New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-27
IN THE EASTERN SEA.

The scene of wariike interest appears to have
been shifted from the South Sea to the Eastern
Sea. There is circumstantial statement that
the Russian feet, or large part Of 1t, is at
Woosung That means that it has got past For
mosa, presumably by way Of the Bashee Chan
mel and the open sea at the east of that island.
Thus, as we suggested the other day, 1t avoided
the perilous passage of the narrow Strait Of
Formosa. 1t seems reasonable to assume, more
over that the further progress Of the feet IS in
tended to be northward, toward Corea Strait
and not out into the Pacific Ocean and around
Japan, for If the latter plan were in view the
fleet would surely have kept on in that way
when II was outside of Formosa. It would
scarcely waste a thousand miles steaming by
crossing the Eastern Sea twice just for the sake
Of visiting Woosung or Shanghai
It is interesting to observe that Rojestvensky
is credited with an heroic determination to force
Togo to fight him. That is, Of course, a proper
and most commendable resolution, but 1t is well
that the world is now assured Of its existence,
for hitherto it must be confessed, the Russian
admiral has seemed to be avoiding fight. Else
why did he trespass so long upon French neu-
trality, lodging from port to port along the
shore Of Anam? 1t might even be asked why
he has now gone into the Yangtse estuary. He
could not have expected to find Togo there! AS
we have hitherto pointed out 1t is not for Rojest-
Y.
the reason that the Japanese fleet is the su-
perior in speed and can therefore attack or
avoid attack at will. In one way, however,
Roiestvensky can obviously compel Togo TO
fight him. and that is by directing his feet
against some japanese or Corean port which
must be defended or by menacfng the transport
lines between Japan and the mainland. The
moment he does one Of these things we may be
sure Togo will be at the spot ready for him.
Moreover, some such step seems to be close at
hand, for RojestYensky is at that point on the
Chinese coast which is of all nearest to Japan
and to Corea Strait. He is at the nearest pos
sible base from which to make an attack which
the Japanese would have to meet. So If he
really wants to fight he should to-day be steer
ing straight for one of the places where fighting
would be inevitable.
The progress of Ro1estvensky's campaign thus
far affords a striking illustration of the way In
which supposed rules Of international law can
be evaded and adverse natural conditions can
be overcome by q resourceful and not over
scrupulous belligerent. When Ro5estvensky 8
feet started from the Baltic, the common OBJ
| servation was that it would have to travel
twelve thousand miles from its base and then
engage the enemy without any opportunity OF
rehtnng In q friendly port, But, as matter or
| fact it has enjoyed the use of various stopping
| places along the way almost much as though
the world were dotted with Russian coaling and
naval stations, and for the last few weeks 1t has
been almost as much at home as though it were
still at Cronstadt. The simple fact is that Rus
STA IS In this case In nearly all respects as well
of as though she had owned q series of naval
stations IN the Indian Ocean and the China
seas, and in one respect is actually better Off
namely, in that she has not had to protect such
stations from hostile attack. Beyond doubt
such use of neutral waters is gross violation
of the spirit of international law; but in the ex-
listing state of European relationships Russia
has felt free thus to act, and her judgment In