The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-05-26
THE PROGRESS OF THE WAR.


slowly but as it moves on it becomes
possible to get an idea of what is ac-
tually taking place clearer than could
be had during the opening weeks of
the conflict The first battle of any
consequence on land, which occurred
near the Yalu river on May 8, was a
very one sided affair and was hailed
with delight by the Mikado's subjects
and by the people of other national
tiles who favor the Japanese. But as
the later reports come in it is plain
that the battle cannot be considered
as any real test of strength between
the opposing armies. The Japanese
were victorious to be sure but the dis
parity in the numbers of troops en-
gagged on the two sides would have
made any other result ridiculous. 1t
appears that the Russians had about
10, 600 men and 30 guns while against
them were nearly 80, 600 Japanese
with 100 guns, to say nothing of the
gunboats which rendered aid from the
1ANCls LhO ObPohOcO iCPOAo q AOoo VI
about 800 killed and wounded and the
Russians are said to have lost about
5000 in killed, wounded, and missing,
besides % field pieces and eight ma
chine guns taken.
The result of the battle is no par
ticular discredit to the Russians; the
discreditable part of it all is that
there was any real battle at all under
the circumstances aud against such
odds. The Russians ought to have
known enough about the size of the
army which faced them to have real
lied the uselessness of any attempt to
check it's advance at that point. The
removal of General Zassalitoh from
command of that division of the Rus
sian army, an action reported within
day or two, indicates that his con-
duct in preolpitating serious conflict
on the Yalu is disapproved of at head
quarters. 1t is very probable that
Zassalitch disobeyed orders, inasmuch
as the Russian story that he had Or
ders TO offer but slight resistance be.
fore retiring seems reasonable.
Port Arthur figures largely in the
war reports. 1t is probable the Rus
sian garrison consists of about $1,000
men. Lieutenant General Stoessel is
in command, while the fleet in the
harbor is under command of Rear-Ad-
miral Wittsoft. The Russian dis
patches claim that the fortress is i'm
pregnable and provisioned for at least
year, and that the impending siege
will result unfavorably for the be-
siegers. They say that little or no
effort will be made to hold the outer
line of Notifications or the outlying
towns such as KIM Chow or Dalny,
but that the fortress will be held to
the end and that before it can be sub
dued by starvation the siege will be
raised by the Russian troops from
above.
1t seems that for the practical pur.
poses of deciding the war, Port Ar
thur is of no very great consequence.
The center of operations is now we'll
to the north OF there and in all prob.
ability will move farther north before
clash comes which will be of nature
serious enough to indicate final VIC
tory for either side. Port Arthur will
. from now on be a serious burden upon
Russia without giving any sufficient
raturp for ita maintenance GOT ont On
the point of a long narrow peninsula
it can be etfectually cut Of from the
remainder of the Russian forces with.
out any great labor on the part of the
great japanese army or IA great
Japanese fleet to stay constantly in
front of the fortress. 1t will be enough
if land forces are maintained to KEEP
the besieged under cover while the
fleet remains near enough to prevent
the Russian ships escaping by sud.
den dash from the harbor. Escape by
land would necessitate going towards
the Japanese main body of troops
which could readily cut off the re-
treat. Moreover the port would be OF
little value to the Japanese as base
of supplies or operations because of it,
isolation. The main thing then il
merely a matter OF prestige. Had
Russia a few weeks ago abandoned
Port Arthur it would have cost he
something in ships and munitions O
war but more in prestige Should i
be captured now it would cost her ia
more in both.
1t seems that the Russian plans in
volve a gradual retreat without seri
bus conflict until several hundred
miles farther north. By that time i
may be that the constantly arriving
endorsements will put the Russian
Ermy in condition to risk real ties
Pf strength with the opposing army
lust how long before this test viii
pome is hard to tell but it is probabl
hat IT will be before the end of th