Arizona republican., 1904-12-23
The Coming Sea Fight.

O-
 modern times will take place within the next month, unless Russia's Baltic
 fleet turns around and fees to Euro pean waters. That Admiral Togo and Admiral Kamimura have gone to meet Rojestvens<y there can be no doubt. in view of yesterdays news and the of ficiaI dispatch from the American min ister at Tokio.
 The Baltic fleet-officially termed "the second Pacific squadron'-is due to reach the field of Japanese opera ton the latter part of January. As suming that the Japanese will sail rapidly to meet the Russians, the en- middle of the month.
 Unless Togo can succeed in catching the enemy's squadron so divided that he can attack it in detail, the two fleets will meet on such nearly equal terms as to men and armament that either may the victor. The Russian force consists of four new and first class battleships-the Emperor Alex ander IT." the ''Borodino." the ''Kniaz Suvaroff" and the "Orer'-with three old battleships, the efficiency of which is unknown, and an umhomogeneous lot of cruisers, with an assortment of torpedo boats and destroyers. The Jap anese have four f1rst-class battleships. six armored cruisers, and a mosquito feet fully equal to the smaller craft on the Russian side. Chance, or luck. in making vital hits early in the fight may give either side a great advan- tage.
 The experts are divided in opinion as to the probable outcome of the fight. In Germany and France the be- lief seems to prevail that Rojestvensky has at least an equal chance to win. British and American opinion favors the Japanese Admiral Togo will have the better of it, of course, in greater speed and mobility, and greater abil- ity, accordingly, to concentrate his strength and throw it against any ves- sel which may become isolated on the Russian side. On account of their long voyage the Russian vessels will be foul and poorly equipped for rapid motion. Moreover, the speed of fleet is gauged by the sailing capacity of its slowest units. Rojestvensky must set the pace of his best ships to that of his slowest vessels, or take chances on their being cut off. On the other hand, the Japanese fleet is in thorough repair, and has the great advantage which has been derived from a service of many months in actual war That 1t is drilled and trained to a point of high efficiency cannot be doubted.
 The greatest factor of all in favor of the Japanese is in the superior quality of the "man behind the gun" Neither side has superiority in bravery The dogged courage manifested by both Russians and Japanese in this war has set high mark, beyond which it would seem difficult to go But Japan has followed the American system of l training her commanders in fleet ma neuvering and training her seamen in | gunnery. For a long time prior to the | war, expenditure for target practice | was liberal |
 All this tells tremendously when a | battle Is on, as was demonstrated in | our war with Spain. There is no more | courageous individual than the Span | ish soldier or sailor. But false econ- omy had left target practice out of | Spain's naval regimen, and her sea- men knew nothing. substantially, of | the art of hitting a moving object with | the big guns. Moreover, they were de- fleient in knowledge and aptitude for handling the complex mechanism of a hattleship. And in this respect the iards. They have all the courage any body could ask for, but the compli- cated machinery of modern fighting | ship is always more or less of a puzzle 10 them. They have had little experi- ence In gunnery. It is to be expected. therefore, that in the stress of battle the Japanese will send most of their shells to the mark, while most of the Russian shells will fail to hit where they are aimed. But a chance shot may put a battleship out of action. and chance may favor the Russians.
 Japan must achieve a great victory at small cost As .one English expert has remarked, "the command of the sea is life and death to the Japanese in this war" and Togo cannot afford to have his fleet seriously crippled. - ------------------