Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-09
Move Men Face Each Other in Manchuria
Than Ever Before in History.
CHANCE FOR BIG BATTLE STILL EXISTS
Rainy Season Does Not Always Stop Action
Of Warlike Armies.
OF AN INDEMNITY BY RUSSIA
Natter Of Terms Of Peace Creates Intsres
at St. Petersburg.
RUSSIANS OBJECT TO LOSS OF TERRITORY

Many would Continue War Until |
Armies Enter Land of the Czar
Rather Than. submit to
Demands.
PARIS, July ESPECIAL Cablegram to
The Bee.)-If a battle takes place in Man
ohuria Of any considerable import before
the final treaty of peace between Russia
and Japan 1t will be by far the greatest
in the history OF the world. discarding as
legendary the wild Greek tales of Xerxe's
army millions strong. The Japanese today
have six armies in the field. composed Of
twenty-sx divisions and totaling a force
OF at least 100000 men. Five OF these great
armies are understood as operating against
General IAnevitch so that the force op-
posed Immediately TO him will be at least
$4,000 strong, and It may be even larger.
The japanese force of artillery is estimated
at 1,s0O guns.
Figures even approximately correct of the
Russian army are more difficult to get at.
II Is known that the Russian army has
been reinforced since Mukden, but 1t is
believed that II does not greatly exceed
$4,000 men, with 1900 guns. II each side
should bring into the battle its full quota
of men, therefore, nearly one million of
men and close upon 5000 cannon will be
engaged. The front of the Japanese armies
covers about 100 mhes, extending in one
vast semi-circle from the Lao river to the
mountains south of Kirln, the two tanks
being advanced toward the Russians.
In no battle Of the past, at least not
y until the outbreak of the present war,
have more than 100000 men been lined up
In opposing armies. The following were
the totals engaged in some of the past
historic battles, from which the colossal
scale of the present war can be understood:
Pievna, September, 1sT..................l .l30, 600
Sedan, September, 1870. 0................,.. .A4'09O
Gravelotte, August, 1870. .8OOVgO
SadowC July, 1866. 6...............,......4 4S5, 900
Gettysburg, July, 1858. 20 00O
Soferino June. 1883. S59...................... %. OO
Waterloo, June, lslS:
Leipzig, October. 1913 4l2,OO0
Bor)dino, September, lSl2...'.'.'.'.....'Sol'
Present Armies Larger.
1t will be seen that in the greatest bat
ties OF the past, sometimes not one-quarter,
often not one-hah the number OF men were
lined up which now confront each other to
the southwest of Kirin. The present diff
hculty Of Japan is not in finding men. but
In feeding the immense force which 1t has
at the front. But on account of the water
transportation the problems which con-
front the Japanese in this respect are not
as serious as those which confront the
Russians. Indeed, II the Japanese should
succeed in cutting the Siberian railroad in
the rear OF General Lnevitch, something
not impossible since their forces apparently
outnumber the force of the Russians nearly
two to one, it would be necessary for the
Russians to surrender. to fight or to starve.
Their stores on hand would not be sufficient
to feed a third of a million for many days.
ana their only hope Of future supplies would
lie in the Siberian railroad.
Reports to the effect that the rainy sea-
son has begun In Manchuria are watched
with greater interest by the military crit
les and students of military strategy than
the reports OF peace negotiations. which
are chiefly Of interest TO diplomatic students
and critics. According to careful meteoro-
logical reports made by Consul Hosie at
Newchwang, the date of the beginning Of
\, the rainy season" is about the second
week in July.
weather May Not stop Fight.
II was pointed out, however, at very
early period In the campaign Of 1904 that
the practically invariable rule OF past his
tory was that warlike operations were car
ried on in weather which disturbed the
minds of the oldest inhabitants" and led
them to say they never remembered such
A thing happening before. From this It is
deducted that all local memories are faulty,
= all traditions false or else that the abnormal
Incidents OF the combat themselves change
the state OF the atmosphere and upset the
best established Of tradition. Either that
or else that "sll signs fail in times of dry
weather. wet weather." as the case
may be. Failing military men have the
privilege of falling back upon the theory
that the discharging OF cannon, as at a bat
tie, has the effect OF bringing down rain
from the clouds. This latter theory may
account for many things which have hap
pened. provided It is justified instead Of de-
MED by scientific men as at the present
time.
The very phrase 'rainy season" is in It.
self deceptive, because It has so many
widely varying and widely different mean
ings in various localities. In Manchuria
the whole rainfall OF the year is small
scarcely thirteen inches IN all, and OF this
not half falls practically continuously, but
IN broken spells, even in ordinary times
during the specially wet months OF July anC
August. II is safe to predict. therefore
that during July and August of 1906 W,
shall have deluges which will temporaril,
check movement, provided all military
movements are not permanently ended b,
peace. followed by fine hot weather. during
which the roads will rapidly dry. The de
lays. therefore, will not be serious bu
short This was the condition of affairi
which was experienced a year ago. 1t is n,
doubt from their previous knowledge OF ia,
climate that the leaders OF the mikadoi
army are able to say that except at par
ticular points and for a limited perio,
operations will not be interrupted by tn,
rains.
Russians would Hold Territory,
ST. PETERSBURG, July s-(specia
Cablegram TO The Bee.)-Judging from tn,
spirit OF the Russian press the Russian
are not anxious for peace negotiation
= unless Vladivostok can be saved one o
N he Russian ministers who has the ear o
the ezar said this week
suppose the very worst that can han
pen. We can abandon Manchuria. Lao
tung, Port Arthur. the Kharbin railwa,
and agree TO pay a war indemnity, bu
what we will refuse at all costs is the dis
mantling OF Vladivostok and the surrende
OF Sakhalin. Not that Sakhalin Is lntrin
sicaliy 50 valuable, but It's possession is In
! valuable 70 US II we intend that Vladivo