The Saint Paul globe., 1904-02-13
SATURDAY, FEB. 13, 1904.
RUssIA's COLOSSAL BLUNDER.


One can scarcely understand the
faulty of Russia in failing to make
the only preparation for war which
was Of more moment to her than all
others combined. It has been appar-
ent for some years past that a collision
between her and Japan in the East was
but a question of time. She has known
for many months that the inevitable
hour was fast approaching. Even
though her administrators still be-
1ieved that a way of escape might be
found, it was not their business to act
upon that assumption. A million spent
in preparation may save fifty millions
in sunken warships, destroyed equip
ment and helplessness in the face of
the enemy.
Russia might have seen, as Japan
saw very clearly, that control of the
waters between and about them was
the key to the situation. This, indeed.
was to some extent one-sided; that is
to say, Russia might lose control of
the sea and still maintain a good fight
on land, but if she could succeed in
sweeping Japan's naval power from
the ocean the brunt of the battle would
be over. Japan, crippled and helpless,
though she might repel the invader,
would in the end be compelled to give
up all continental pretensions and to
make what terms she might
A simple study of the lines on which
a war must begin would have shown
that it must be concentrated in East
ern waters. Almost every effective
ship Of war in Russia's possession
would have been stationed there, she
would have accumulated there great
military stores, would have fortified
amply every harbor and would have
held in readiness a tremendous attack
ing force ready for an instantaneous
blow. Russia should have been as
eager as Japan was to sally forth at
the opening of hostiIities and make a
supreme effort for control of the sea.
Possessing that, she would not only
secure Port Arthur from attack and
Korea from invasion, but her own war
ships would be free to harass the enc
my, to lombard Japanese ports at lei
sure, and thus to work more destruc
ton than her armies could in wears.
FnI-
The vital point for any island empire
Is control Of the sea. Great Britain
has understood this and kept her float
Ing Notifications ample. Had Russia
understood her possible advantage she
would have sacrificed everything else
to multiplying her naval strength in
Eastern waters.
The advantages which Japan has
gained in the first week of the war are
not so valuable aggressiveIy considered
as they are in protective sense. She
has practically unquestioned suprema-
cy over the waters surrounding her
own domain. She has secured her isl.
ands from invasion and from serious
INJURY by hostile fleets. She can at
her leisure project plans against her
great enemy and can now wait the
approach of such reinforcements bv
sea as are proceeding from the Baltic
with careful knowledge of their
movements and the certainty that thew
can be met by her own ships at the
most advantageous time and place
She can cut off Russia from reinforce
ments and the receipt Of supplies bv
sea, and compel her to carry on her
whole campaign and transport all ma
terial and munitions of war over 1000
miles of cheaply constructed and
Dadly equipped railway.
This advantage is not final and NAV
not be decisive Of the conflict. 1t does,
however, assure Japan against the
great and crushing misfortune which