New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-16
NOTES ON THE WAR.

for japanese vessels Is a deDlorab bic but not
81 all surprising incident There are other in
dications that the Russians are suffering. at
least al Port Arthur from attack OF
nerves" They we're unquestionably caught
mapping by the japanese in the first attack Of
the latter upon their stronghold. and subsequent
occurrences have tended to increase their ankle
" and perturbation. For the army to guard
more than two hundred miles Of coast. inc udlng
eighty miles OF railroad close enough 70 the
beach to be within reach Of ships guns. and 70
90 so without the support OF friendly feet, is
an ardUous and trying task. sufficient 70 strain
the nerves Of even SO cool and resolute people
as the Russians
At Chemulpo on the contrary. the Russians
appear to have displayed a valor worthy OF the
brightest pages Of their military and naval
mails Some OF the details OF the erga cement in
which the Variag ard Korietz were destroyed
may provoke the remark that they were magnifi-
cent but were not war, but most observers Will
agree that the Russians well deserved the
cheers with which they were greeted by the
crews o. the neutral ships. The contest was al
together one-sided and ended in utter disaster
for the Russians without any loss OF life or limb
TO the japanese. There was near approach TO
international complications in the conduct OF
some OF the neutral ships IN giving asylum 10
the Russians who escaped from the wrecked
ships and declining 10 surrender them to the
japanese as prisoners Of war. Upon the face or
the Ease. such action by the neutrais went pretty
Tar toward giving Japan ground for complaint
We remember clearly enough the indignation
that prevailed in America when neutral ships
picked Up survivors OF the Alabama. of Cher
hCurg. and gave them asylum Mr. Seward at
that time officially declared that IL lS llrICt
hostility for a Stranger TO intervene and rescue
men VINO had been cast into the ocean n battle
and then carry them away from under tie con-
Queror's guns" We did not go 10 war over the
matter bur it Is quite probable that Winslow
would have been officially sustained, IS he Ger
tainly would have been popularity appiauoea' X
he nae USED few wei directed ca anon sAot u
compel the surrender OF the men who were risht-
fully his prisoners Of war. The principle Of IN
ternatloual law. from Nattel 70 tnli.lnofe. now
ever Is that a neutral may give asylum 10 ships
or trocrs OF beliiCercnt. provided that IL imme-
diate.y disarns them and prevents tlem from
again engaging f. she wax. SO If the neutral
powers who rescued the Russians at Chemulpo
guarantee that the latter viii not again take up
arms against Japan Japan may be satisfied
That Vladivostok squadron IS almost as mys-
ferrous as TIE Flying Dutchman. Il has been
reported as beng In action at Hakodats and at
WOBsan O.: the same time. though the places are
at opposite sides % the sea Of Japan. Also Il
passed through the Straits OF Tsugaru 70 ravage
the eastern coast OF japan, and al the same mo-
ment was seen of the western coast cruising In
the Sea OF Japan despite The destruction OF three
OF its four ships 10y japanese torpedoes. IT al
most any hour we may hear other contradictory
runors, or We may set some poSlJlNe lnlcIIflt-
ti0n. What is important to be kept In mind Is
this that Russia has in all those waters only
two ports. Nladiyostok and Port Arthur. The
latter is practically blockaded and may soon be
captured by the enemy. Therefore n IS essen
tial that she shall keep the other. NladlVostoN.
open, so that her squadron from Europe can set
into it for coal ana other supplies when II gets
around there II the four Nladiyostok cruisers
got far away. or were destroyed or captured,
that port would he AT JaPans mercy, 30 IL
seems reasonable 10 suppose. until We positively
know something TO the contrary, that those four
ships ere keeping within reach Of port. and are
los SSH
For them 10 enter the Straits Of Tsusaru would
be as foolhardy as for an unarmed man TO enter
q tigers den.
How many Russian soldiers there are at Port
Arthur Is an interesting and important question,
upon which little light Is thrown by current dis
patches. Two weeks ago there were only ten
thousand. about as many more having been sent
away for service elsewhere. Il may 0e that no
achievements have arrived since and that the
ten thousand are all the place contains. Such
q force would probably be large enough 10 man
the fortiacations effectively. and. indeed. so far
as Port Arthur itself is concerned. might be all
that could prohtably be employed. But II would
take many times that number TO protect the
railroad from Port Arthur Up 10 New-Chwang.
Indications are that Russian troops have been
massed along the Yalu hiver, rather than on the
REGENTS Sword Peninsula. But II the latter Is
not sufficiently guarded 10 prevent the japanese
from landing and taking possession. the Rus
SLAMS on the Talu may hEd themselves between
two fires. The statement was made Cfllclaly. q
fortnight ago. that Russia then had in the Far
East or on the way thither. 100000 men II
So she ought 70 be able 10 guard her railroad
and prevent the japanese from cutting Port
Arthur OF from communication with the main
land
The reports OF japanese warships being seen
on Ying-Kau. the seaport OF New-Chwang. Is
now said 10 have been Action. Nevertheless. II
Il be true that there are only two thousand Rus
sian troops IN that district. II seems not i'm
probable that We shall soon hear Of japanese ac-
tivities there. The railroad 10 Port Arthur is
vulnerable at that point, and so Is the great
hfrnroad that runs from New-Chwang across to
the Yau River, the route which Russian forces
pursue in going 10 Corea- japanese seizure OF
that crossroads would be an effective piece Of
strategy. and command Of the sea may make
Il not difficult TO effect
Little has been said IN recent dispatches about
the progress OF TIE japanese and Russian
ships which are on their way from the Mediter-
rsnean 70 the Yellow Sea. The two japanese
cruisers Nlsshln and Kasuga left Singapore
twelve DAVIS ago. with their bunkers fun Of coal.
on the hon.estretch. The distance from Singa-
pore to Nagasaki IS about $500 miles. and those
vessels are able 20 make twenty knots an hour.
II Is 70 be assumed. therefore. that the two are
nov In service at the scene OF war; unless they
have purposeIy waited in the neghborhood OF
F-orrrosa for the Russian feet to catch up with
them. The Russian squadron. consisting OF the
hattlesbip Osliabia. the transport Saratoff and
three torpedo boat destroyers. left SUez for the
re-. M February 4 II then had more than
60 fhoueand miles before Il to reach the
yellow Sea. How fast the saraton can go We