New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-08
VAR VIEWS OF EXPERTS.
Surprise at Lack of Russian Re
sistance to Japanese Landing.
fFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU. |


Washington. May Military experts who
have been counting on greater resistance on the
part Of the Russians to japanese invasion con-
fess themselves at loss. in view Of to-day's in
formation. 70 supply an excuse for the complete
investment by the japanese OF the Kwan-
Tung Peninsula. They believe there must come
some further advices which will account for the
wholesale invasion From present accounts the
Japanese appear TO have taken their position in
the enemy's country with as much facility as
when the opposing force made up OF fleeing
Chinese. The descriptions OF the landing at
Pttsu-wo show thar the method of debarkation
was slow and perilOus. and afforded every OPP
portunity for the deadly attack OF the artillery.
The japanese. IT is said. were compelled TO wade
ashore from the small boats the depth OF the
water being TO their waists. Such a situation
ought TO give the Russians. strongly intrenched
the land the best chance in the world 10
pei invasion conducted under such impeding
conditions Even were there. as reported sixty
transports. they could not land their armed
passengers at one time. and the transfer from
ship 10 shore must have been effected by piece
meal and under circumstances which would
enable. II Is estimated five thousand troops To
interrupt the landing Of thrice that number OF
invaders from the sea 1t is expected. there
fore. that the next accounts of the landing will
contain the news Of hard fighting. for IL cannot
be. officers say. that the Russians were willing
10 have the japanese take the position without
the challenge Of shot and shell. after the man
OF the sCampering Chinese
Naturally the experts who have been enter
tanning the view that the Russians could not
be easily dislodged is apparently the
seeking some explanation OF the actual
invasion. They are inclined TO think that the
Russians have at time had any such armed
and mobile force in Manchuria they have as
serted or has been said for them. If this Is
the case. of course many OF the early calcuIa-
tions based on the original aggregate strength
must be amended TO nj the the real con-
dition. II has been said from what were sup
posed 10 be trustworthy sources Of tnforrna-
ton that the Russians had 100000 men in Man
churia. and IT estimated that an addi-
tionaI 100000 were available for duty by this
time. Officers who have accepted these figures
as basis for their predictions OF results are
now wondering what the Russians have been
doing; but others who refused 10 adopt the
statistics are not embarrassed by the results
They say that the successes of the Japanese are
due entirely to the lack Of men at the points
attacked An officer OF the General Staff who
has been following the developments closely
said his own estimate OF the number OF Rus
slams In Manchuria on April was 100000 and
that since that date possibly an additional 10
600 We're available: but in any event not more
than the former number could be considered OF
lighting utility. He branded as absurd the re-
Port Arthur and like number at VIadivostok
There was no need of maintaining such a sarri-
son at either place, he said. and if such forces
were there IL would only mean an increase in
the cost OF subsistence. He believed that al
neither place was the garrison Of sreater
strength than ten thousand. He said he be-
heved that the Russian force on the YaIu was
proportionately miscalculated. and that sim
Harry wide variations existed in the supposed
ana real conditions on the peninsula. This
would explain The investment of the peninsula
and the advance from the Yalu. Experts say
II is the only way in which TO account for the
present SITUATION unless the unlikely piece of
strategy of Russian trap" were assumed