Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-03


power which was known TO the Muscovite
empire before the war. 1t does not mean
that Russia has become a negligible guam
tity or that the Japanese have acquired
by result OF the recent victories such
supremacy as to make the Russian empire
consider them truly redoubtable enemy"
M. White recognized. he said the good
qualities Of the Japanese military. naval
and administrative organizations and did
not believe any other European nation
would have been able to resist Japan as
Russia has done.
1T must be taken into consideration"
added NJ White, that the japanese had
been preparing themselves for war for
about ten years. while Russia was entirely
unprepared. wishing for and trusting in
peace; that the Japanese fought in their
own neighborhood under all favorable con-
ditions. while the Russians had to be sent
1900 versts from their headquarters by
railroad entirely insufficient to their needs
and to fight colonial war with all CO.
ef1cents against them.
There is not in history another example
of a similar disrroportion between enemies.
Nevertheless. all the foreign officers of the
European armies who followed the war are
unanimous in affirming that the Russian
troops. both soldiers and officers. fought
with true, admirable bravery, but they had
to withdraw on account of combination
Of circumstances with which their personal
valor could not contend.
Admitted Inferiority at Sea.
'On the sea the Russians found them
selves constantly In inferior conditions. The
squadron of Vice Admiral Rojestvensky
was sent against Japan not because the
Russians had much confidence in Its sue
cess. but because they could not renounce
from a military and moral point of view
any chance. no matter how uncertain, of
obtaining even partial victory.
Suppose for a moment that the war,
instead of having taken place in Corea OF
In Manchuria. had been fought at the true
Russian frontiers. then the Japanese would
not have been able to face the Russian
forces for more than six months.
However even as things stand the Jap
anese have not made such progress as Is
generally believed: in fact. they would
have to advance four times as much as
they have done in the last year and half
to reach Russia proper, in which case
alone they might consider themselves In
position of imposing the conditions of
peace. But they are very far from this,
and the more they advance north the more
the respective conditions of the Russians
and the japanese will be reversed.
Situation at Home Not a Factor.
According to the Russian plenipoten-
tiary, those who do not know Russia we'll
oppose to these reasons the specter Of the
internal conditions of the empire. imagin-
ing all kinds of cataclysms, but even about
this they are mistaken. NJ. White did not
wish to discuss at this time the events in
Russia, affirming, however, that they have
not the character nor the gravity attrib-
consequences which have been predicted
partly by those prejudiced against Russia
and partly by those ignorant of Russian in
ternal affairs. What Is going on in the
Muscovite empire he said, cannot have any
influence on her foreign policy, and even
less on the continuation or cessation Of the
war.
THE great majority Of the Russian peo-
ple,' said NJ. Witte, do not attach to the
conflict in the far east the Importance
which Is given to it In Europe and America.
1t is considered a very distant colonial
war. but the whole Russian people would
rise single man the day in which they
should think that 1t Is no more the question
of colonial war, which is not dangerous,
but Of a conflict threatening the security Of
the country"
Will Work for Peace.
NJ White indicated, Notwithstanding these
Views. that he does not mean to say that he
Will not make every possible effort toward
the conclusion Of peace, adding that he is
favorable to peace as a Russian and as a
man, having always worked to prevent war.
and understanding that at present nearly
the entire world desires the end of the con-
fict.
However. he feels that to reach this object
1t is necessary that the Japanese should be
animated by the same feelings; that they
should be convinced that for Russia peace
is desirable, but is not at all indispensable,
and that, consequently, she will never
cept any condition which even apparently
may offend her amour propre.
M. White repeated that he will honestly
do all that his conscience may suggest to
bring about if possible. an agreement which
may be equally satisfactory to the interests
of Russia and Japan. After having done
this no matter what the results may be- M.
White feels that he will have accomplished
his duty.
Meeting With Baron Rosen.
The liner reached her pier at o'clock.
When the Kaiser got her long length into
the slip and the forward upper deck came In
line with the pier gangplank NJ Witte saw
small man in gray suit and straw hat lean
ing on a cane at the head of the gangway.
1t was Baron Rosen, his colleague on the
peace commission.
why, there's Rosen" said NJ White, de-
lightedly, and waved his Panama around
his head, happy as q schoolboy Baron Ro-
sen saw M. Witte al almost the same in
slant, and round and round went the barons
hat, while both men bowed as low as their
confined positions would allow. The Incl
dent set the big crowd waiting on the pier
and the passengers of the Kaiser cheering
out of pleasurable excitement The pier
was packed. There must have been 5000
persons there AID outside waiting to greet
the envoy. Many of the crowd were women
who wore light dresses and waved Russian
flags while they cried "Witte' as loudly as
they could. The reception seemed to sur
prise NJ. White considerably. He had not
expected anything like it. The instant the
Kaiser tied up Baron Rosen came aboard
and grasped his colleagues hand.
"Zdrav vstujte,' said the baron In Rus
sian, which means in English, roughly, re
main healthy"
The members of the suite withdrew and
M White and Baron Rosen conversed pri-
vately for some time where they stood on
the deck and had further confab in the
cabin.
Baron Rosen handed NJ. White several dis
patches and letters, which the latter read
before he left the ship. 1t was about 3
O. clock when he stepped off the Kaiser and
started through the pier shed.
Jostled by Immense Crowd.
Then the rush of the crowd began 1t
is doubtful If anything like 1t was ever
permitted by the police on the arrival of
a distinguished person. The stampede of
the curious would have swept Nj. Witte
off his feet had he been a little man. AS
it was he was jostled and bumped and
banged. His cigarette was knocked awry
In his mouth and his feet were stepped
IN ONLY a DerSOn most fndefa tpa HE