The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-04
THE WAR SITUATION.
Topography and Psychology Of the Rus
sian Predlcament.

To THE EpIroR OF The SUN-Sir: Barring
unforeseen circumstances. there appears now
every probability that the war In Manchuria
will go on, and that the next stand OF the
Russians will be made along the line extending
westward from kirin through Baochiahotse
20 KwangtchenRtse, the railway junction
on the main line to Hardin. and thence TO
Dspadsiatse. the meeting place Of a number
OF roads coming from all directions West
ward OF this last named place lies the eastern
Cobb Desert. The total length Of front TO be
covered Ia little over one hundred miles,
and the typographical conditions are said
TO be favorable, while supplies are TO be had
in abundance. The latest statement OF the
Russian forces under Gen. Linievitch places
the number al close on 800 OOO. with reinforce
ments arriving daily. This seems an exag-
Reration. though by sending all available
railway guards and reserves to the front
something approaching that figure may have
been arrived az,
The advanced posts seem to be a bout twenty
five 20 thirty miles in front Of the kirn-
kwangtchengtse line, with strong force at
Gunshu Pass with one OF the armies from the
scene OF deteat taking up positions on line
OF hills ten miles southwest OF kirin with
great defensive capabilities. presenting, as
described. steep fronts to the south, the
direction Of the japanese advance.
From kirin westw ard 70 hwanRtchenRtse
Is eighty miles by road, OF which some sixty
miles passes over a rolling hill country that
f e4tT.t s pIsn ne Western Gr9sT eStremty
OF this line OF hills lies hwangtchenRtse, OF
Changchunfu as IL Is also called but separated
plain six miles across. Westward the country
is low and undulating until IL finally merRea
into the desert beyond Dapadsiatse; The
railway passes TO the west OF Changchunfu,
the station being three miles distant from the
city. which is the most prosperous trading
centre in Manchuria With more than 10000
inhabitants
While the japanese plan has not yet devel-
oped, IL IL reasonable 20 believe that they Will
move against the new Russian front with their
main force up the roads parallel to the line
OF rail which the Russ are destroying 40
thoroughly as 20 render II useless for some
time while their eastern army with its Ranking
column advances against kirin. and a strong
force 20 the westward threatens the Russian
right rear with the object Of forcing LinievitCh
eventually 10 retire behind the SunRari beyond
Hardin. Up TO the latest accounts the Japan
csc line was forming with It's 'front.' running
east and west on the kaiyuan-Fa kumen line,
with heavy patrols toward FenghuR, large
grain trading centre west OF the railway, and
Sipingkai on the line itself
What initiates against the Russians is the
extreme weakness OF their strategic position
for defensive operation while on the Japan
csc side there Is little left 10 desire. Should,
however the Russians be as strong as Ia stated
and in anything like a fighting spirit. their
opponents have still something 70 do before
they accomplish their purpose. II may be
said that, given time, the Russians may even
yet come out victorious but in this case time
Is emph9tcally also money, and in that es-
As il to add to the embarrassment Of the
situation Il Il announced that the Russian
Church, whose wealth should be az the disposal
OF the State in lis extremity. Is taking steps
TO bring about a separation OF the two and
leave il entirely independent Of the temporal
should this be accomplished, the revolution
IN Russia would be so complete that when
the new order born OF the war Ia esta blshed,
there viii be little Of the old left. +.
NEW YORK. April T.