The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-08-26
IGNORANCE OF
THE MUScOVtTE
Russians Still Believe a Battle May
Be Won.
CLING TO FAITH IN ARMY
FACTORS WHICH CAUSED WAR
NOW PREVENT PEACE.


who has lived in the far east knows
mat ignorance on the part of the Rus
slams who ought TO have known-min-
listers. military attaches, correspen-
dents-was one of the chief factors in
determining the war. says the cores
rondent OF the London Times.
Ignorance, especially of the sit
uatlon in Manchuria, ignorance
OF the preparations and de-
termination of the Japanese. a high
russian official. how in Portsmouth.
speaking TO a foreign minister only a
rev DAYS before the outbreak of the
war, said: Russia has only to mob
hi1e one army corps. and this talk of
VAR VIII cease
Today Russian high authority.
whose name L may not mention asked
me If I had come specially for this
conference all the way from Picking.
said:
have. ] was ordered to COME. I
uia not wish to come. 1t seemed to me
that the conference was futile. that il
ought not TO have been summoned,
that 1t could only end I'm failure
No Basis for Peace.
To my surprise he said: II quite
agree with you. 1t is also my
opinion
went on TO explain that whea
LETT PelSing / believed that, the presi-
dent had ascertained that there was a
OASIS or negotiation. L believed he had
sounded both powers, had learned
. bfOauly what one power would ask
ana the oSner be willing TO cOnceds.
That is not so,' he replied I'VE
did not know the Japanese terms. The
president did not know them. Had our
government known them the mission
would not have been sent. But japan
did not disclose them She declined to
submit them TO any one but our pleni-
PoteDtiaries."
We spoke OF the war and I said I
thought the war the most foolish for
Russia that had been waged for years
that II ought never to have occurred
on are perfectly right" he replied,
and had certain advice been taken it
would never have occurred"
Russia in the Wrong.
said; Had you accepted the jap
anese proposals for reciprocal recoeni-
ton Of respective rights in Corea and
Manchuria. you would have got all YOU
wanted and peace would have con-
ttnued. He entirely agreed Then I
said to him frankly, with his per-
mission
Russia is in the wrong. she ought
TO pay an indemnity aud end the war
This is not a war between the strength
of Russia and the strength OF Japan
1t is war between a section OF the
Russia empire at the end OF thousands
y
strength OF martial Japan. The out
look for you is hopeless"
We shall not pay an indemnity" he
replied doggedly
I expressed my conviction that If the
war continued Hardin would pc fsO-
lated, and Nlsdivostok be captured
II grant it's a possibility" he said
but only after enormous losses of men
fifty thousand or more at Vladivo-
stok, 10000 in Manchuria.''
rrl., -
VIII sacrifice if compelled to. but If
Hardin fall, what them"
Our troops will retire into Siberia
Can the Japanese follow them, can they
Grim Outlook for Army.
With some earnestness 1 reminded
him how hopeless would be their stu
alton If Harbin fell. There is no place
WRIST or north OF Hardin where an
army can liVe-no grain for men. no tod
der for horses. The ground in winter
is frozen solid several feet in depth
He said. They can stay in the Bin
gan mountains"
THAT country equally is inhospit-
able 1 replied. There is neither
grain nor livestock" He would not ad-
NIT IT was so.
I told him I had been in Hardin.
that Russian city in the heart OF Man
churia. when It consisted OF only five
Chinese houses, and that the valley
stretching from It eastward to Ashibbo
was the richest I had seen in eastern
Asia. If Hardin with its great grain
mills. by which the Russian army In
ManchUria now is being fed were lost,
the situation would be desperate in
deed. He replied;
NO doubt the detectives OF the Jap
anese advance are Hardin and Vladi-
vostok but our military men are con-
fidenr OF success. are satisfied Is TO the
position, and are eager for the war TO
continue"
But the Japanese. I said, ARE
equally confident"
The future viii show" he answered.
but can you tell me this Can you
tell me why has there been this long
delay-this cessation of movement after
the battle OF Mukden?"
Thinks Jap Army Parslyzed.
He did not say so, but he seemed to
suggest that Il indicated that the Jap
snese army had been paraIyzed by that
great victory.
There are many reasons" replied