The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-05-06
WAR is Only BEGUN.
General Miles Insists That Nothing .
Determinative Importance Has
Vat OcnIlrcna !

Determinative Importance Has
Vet Occurred.
n Nelson "A. Miles, in a recent
article. says:
y little more than a year ago l ar
rived ut Port Arthur from Nagasaki.
Japan. l WAS Very cordially received
by Niceroy AleNieff. commanding the
naval IL military forces of Russia in
Aslatic waters and that portion of
Siberia and M%anchuria.
The harbor of Port Arthur is a
small. land-locked harbor. hardly cup-
ableot accommodating small fleet. The
bluffs on each side of the entrance are
high and precipitous, affording excel
lent natural features for land defense.
The admiral very kindly furnished
me II strong. staunch teamer to con-
Ney me across To the coast of China.
AS we passed out of the harbor at Port
Arthur. we Immediately encountered Il
rough sea- and severe northwest wind,
blowing almost n gale directly toward
the coast. making 1T very difficult for
our steamer to make Roadway, and for
two hours some of Ii party were much
concerned for fear the severe winds
might force us back upon tn, coast.
AS we passed out, / observed three of
the Russian ships lying at anchor. well
covered With ice n exposed to the
severe December eathe OF that
northern coast.
The northern channel and the sever
ity of the winter climate have on
tributcd to the series of misfortunes
that have come to the Russian forces.
as we'll as the embarrassments that
have eSulted from causes other than
climatic.
The first dash of the Japanese gave
them some success. and was a severe
warming to the Russians to be more
watchful against the enterprise of the
Japanese.
The change os commanders and the
substitution of the unfortunate Ad-
and vigilance to the Russian forces,
but possibly his desire to inspire conf
dence i'll the Russian forces led TO the
present disaste-. and the loss of his VAL
liable life.
He was regarded as one of the ablest
and boldeSt of the high officers of the
Russian empire, but the bolduess of the
act resulted in the misfortune 10 the
fleet.
Thu ships with which he O out
from Port Arthur We're MOI strong
enough TO destroy the Japanese fleet,
and the uncertainties of any ]oun
between any war forces are so haZard-
GUS tNat the success of an inferior
force against one much more powerful
is very unusual n extraordinary.
The chances of any possible gain in
such an enterprise could not
safe for the risk involved. either to his
fleet or to his government.
Whether mis- retreat was so rapid that
proper care was not taken in finding the
narrow channel and avoiding the torpe-
does. or whether the torpedoes had he
come dtSpnv1pa1 Inv tho t,,vracf.1 -,,rS
from their original moorings and drif,ed
into the pathway of the ships. is a matter
OF which dispatches from the seat of war
do not give sufficient confirmation.
However. the loss is a serious one to
the Russian fleet but not decisive.
While the loss of thai nulnbcr of brave
men is appalling. yet the number of lives
lost is not great in comparison with some
OF the disasters that occur in times of
peace, me Incompatible 10 the great sac
i1fie OF life that occurs in battles on land.
Inc loss of the Congress and Cumbcr-
land and the Mlerrlmac in Chesapeake
bay DID not retard our great civil war.
Vessels We're lost on both sides, and yet
they were regarded as incidents that oc-
cur in any great campaign.
The loss of the Maine in the harbor of
havana produced an appalling sensation,
nut was not regarded as Il fatal disaster
to our naval forces.
III the entire Russian fleet now on the
coast or Siberia and Manchuria We're de-
stroyed the Russian navy would still be
more powerful and stronger, ton for ton.
than the japanese navy. SC that the
naval problem is yet far from being
solved.
The result of the last weeks experience
VIII have the effect of making the Rus
sian commanders more cautious and ju-
%dicious, and 1t would also have the effect
OF impressing the Japanese commanders
WITH the danger of encroaching upon the
mine fields of the Russian coast.
1t illustrates the strength of defense in
submarine mines. and how easily tho
great floating batteries and the most
powerful battlcships of the world are
destroyed in coming counter to either a
movable or anchored topedo charged VITA
INC most destructive high explosive.
Ihis war may also demonstrate the rel
awe value of battleships. torpedo bots.
iubmarine vessels and mines.
Nelson A. Miles.