The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-11
Regiew of Chief EUents
Of First Year of Mar
Shoes That laps Haze
Achieged Their Eye7.y
Ann Except Capture
of M1tkdem.

In a year Of war between Japan and
Russia, not less than billion dollars
has been expended, not less than $50 900
men have fallen, killed or wounded, a
great fleet has been practically wiped
out of existence, and the greatest
stronghold of the far east has gone from
one, belligerent to another record Of
that modern times have never seen sur
passed. .--,
All southern Manchuria is occupied
by the Japanese: Where once. the czar
was the dominating factor of the far
eastern question his sole power now lies
in an army that has never won vic
tory. His forlorn hopes of success are
conferred on the carrying capacity OF a
railway 5000 miles long, which is rapid
~ deteriorating under constant over
borne bravely, but each has proved how
futile is the Russian struggle.
On the other hand, the Japanese
have accomplished their every aim, ex-
cept the capture, of Mukd i They have
taken Port Arthur. They have de-
are prepared to cope with any naval
force the car can send against them.
They can get troops in almost unlimited
numbers to the front in little more than
2 week, where Russia can only get linn
tied numbers to the front in q month.
preme in Korea-which they had been
trying to do ever since the second CEN
fury before the time of Christ.
Extraordinary Contrasts.
Extraordinary contrasts have marked
the terrible conflicts. Modern ingenu-
ity has We'd with the tricks of medic
val times. Much Of the most important
fighting has been at night, when the
modern searchlight and the old hand
grenade have been the principal feat
ures. At Port Arthur, the garrison, re-
rolled stones down the hills, and even
threw pepper into the attackers eyes
when bullets failed to stop them. HUI
man skill also exhausted itself there in
ingenious means Of defense. Heavy
wire entang clements, charged with cleo
lures than those Of the inquisition were
suffered before these moats could be
taken. They were spiked at bottom,
and some were even provided with pits
of oil, which were ignited when the Jap
? ments We're both raked by the fire Of
cunningly implaced machine guns.
Even in climate the contrasts have
been most marked. Manchuria in sum-
mer is as hot as Missouri. In winter it
is as cold as Labrador. The transitions
from one season to another are abrupt,
violent snowstorms, often make it i'm
possible to move armies. Rain stopped
the battle Of the Shakhe. Heavy snow
and intense cold recently ended the Rus
sian attack on the Japanese left wing.
cold, they could not stand against the
determination Of the Japanese, who
proved themselves the better winter
fighters.
Some idea Of the extremes Of temper.
azure may be gained from the fact that
3 atShimueheng in the latter part of July,
the soldiers dropped in hundreds from
sunstroke, the thermometer reaching
1O4; while at Sandepas in the latter
part of January, the thermometer re-
corded 20 degrees below zero, and a
binding snowstorm impeded the move
ment Of troops.
Changes in Fighting Methods.
80 Modern artillery seems to have done
! more than anything else to change the
methods Of warfare. It has compelled
: long range fighting, and it. has elimi
mated the picturesque cavalry charges
cessfully charge machine guns on barbet
wire entang lements. Hence the widely
famed Cossacks have been used almos
entirely as mounted infantry, abandon
ing their horses when they have to fight
b Some aS Of the ga sfaddst a. adysFe ee hay Se
cause Of the prime necessity Of protect
ing men from the rapid-fre artillery
Never before has SO much trenc hin,
been done. Each army has seemingl:
tried to Guido the other in throwing u
mark the path Of the troops from tn
Yalu and the southern Manchurian sea
- coast to Mukden.
Trenching tools are part of the equiv
ment Of every man.. Before the groun
froze, his first duty, when he haltet
was TO dig shelter for himself Ate
that he might think Of resting and ea'
ing. -
At Port Arthur, the grim hills whe1
more than 100000 men have fallen, al
scanned with trenches. AS soon as d,
- tachment Of Japanese gained a few roc
it sheltered itself in the earth, and pr
pared for another advance. Withor
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