Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-01-08
#istellaneu,1s 8eading.
RUSSIA AND JAPAN.
Comparative Fighting Forces Of tho
Two Nations on the Verge Of War.

! comparative FiSUtun9 TbSco W WV
Two Nations on the Verge Of War.
| Few persons understand what the
row between Russia and Japan is
| about and how it comes that an island
nation with a population 44,26O,606 and
162,655 square miles Of territory should
dare trial Of strength with compact
empire with a population Of 129,0O4.514
and S,630,395 square miles Of territory,
not to speak Of the great disparity In
size Of the Russian and Japanese ar
mics and navies.
Ever since United Europe prevented
Russia from getting an ice-free sea-
port and made the sultan guardian to
the entrance to the Black sea, the
Russians have turned their faces east
ward, seeking by means Of the vast
Trans-S Siberian railway an ice-free
seaport in Asia.
Meantime Japan, weary Of her iso-
lation as an island empire. sought to
gain q foothold on the mainland OF
Asia by securing an ascendency over
Korea, an unmilitary and empty
headed hermit nation of about 11,000,-
900 inhabitants, occupying mountain
Gus peninsular of $4,000 square miles,
which reaches southwark from Man
churia between the Yellow sea and
Japan sea. China and Japan both
claimed to be suzerains over this
weak people.
In order to assert her position Japan
provoked a war with China in 1894
and drove the Chinese army out Of Ko-
rea. She also landed an army corps
in Manchuria and conquered the Prov
ince of Llaotung, which contains Port
Arthur, Talienwan both military
strongholds on the Yellow sea-and
the rich and ancient Tartar capital,
Mukden.
China sued for peace. In the nego-
tiations which followed she ceded to
Japan not only the island Of Formosa,
but the Manchuria province Of Lao
tung. This province reaches from the
north Of Korea to the Gulf Of Pechili,
the sea threshold Of the route to Pc
king.
It exactly suited the swiftly expand
ing ambitions of Japan. 1t placed Ko-
rea helplessly between her territorial
frontiers, gave her the greatest mill
tary and naval stronghold In Asia
Port Arthur-and brought her within
striking distance of the capital OF Chi
ma. The Japanese were delirious with
pride.
At this point Russia, supported by
France and Germany, refused to allow
Japan to take the province which she
had conquered, and which had been
ceded to her. Japan roared with an
ger, but submitted.
Later on Russia built branch OF
her s-Siberian railway to Port
Arthur. which she leased from China
Gradually Russian troops were moved
into Manchuria. Russian officials real
ly administered the government OF the
country, although China was nominal
ly sovereign.
Today Russia occupies and has vir-
tually annexed the province out OF
which she ousted Japan only eight
years ago. She has viceroy, Admi-
raj Alexieff. at Port Arthur.
This situation has aroused Japan to
high pitch Of fury. She wants re-
venge and a vindication. She cannot
bear the sight Of the Russian flag hy-
ing over territory once hers by right
Of conquest.
Besides this, Russia has steadily en-
croached on Japan's influence In Korea
and has shown disposition to secure
territory and seaports from that ma
ton. The Russians have thus far baf-
fled the plans Of Japan in Korea, which
It is assumed, aim at ultimate annex
alton. In other words, Russia has
forced Japan to confine herself to her
islands.
The occupation and virtual annexa-
ton of Manchuria by Russia Is recog-
nized as a violation Of pledges given
by the Russian government. She was
asked by the United States to with
draw her army from Manchuria and
promised to do 1t on certain day. ia
pan too, insisted upon the evacuation.
On the day named Russia failed TO
withdraw, and to show her attitude
her viceroy on the same day paradeo
a great army at Port Arthur, with
banners, music and every symbol OF
rejoicing.
japan seeks to force Russia to retire
from Manchuria and to recognize ko-
rea as a Japanese sphere OF inhu-
ence." The negotiations have gone on
for a long time. 1t has been hoped
that some compromise would be reach
ell.
To strengthen her position Japan
made a treaty Of alliance with Great
Britain in Feb. 1902, in which the two
countries agreed to do everything nec-
essary to maintain the independence
and territorial integrity Of China and
Korea, and also agreed, in case war
should ensue, that II other powers
should join the aggressor in hostilities
against one of the contracting parties,
the other should go to its assistance.
Japan is said to have sent an ulti-
matum to Russia, and 1t Is announced
that unless Russia complies by jan
uary Z war will follow. Both state
ments, however, have been denied Of
ficially.
The whole Japanese army on a war
footing amounts to only 474,77o OF
ficers and men, while the war strength
Of the Russian army is 5,617,703 officers
and men. In time Of peace Japan has
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