The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-11

@Ffwa N I.ss4lrEnTn AINCE the Russo-Japa-
G: ]: 6: {. :.
nese war began the
japanese have beIiev-
ed that the fall of Port
IN Ny Arthur would mean
the realization of ev-
EnnnaaII II,lnI5 erything they have
sought, the abundant
qualification of their hearts desire.
The occupation of this fortress by the
Russians and their stubborn refusal to
abide by terms which were practically
of their own making were the cardinal
points of their offense, and the earnest,
indignant heart of the island nation
was an ever palpitating unit in it's de-
termination to repair the wrong and
punish the perpetrator of it, There is
no form of defeat so unbearabIe, so ut
terly repulsive TO national pride. as that
which is achieved by diplomatic trick
cry. No succession of Manchurian vic
tories could serve to appease Japan's
national amour propre- Port Arthur
was the only remedy that could heal
this stubborn wound. This was the
spirit in which the doughty little en-
pire, having taken stock of its resources
and weighed with infinite precision the
possibilities sat down before the Gil
braltar and began that conflict which
il knew meant in the event of the most
Since that memorable February day
when the japanese fleet appeared in the
Port Arthur offing there has never been
a moment of hesitation. With all her
cleverness in masking her footsteps
and compelling speculation to take the
place of certainty. Japan has been
childlike in her frankneSs with regard
to her intention to make the capture of
the coveted fortress the main feature
of the war.
Russia. although she had thus obtain
ed possession of an open seaport on the
east Asian coast. was not unconscious
of the slender tenure of her enforced
holding That this was the fact is
proved by the feverish haste with
which she set about to strengthen her
position First. the great Transsiberian
railroad was rushed down to the new
base Fabulous sums of money were
lavished on new Notifications. A vast
naval scheme involving the building of
fleet which should easily dominate
the Pacific was set in motion. Thou
sands of Chinese coolies were put to
work to construct the largest docks in
tie world New forts We're erected and
equipped with the most modern ord
nance. Naval depots were provided at
Nladivostok and the new city of Dalny
Military depots sprang up at Hardin
AMI Mukden. Strategic points on the
Ealu were garrisoned. Under the pre-
tense of promoting commercialism sew
eral ports-some of them in Korea
were seized. fortified and garrisoned.
Now and then faint diplomatic pro-
tests were forwarded to St. Petersburg
but for the most part the nations of the
world held aloof and wondered. 1t is
characteristic of the moral frailty of
humankind that they even admired. No
one was deceived. least of all the for
mer occupants of Port Arthur. The
sleepless national eye of Russias island
enemies was never turned aside. 1t
was no part of Japanas intention to be
precipitate- She saw that her enemys
chaos of preparation was ever on the
increase, and she bore in mind the bur
den of her proverb-that a surfeited
bee has no defense. She could well af-
ford to wait. but not too long: not long
enough for NJ. Alexeieff. A paltry eight
cen months longer would have given
that really energetic Muscovite an OPP
portunity to perfect his details. Japan
waited until that fateful breaking off of
diplomatic relations on Feb. s.. Within
twenty-four hours her fleet, which had
been unostentatiously gathering in Sa-
sebO harbOr, put an end to the waiting
and two days later put an end to Rus