Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-18
By FRANKLIN K. YOUNG.

The atmosphere at the scene of the con-
f1ict in the far east is now clear as serene
summer day To begin with, it is now a
self-evident fact that the japanese in no
sense contemplated and did not attempt
any combined maneuver by their fleet ana
army as the initial movement In the war
That is to say, the attack on Port arthur
by the Japanese fleet was nothing more
than a raid made by a detached force.
The only object of this raid was to destroy,
if possible, the Russian fleet, 1t is also
true that this attack on the Russian fieet
was successful to a high degreesS and to
that extent 1T has been benehc1al TO the
japanese cause.
To those who believe Japan is to win this
war it needs no argument but that she must
strike quick and hard and follow up her
blows without cessation and force the ligh'.
ing to the utmost. The offensive plan of
campaign, consisting of the combined at
tack of Port Arthur by her fleet and the
march OF her whole army up the Lao Tung
peninsula, in order to turn. the RUSSIAN
position on the Yalu, to occupy the inn
portant city of Hardin and to take up a
position with her whole military power on
the south bank of the Singar river, In
order to cut off the Russians in Man.
churia and to prevent their junction with
their reinforcements arriving from the west,
seems never to have been seriously con-
templated by the mikado's government,
and seemingly it is now an impracticable
undertaking. Already several Russian
every reason to believe that the land forces
of Russia sufficient to hold their own
against any invasion of Manchuria from
the west. That this also is the conclusion
of the japanese government is indicated by
the dispositions they are making of their
troops. These dispositions seem to indicate
That the first plan of campaign by Japan
seeks only the capture of Port Arthur.
1t appears to be the plan of the Japs to
act on the defensive along the east coast of
Korea against the second Russian army at
VladiVostok by a powerful deta chment now
aggresatlng GO,OOO men, which is reported
encamped at Wen San, with advanced posts
already as far north as Kilju. Meanwhile
the main Japanese army seems to be con-
centrating near Win. The japanese army
is now divided into two wings isolated from
each other by two mountain ranges and
number of unfordable rivers.
This situation does not. become dan
gerous to Japan until the Russians
on the north bank of the Yalu. Then the
Japanese army about Wiju is in peril, and
Its only safety lies in a quick retreat to the
mountain range near Chwing Ju. This re-
treat is forced upon the Japs for the rea-
son that they cannot reinforce their main
army on the west by uniting to it their
army on the east. The reason for this is
that following the coast of Korea for about
$50 miles and almost parallel to it runs
range. Down the valley thus
formed between the mountains and the sea-
coast Russian army may advance into
the very iSdIt VI hOitd III uue dilu
form, with one flank resting on the noun
tains and the other resting on the seacoast.
In taking position with their advance at
kilju the Japs conform to the requirements
of the situation. The distance from the
mountains to the coast at that point is only
eight or ten miles, At the same time it will
not do for the Japs to march the whole of
their eastern army to this point for the rea-
son that the Russians, by crossing the Yalu
by swift and silent march, may seize the
mountainous position near Wyong Won. In
this case the eastern Jap army would be
caught in this narrow valley between the
Russian armies. Korea is singularly I'M
fortunate from the standpoint of defensive
strategy. The excellent harbor and landing
place of Won San by the irony of fate are
located to the north, that is, on the wrong
side of that central mountain range which
forms the only true bulwark of Korea
This false military situation may make
Won San indefensible against any attack
from the north, and its safety entirely lies
in the presence of defending army. On
the other hand, if the eastern Japanese
army is routed or compelled to retreat to
the south Won San, when occupied by the
Russians, is on the correct side of this
mountain randge, and becomes at once a
most powerful and important Russian point
de appui There is reason to believe that
the Russian columns operating from Vladi-
vostok will soon begin to press seriously
against the Japs at kilju; also, before the
japanese can complete the investment OF
Port Arthur by land more or less heavy
fighting undoubtedly will occur along the
lower course of the Yalu river.