New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-02
WAR VIEWS OF EXPERTS.
Transportation Facilities a Most I'm
pOrtdnt Point NO1C.
-QuusIatsd London Ns~A
tFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU


Washington. May Nov that the Japanese
have crossed the Yalu. the results of further
operations. army officers here say, Will depend
much upon the facilities OF transportation on
both sides. In this respect from what be
learned here the japanese appear TO have the
present advantage. They have acquired what
may he described generally as a control OF the
sea, and there IS knowing to just what ex-
tent they have improved this condition by the
water transportation Of troops and munitions
OF war. in what direction those instruments
Of battle have been taken On the other hand.
the Russians are believed TO be hampered not
only by the congestion of their railroad to the
scene OF war, but by the situation Lake Baikal.
where the ice is now said 10 be three feet
thick, and where it has been judged necessary
to remove the rails on the ice which have done
such good service since February 20
There will be resort to the ice breakers. one
Of which has a capacity of 5000 men and the
other OF l POO men. Troops carried on these boats
will times be obliged 10 disembark some
distance from shore and resume the journey on
sleds. This means great loss Of valuable time.
not only in the movement Of the men, but in
the transfer Of guns, ammunition and pro-
visions No one knows what the Russians have
so far accomplished in the way OF mobilization
Of troops since the war began, but IL is i'm
agred that they could hardly have A greater
force than 100000 in Msnchuria. and II they
have supported themselves to that extent they
are considered to have prepared themselves for
almost any form OF attack the Japanese may
direct against them.
dispatch from Port Arthur by way Of ST
Petersburg reports great success with the sub
marines. 1t IS assumed that this account re-
lates 10 the boats which shipped a short
time ago from Russia though II was not ex-
pected that such good time could he made in the
transportation Of the craft overland Probably
The delivery was FASTENED being important 70
Russian plans at American naval officers
suppose these boats 70 be Of the type built at
the Baltic works last October. OF which craft
the Naval Intelligence Office possesses a de-
scription. They are of a rather large class
being seventy-seven feet Ions with a diameter
Of fourteen feet. and each has complement OF
twelve men. The Ingenious system of torpedo
tubes invented by a Russian engineer named
Bjeyetsk has been applied intended TO permit
the torpedo to be aimed and directed Just after
issuing from the tube In this new boat gas
olene IS used for surface navigation and cleo
rricity, supplied by accumulators when sub
merged.
Some Information has also reached Washing
ton Of the Russian system OF Subsistence IN
Manchuria 1t is copy OF the German Plan Of
establishing flour mills and large dapots Of
daily, ana as constantly replenished. so as TO
keep the foodstuffs always fresh. In addition
grain. preserved meats and vegetables OF the
iron rations, are also stored. Each case OF
metal, which IS sodered and closed With an
india rubber band. contains one ration The
iron ration Is plunged in boiling water when
full and finished to if any air bubbles escape
in which case the ration is rejected. The com
pressed vegetable rations are made up in tab
lets weighing GO pounds avordupois
American military attaches with the Russians
have been instructed TO observe closely the COM
missary arrangements and other features which
are to warfare. Among the latter is the
new field gun, Of calibre I.62 centimetres with a
rapidty Of fire OF from fifteen to twenty rounds
a minute. Its only projectile is the shrapnel and
the fuse is Of aluminium Another device 90
which the attention OF the American officers viii
be directed is apparatus constructed by the
Russian Lieutenant Polyanski for crossing
streams This consists OF a hollow cylinder of
welded aluminium with oval transverse section
On the march some of the soldiers clothing may
be carried in the cylinder. A greater or less
number OF the cylinders tied together with tent
ropes can be assembled into raft. 1t is esti-
mated that four cylinders will carry one man. a
raft being steered by the men on ii with their
spades. II is claimed for the inven-
ton that the cylinder can be used a solid
rest in firing on marches il protects the clothing
from dust and rain, and it may ne used water
bucket Still another subject likely 10 engage
the notice of the attaches is the plan of introduce
ing barley coffee n breakfast drink. in the
preparation of which beverage the battalion tea
cooking utensils will be used. A package of 205
grains of barley coffee suffices for one hundred
men 1t is claimed for the drink that il is very
Tnstr,,ctioDs TO observe new methods and new
devices in the japanese army have also been
given TO Colonel T. II. Crowder and the three