Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1905-06-02
eREAT JAPANEsE HIOTORY.

GREAT JAPANESE VICTORY.
The Japanese and the Russian fleets met
in terrible battle in the Korean Straits on
Saturday last, the result being q signal vic
tory for the Japanese. In the engagement
the japanese sunk or captured "a vessels Of
the Russian feet, and latest reports state
that their flagship was badly disabled and
its commander, Rojestvensky, very severely
wounded, was captured. Admiral Neboga.
toff and 5000 other Russians were taken
prisoners. 1t is also reported that 1900 Of
the Russians, including eight captains, were
killed. Admiral Togo, commander Of the
Japanese Navy, reports having sustained
no serious damage. A few Of the Russian
second. class vessels managed 10 escape In a
crippled condition.
To degree unequaled In any war OF re.
cent times, this contest between Japan and
Russia has been a searching test of two civil
lizations, two systems Of government, two
types OF national character and standards OF
national conduct. 10 the continuous trial
TO which the japanese have been subjected
during the memorable FIVE hundred days
that have passed since February 7, 1904, they
had shown themselves superior 10 every re
quirement which their most sanguine I'D.
mirer would have asserted their ability to
fulfill eighteen months ago. An unbroken
progress had marked their operations in
MannhnRta aaala af,,at
an enemy supposed to be far superior To
them In fighting capacity. Their naval OPP
erations at Port Arthur, In conjunction with
their land forces, had been crowned with
signal success. Their sanitary and admin
istrative methods had won the admlring
recognition Of experts and Of observers gen.
orally, throughout the world. But there
has hung over them, during the past few
months, the possibility of a defeat at sea.
The force at Rojestvensky's command re-
ceived at intervals, successive reinforce.
ments, bringing Its nominal strength 10
point distinctly above that OF the Japanese
The Russian admiral's skill ln the manage.
ment OF the extensive and complicated ma
neuvers required for this remarkable Assem-.
bling Of great armada 5000 miles away
from Its home base had been the subject of
marked Communication, and had given rise
10 hopes of final success which, not many
weeks ago, would have been thought i'm.
possible. And If success had come, the effect
upon the situation Of the japanese would
have been almost fatally disastrous. The
fruits OF a year of continuous victory would
have been imperiled In a single day of de-
Yalu, and Nanshsn Hill, and Port Arthur,
and Lao Yang, and Mukden, has not been
reversed. The Korean Straits record the
same judgment as has been entered, again
aud again, with no dissenting voice, at every
stage Of the great trisl--a veritable ordeal
by battle-that has been going on between
the opposing empires Of Russia and Japan.
But it is the spectacle OF Japan herself
which, above all else, must hasten the atten
ton OF the world to-day And nothing
could be more inspiriting than this specta.
Gle, Japan stands before the world living
symbol Of the wonderful possibilities OF
mankind. She has accomplished by sheer
force Of Intellectual and moral qualities a
miracle OF varied and wonderful achieve
ment. To the winning o: these victories
there has gone the mastery Of every resource,
the possession OF every virtue of thought
and action, that the highest types Of civill-
zstlon have developed. In little more than
hall century, these remote islanders, re-
garded only short time ago as of an inter-
est hardly different from that of brio. a.brac,
have mastered every lesson that the science
and the enterprise of European civilization
could furnish, and have bettered the instruc.
ton. The fundamental etchical qualities 1t
must ever be remembered, however, were
their own. 10 loyalty, in patriotism, in de-
votion, ia fidelity, in accuracy, Europe aud
America had nothing 10 teach them. The
basic elements OF national greatness no PEG.
pie can borrow, bat If they have these all
other things may be added unto them.