The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1904-05-04
WARM THE FAR EAST
PROGRESS OF THE GREAT sTRuG-
GLE UP TO DATE.
Conflict Not Four Months Old and
RUSSIA Has Received Blows Which
Have Staggered the Big Empire
Land Battles Expected Soon.

The war in the far East is not yet four
months old and Russia has been dealt
blows which have given rise to a spirit
OF black pessimism throughout the big
empire. Primarily the Cars forces ex-
hibited an unpreparedness for strife, con-
sidering the aggravated nature of the me-
gotiations between the two powers,
which has drawn on the Russian authori-
ties the ridicule of the worlds military
experts and summary punishment from
the duped, gentle-mannered autocrat. Nor
Is this yet the worst. Taken by surprise,
the squadron ut Port Arthur was given
a terrific drubbing which left two of the
fleet of formidable battleships disabled
and the morale of the forts defenders
considerably diminished. Since that first
decisive blow the japanese, whom the
Russians had derisively termed "barbar
ians," have demonstrated sustained
ability and strategy which strained to the
breaking point the spirit of their phleg-
matte foe. AT practically every point
have the Muscovite arms been bafffed or
defeated. At the beginning of hostilities
the Cars fleet at Port Arthur numbered
seven stanch battleships, as many we'll
built cruisers and a horde OF smaller
craft. This force, by the persistent ham,
mering of the japanese, has been reduced
to two unchanged battleships and two or
three cruisers. Moreover Admiral Max
aroff, whose aggressive methods had re-
vived hope in the Russian breast, has
fallen victim to the enemy's lure, and
paid for his error with his life. On land
the Japanese triumphs, while negative in
fhatr I'm hi
positive in effect With little or no fight
ing the Russian custodians have been
almost completely driven out Of Korea,
the disputed territory, and the Japanese
outposts burn their campfires fearlessly
on the banks of the Yalu, ready at the
proper moment TO cross that Hateful
stream and precede the invasion of Man
churin, possibly Siberia.
The next move Of the little brown peo-
pie Is problematical. A few military au-
thorities hold that the Japanese armies
should penetrate to Hardin, depriving the
enemy so effectually of convenient base
Of operation as to render a repossession
Of the lost ground technically impossible.
Other experts advocate forward move
ment only as far as Mukden, believing
that should the Japanese become tangled
In the wilds about Hardin they would
be forced to a retreat as disastrous as
was that of Bonaparte from Moscow
Meanwhile the Russian Baltic fleet,
which is the sole remaining inspiration
of naval Russia, is preparing to leave
via the Suez canal for the far East, en-
pioying a devious route which will leave
the japanese undisputed masters Of cast
ern waters Tor at least two months. This
in nutshell is the situation.
What will follow is sheer conjecture.
Theories are as numerous as theorists
and intrinsically about as valuable. The
most intelligent Russians do not deny
that their cause has been sadly weakened
and the subjects of the Mikado are pro-
portionately enthusiastic. As result Of
this weakening, it is safe prediction
that any aggression on the part Of Rus
STA has been greatly postponed, and the
tentative length of the war considerably
extended What bearing it will have on