New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-04

The opposing forces in the Far East are now
face to face In battle array. Despite all talk
OF peace preparations for Immediate war have
been pushed with energy and zeal. and both
japanese and Russians are now ready for the
conflict. which may come to-day or may not
come at ali The euncrgence OF the Russian
ships from Port Arthur is one OF the most sig
nifcant moves In the game. Evidently the Rus
sian commander does not propose to be caught
mapping and End himself bottled up IN that
contracted and altogether inadequate harbOr.
Now eli bis ships are outside, I'm water that
does not freeze and with plenty of sea room
Tor lighting At the same time there is some
thing ominous In the reflection that Il took three
days hard work 10 get half dozen ships out
q the harbor. because OF the narrow, shallow
and dangerous passage. what would become
OF them If. half disabled in battle. they needed
to get back 10 hurry for shelter and repaiTsf
Now that all the Russian ships are assem-
bled IN the open. confronting the japanese
squadron, Il is interesting 70 note the dit-
ference between the antagonists In apparent
strength and probable efficiency. Russia has
eight battleshps. 20 Japan's six. But Russia's
eight have gross tonnage Of only 1888 or H.
eo5 each. while Japan's ak have a tonnage OF
5000 or laS65 each. Only one Russian ship
Is OF as much as 1900 tons. while Of Japan's
three are Of 1900 each and one is OF 1900
In speed three OF the Russian ships are rated
at IL knots. two at is and three at 10. while
ell the japanese IRE set down al IS knots. The
Russian ships bear at most 10 wholesome
Of them II inches-of armoT. while all the
japanese have IA inches. The whole Rus
sian battleship neet throws broadside OF
2aO6T pounds or a1s3 to each ship. while the
japanese total Is 24.9io pounds. or 4l57 10
each ship. In battleship strength. then. the
deets are pretty evenly matched But In the
next class armored cruisers. Japan has a de-
cided advantage. She has six. ranging from
20 to 2s.7 knots In speed. 10 Rrssia's five. rang
ing from IS TO % knots. The six japanese have
6-inch armor. while two Of the Russians have
only Inches. one 6 inches. one inches and
one-the I5-knot boat-I2 inches The six Jap
snese ships throw q broadside OF 21o0s pounds.
and the Eve Russians only $3.50 pounds In
tie third class. protected cruisers. the Rus
SLAMS have eight. throwing a total broadsde
OF only 441O pounds while the japanese have
AZ least sixteen, throwing j2.72s pounds. The
grand total for Russia is twenty-one ships.
throwing 34763 pounds OF metal. and for Jaran
twenty-eight shtDs, throwing 5S6S1 pounds
so much far ships and guns. Now LET US
see what lies behind them In the way OF ship
yards for repairs. Russia has a shpyard nj
Tort Arthur. access 10 which. as we have just
seen. is difficult and dangerous. II contains
only one dock. and that is net large enough for
the largest warships. At Vladivostok. IL is true.
there is another dock. and there are also O
Coating DICK and two small basins But vladi-
vostok is l-2oo milcs away from the scene Of
probable conflict and is iceoound ship Grip
pied in the Yellow Sea would stand small
chance OF ever reaching yladivostok. Apart
from these two ports, there is no harbor for a
Russian ship In ell that part Of the world