The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1904-02-20
nor AN ILL MATCHED PAIR.

P44oCo oOOuV OuC-oONCuVu VI Uue
land surface of the globe. Includ.
ing internal waters, it covers an
area of 8,660,395 square miles, and
its population is estimated at about
100000 inhabitants, of which
2,095,6l6 square miles and l06.-
264, 1876 inhabitants were in 1900
comprised in European Russian.
It has an annual revenue amount
ing to about $900,000,O00, and ex-
penditure somewhat in excess Of
that sum. The Russian army on
a peace footing numbers about
numbers about 1, 100000 men and
on a war footing about 100000
men. The navy is understood to
comprise about 10000 officers and
men.
Japan, the island sea, comprises
an area OF l6l, 1873 square miles,
including Formosa and Pescardoes.
Its population, including the is
lands specifically named, numbered
100000 inhabitants. It's total
area is therefore less than one
fiftieth that of Russia, and it's pop.
ulation is but little over one-third
as large. Japan has revenue
amounting to a little over $l2l,-
100000. Its army on a peace foot
ing numbers about 166, 900 and on
war footing about 650,0OO. Its
navy comprises about 10000 Off
GERS and men. Japan's totalnaval
strength is below that of Russia,
but her best battleships are supe-
rior to the best of the Russian ves-
sells, and her available force at the
probable point of contact is be.
lieved to be greater. Again, while
her army on a war footing sinks
into insignifcance compared with
that of Russia, it will strain the re-
sources ofthe latter to bring to the
scene Of war a body of troops equal
in number to those that Japan
may send against them.
It should be recollected, in max
ing any estimate of the relative
strength of the two powers with
reference to the employment of
military force in the Far East, that
the Japanese troops will be SO near
their base that they may be said
to he almost on the ground, where
as Russia's operations will have to
be conducted at a great distance
from the center of her power. Rus
ria's troops, of course, far out num-
Der those of Japan, but such of
them employed in the Far East
have to be carried over four thous-
and miles of a single track rail-
way, and it will take a considera-
ole time for her to send over that
road forces sufficient to cope with
those which may be readily placed
in the field by Japan. Toxic IS
but a thousand miles from Port
Arthur. Kioto, which is to be the
imperial headquarters during the
war, is but eight hundred miles
away, and Sasebo, the Japanese
military base, is but five hundred
and sixty miles from the Russian
strong hold. Moreover, only a
hundred miles separate the coast
Corea from that of Japan, and her
seeming ability to command the
,ea approaches renders the landing |
IN the mainland very easy mat
;er, and, as a matter of fact, con-
siderable numbers of Japanese
roops have landed in Corea within
he last few days. The immediate
military problem therefore, it will
,e seen, involves not merely a con-
ideration of the absolute strength
# the two opposing nations, but
.lso a comparison Of the relative
mounts of military and naval
orce that may be brought to bear
~ each in a territory one-fourth
( the distance from the Japanese
api tai that it is from the Russian
eat of governments. From that
,oint of view, and for the purpose
f the immediate operations, the
ntagonists are not so Unmatched
8 they might seem if regarded
imply from the standpoint Of area
nd population. Bismarck Trib-
me.