The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-08
ONE YEAn or rrGnrrNo.

0nG year or war between Nusnte and Japan has brought us to a point where we can form something more than prediction on the subject. The war began on the sth of February when the Japanese Admiral. Togo, practically destroyed the Russian fleet at Port Arthur. though preparations for hostilties had preceded that date
 It is interesting now to fecall some of the prophecies that were induiged in when hostIiities first opened By many the prediction was freely and confidently made that the struggle would be of very brief duration. The comparison was made of the relative size, wealth, population and fighting strength of the two countries. and the figures showed to the great and mani- fest advantage of the Russians. It was pointed out that Russia is an i'm mense country, with numerous fight ing population, with Government both civil and military of absolute power; that the people were inured to war from ages of almost continu- ous practice, and that the Government had almost unlimited military re- sources. Against this was shown that Japan was a small Government, that the Japanese were not a warlike peo- pie, that they had comparatively little experience in modern warfare that the number of available soldiers was spall. and that the resources of the Government would be unequal to great or lengthy struggle against powerful antagonist. In short, it was shown that a war would be a fight of dwarf and giant.
 These are some of the arguments that were advanced and on which was founded the prediction that war be- tween the two countries would be of very brief duration. 'The bear will swallow the little nation whole was about the trend of discussion by many who spoke of 1t. But not by all, for there were those who looked deeper into existing conditions and who evil dently had a better knowledge of Ja- pan and her people. They had kept informed of the fact that Japan had some of the most powerful warships afioat, that she was provided with the most modern and effective arms and munitions to be had. and that her and their Government and would cheerfully give up their lives to prove their faith. Those who were well in- formed knew that the almost fatalistic faith of the little brown men would send them to battle with far more en- thusiasm than would the absolutism of the Russians.
 That events have fully justified the faith of those who reasoned in this way is now evident. It Is also evident that those who predicted final Japan csc triumph have as yet had no cause to be looked on as false prophets. The war has progressed. Both on land and sea the success of the Japanese has been remarkable and unaccountable to most outsiders. That they have had some reverses is true. No war has been a succession of triumphs without any defeats. The Japanese have suf- fered some reverses which entailed se- we're losses, but these defeats were neither conclusive nor disheartening. After each one they have reformed, re- cuperated and returned to the conflict with just the same vigor, the same ardor and the same invincible faith that has marked their course from the beginning. The prospect of death has no terrors, defeat does not dishearten and temporary failure offers no dis couragement. If their land warfare has not been a continued victory, 1t has been a continued forward move~ ment.
 Nor have they been less successful on water. Today there Is hardly the semblance of a Russian fleet anywhere in the vicinity of hostilities. Their greatest and best ships have been cap tured, disabled, sunk or driven entirely away. They have no fleet left worthy of the name within reach of the Jap anese. On the sea as on the land the little brown men have been too much for their enemies and still the end Is apparently not in sight.
 Predictions in warfare are not al- ways safe, but as The Advertiser pre- dicted at the beginning that Russia had no assurance of triumph, so 1t seems to us now that the outlook is no brighter for them than it was at the beginning. It may be that, as con- stant rubbing will wear away stone, so constant attrition may eventually wear out the Japanese armies, but we must confess that we see no victory in sight for Russia. The hostile armies are confronting each other in fields of ice and snow, but 1t will not be many weeks before active fighting will again be in order and 1t may be that the final death struggle will mark the coming spring and summer. Have the Russians any cause to feel assurance of final success?
 | It shows how Southern men forget