New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-10
NOTES ON THE VAR.

The floating Of the Retvizan. now reported from
Port Arthur. indicates some clever work BY the
Russians. and Will cause some disappointment
TO the japanese. The ship IS said TO have been
taken into the inner harbor. It probably can
not be got into the drydock. but It IS possible
that II can be completely repaired without
docking IN which case the Russian fleet VIII be
materially strengthened. Nothing Is said about
the condition OF the Czarevitch. the most power
full Of all the Russian feet there. II IS known
20 have been disabled. but Il has lain IN the
inner harbor all the time. where the Russians
have had chance to repair II II possible But
10 repair such ship when seriously injured pc
low the waterline without putting II into dry
dock Is difficult task
The fate Of the Russian Vladivostok squad
ron "a perhaps the most interesting question Of
the dav. In addition % the theories that II IS
operating along the Corean coast that It IS
about 10 attack the Japanese coast. and that II
is shut up IN the VIadivostok harbor. a fourth
IS now put forth-namey that It has boldly put
to sea to meet In mId-PacIhc q squadron Of three
warships which Japan IS said 20 be getting from
Chilli Indeed, there has been runOr that II
has met the latter vessels and destroyed or
captured them. 1t VIII be news TO most OF the
world that Japan has been getting any ships
from Chilli II was announced before the war
that Great Britain had purchased from Chill a
collple Of arrnored cruisers. but that was very
different matter from Japan's purchasing three
shius there. Until some more positive lnforIIla-
ton IS received. therefore, we must hesitate to
believe this latter story. II may De said how
ever. that If the cruisers from VladivOstok are
at large upon the seas they form factor 70
he most seriously reckoned with. One Of them.
the Bogatyr. Is merely a protected cruiser OF
comparatively little efficiency But the o.Ll-.S
are three Of the most formidable vessels or theE
class IN the world. They are almost as DIS as
first class battleships and each carries iouI
eight-inch guns. sixteen slx-incn quick ~ MS
ems fftv or sixty smaller guns and four CT
five torpedo tubes. Their speed Is no- ~
traordiuary being from eighteen 20 tNeily
knots But their coal carryius capacity - 50
great "a 10 give them. ~ ten knoj5 sp-eu' I,o
enormous radius of action Of l9u"o hHots.
know OF no vessels I'm the Japanese HtEy "
auvthing Ike such endurance In Lst4'i 80,
,o,-ar md speed they are. however, ultich N
fericr 70 the great nruored cruisers % .t,.s
as heavy brCadetdes as the Russian Vesstls' 80 az.
which can make from twenty 10 t"eN'' -
knots an hour.
The occupation OF one OF the Elliot Islands BY
J,par rs n base OF operations. now reported. was
long ago forecast In these columns Lying mlu-
way on the coast between the Talu River anu
Port Arthur. such n base is OF great stra'eslc14
value II can be used IN striking N el'het VI
raction. There arc other islands on the Man
churian and Corcan coasts which the JaPa'i0S0
may also be using IN the same way.
The Japanese bombardment OF the Ior's at
Dalnv is probably to be regarded as part OF
the r4an to keep the Russians stirred up at as
many points as possible. which. Of course IS
shreyvd policy There is no considerable RUS
sian naval force at Dalny. and the japanese are
not likely to risk their ships by making serl-
Gus attemrt 10 storm the forts. But ieW wen
directed shells even at extreme long range. VIII
sIflce To remind the Russians Of the presence or
the enemy ard of the necessity OF keeping the
strongest possible force at every point mus men
aced. With the Russians thus kept BUSY AT
number OF points along the coast. the Japanese
viii probably one day attempt landing III great
force at some other point which the RUSSIANS
have left unguardet-
The statement that there are forty thousand
Russian soldiers az Port Arthur must be re-
ceived with discreet reserve 1t may be true.
But II certainly does not accord with the posi-
tive statements OF n short time asO that there
were only nine thousand men there. Neither Is
ii easily TO be reconciled with that "die IN the
last ditch proclamation OF the Russian COM
mander. If there are. indeed, forty thousand
soldiers there. with two years supplies Of al
kinds there can be no occasion for any such
desperation.
4 Russian comment upon the japanese bonn
bardment OF vladivOstok that It had cost