The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-02-08

ONE YEAR or THE WAR.


was fired that opened the greatest war
of this generation. Despite the fact Ii''1
dirIornatic relations between Russia
and Japan had been broken off and the
two countries had been for some time
drifting, towards the outbreak of actual
bostilities there was a prevailing idea
in the Russian camp that Japan would
hesitate long before graphing with
such 2 formidable antagonist But on
February 8th, 1894 AdmiraIs Togo and
I7rfu struck the first staggering DO"
of the war. one that Russia has not
vet recovered from. Indeed her COM
ngaint has since been that japan was
ahead of time.
AT the outset of the struggle Russia
had seven battleships, one armored
cruiser and five protected cruisers at
Port Arthur. three fine armOred cruis-
ers and one protected cruiser at Via
divostok, a superb protected cruiser ana
a gunboat at ChemuIpO. OF this naval
force there remain two battered armor-
ed cruisers at Vladivostok. The campaign
on the sea opened with the sinking
of the Variag and Korietz at Chemulpo
and the blockade and bombardment of
Port Arthur. The japanese naval force
was divided into two squadrons, one
under Admiral Togo at Port Arthur
and the other, a flying squadron, under
Admiral Kamimura in the Sea OF
Japan.
From the first an effective blockade
of Port Arthur was maintained. on
the eighth of February most of the
out of action by gun fire and torpedoes-
On April 18th the Russians met
crushing disaster in the sinking of the
flagship Petropavlovsk with Admlral
Makaroff and all on board by Japan
csc mine Meanwhile the Russian meet
was being repaired inside the haroor
and Togo attempted to seal up the
harbor by sinking old steamers in the
channel The forts were continuously
bombarded. During May the japanese
lost the battleship Hatsuse which was
sunk by floating mines. Other smaller |
craft were lost through accidents but
none through any design of the Rus
slams. On August 10th the Russian Meet !
made a sortie and was almost destroy
ed some of the vessels escaping to |
neutral ports where they were 1ofceo |
to disarm and several returning In
sinking condition to Port Arthur Inc
remainder of the fleet was destroyed by |
the land bombardment. On August
14th Admiral Kamimura crippled the
-yIadiyostok fleet, sinking the Rurlk |
and driving the other ships back TO
mort in a disabled condition. This pfac-
tically closed the naval campaign ana
after repairing, fleet was sent south
to bead off the Russian Second PacihG |
Squadron. better known as the Baluo |
fleet, which is now on its way from
Europe to the East
Rut while the navy of Japan was |
winning glory for the flag on the sea |
the army was not idle. The moment
Togo struck the first blow at Port Ar
thur Japanese transports began 10
carry troops across the straits to Korea
apd Kurolxi's army, 200 strong, start
ed up the peninsula to the Yalu. Here
Kuropatkin, on whom the hopes OF
Russia were conferred, determined to
the Rus |
slams had reckoned without the match-
less daring of the Japanese who dashed
through the river in the face OF
whitening fire and not only drove the |
Russians out of their entertainments
at the point of the bayonet but follow
ed up their victory and threw their |
lines across the Liaotung peninsula. |
Korea was theirs and fairly Won
Two objects now remained for the |
Japanese. the defeat and possible de-
struction of Kuropatkin and the cap
ture of Russia's only ice-free base
Port Arthur. General Nogi was as
signed to the latter task and after
siege which has few equals in history
captured the place on January End, 1905
One at a time the units of one of the
most complete systems of fertilization
ever devised were taken, though at a
tremendous cost in lives. General
Stoessel who heroically defended the
fortress and General Nogi who took it
are to be given the highest praise for
their heroic work.
Meanwhile the armies under Kuroki
Oku and Nodzu attacked the Russians
under Kuropatkin at their rendezvous,
the city of Liaoyang. Here occurred
one of the greatest battles of modern
times. Two hundred thousand men on
each side under some of the ablest
military leaders of the day We're pitted