over singe.tract four thousand miles railway
or twothOusOnd- miles, if you choose to consider
camps at which mil tary supplies are doubtless ac
cumulated in quantities.
The history of new railways In the Western par
Of the United States has been one Of washouts
sinking Of tracks, improper ballasting and acci
dents due to light rails and imperfect equipment
traveller who came over the Trans Siberian road
Just before its completion, represented the distance
between switches at which trains could be turned
out, as averaging thirty miles over long stretches
OF territory American engineers say there has
been much bad engineering. Tracks have been laid
in exposed pOsitisns, and the story is told of q
stretch Of three miles Of ties and rails having been
hoated away during a single food. Only forty.
Our.pOund rail is used, which is too light to stand
any heavy or continuous traffic.
To hurry forward reenfOrcements over such q
single track railway is work which would not have
been undertaken with equanimimity by even that
great expert in military railways General Grenvie
NJ. Dodge.
There is much mystery as to just what force Rus
sa has available at this hour. Certainly it can be
nothing in any way capable Of meeting that which
japan can put in the field. Nor does Russia's feet
In the East seem to be capable Of meeting that Of
japan on the basis Of equality. But powerful bat
tie ships and cruisers their way from Europe
as reeniOrcements. The position in which Japan
finds herself, then, is:-
both as TO her army and navy, now as she can hope
to be in the near future.
Second. The maintenance Of this extensive equip.
ment is serious matter to Japan's finances. II
maintained for years. it would in itself be exhausting
Third. Russia, moving her troops over her new
y constructed railway is IN worse position to-day
than she Will ever be IN the future. Constructing
iOrtihcatiOns, moving in additional supplies, per-
haps training native troops, bringing up reinforce
ments OF the best Russian artillery-every hour Is
adding to her strength In another year she will
be twice IS formidable as she is to-day.
Fourth. japan, in position to fight Russia's
feet upon basis Ofequality, probably feeling Ger.
tain Of victory, viii be endangered II she permits
Russia's Atlantic feet to arrive.
Everything therefore seems to point to the neces
sity Of immediate action upon the part Of Japan,
and it s confidently believed that even before these
pages will be OF the press, war win either be de-
Clared or in progress without declaration.
While France has agreed to aid Russia in the
event OF another power coming to the assistance Of
Japan, il s incOnceivable that republic should be
so short sighted as to support g policy which is
diametrically opposed to everything which France
holds dear. Already there have been pronounced
expressions in Paris against giving support to Rus
sic. When the time comes, It is probable that q
French sentiment which has not been consulted In
the making Of this treaty, because ii was an affair
Of diplomats rather than affair Of peoples, will
be discovered to be in the ascendent.
Another phase Of the subject is the position Of
England. Weakened in India and without military
forces worthy Of the name, she recognizes that she
cannot permit the navy Of her ally Japan to be Wp-
ed of the seas. Therefore the slightest danger to
Japan's navy must mean its reinforcement BY
England.
Nor is it probable that Germany, however friend
y to Russia, viii view With anything but disiavOr
such aggTandizment Of Russia as will leave her the