New-York tribune., 1905-08-31
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
From The Tribute Bureau.l

Washington. August 30. 1905
MILITARY VIEW OF PISACE.-Army and navy
officers who had acquainted themselves with the
general terms OF the peace proposals Of japan ana
Russia were inclined TO regard the obligations I'M
posed by Japan ami assumed by Russia as a fair
conclusion. taking into consideration the conflict
.ns Interests involved The army and navy officers
have felt that Japan was asking altogether too
much especially in the question OF indemnity, ana
IL was assumed that whatever financial interests
back OF the Japanese proposal TO this enecI
the ENJOYS from Toxic would recede from ihat po-
sition and would not permit the negotiations at
Portsmouth TO he brought to an unsuccessful end
On account OF this claim. II WAS realized by the
naval and military experts who have consfoerei 'he
question that Japan had not yet attained such sue
cess in the war with Russia as 10 Justify the de-
mand FOR an indemnity, and probably the Jap
snese themselves had idea that such demand
would meet with Russian acceptance For TINS
reason the military and naval people here 90 not
regard the japanese Abandonment or the claim as
in any special sense backdown- 1t is recognized
course that Japan. at the beginning OF the CON
ference asked much more than was expected, and
il is imagined here that the financial terms agreed
upon are about what Japan originally thought
worth while. The demand for a cash indemnity
could only have been accepted were the situation
much pcrilous for the Russians, and the
Russian and Japanese armies were still far
from being hopeless for the Russians that the lat
JUSTIFIED in refusing point blank to con-
slider any such demand. Another feature which the
tlerent was the great of maintaining the Jap
anese forces in the field This expense must amount
TO more than S.00,o0 day. and il was item
which had 10 be considered as warranting a sur
render Of some points originally introduced in the
japanese terms OF peace 1t is probable that the
expense Of maintaining the Japanese forces amount
ed TO good deel more than 81. 10000 a day. and
the expense IN that direction destined be in
creased materially with the need OF additional
troops in the field Altogether. the terms of peace
regarded by the military experts as reason
sble and impartial settlement.
PHILIPPINE COAI, MINES.-The young army
engineer Lieutenant II. l. wigmore. who has been
sn charge Of one OF the coal mines in the Philip
pines has been delaying his return to this country
under orders, until he could consult with Secretary
Taft IN regard 10 continuing the operation of that
property. Some OF these mines Baton ISL
and and inherited from the Spanish govern
nent. which had made Intellectual effort 10 work
them The army officer had more success. so far
as the quantity OF product concerned. but the
quality was not up the requirements. and for
that grave doubt exists in the minds Of
The War Department officials whether it is worth
while going to the expense OF operating the mines
with native labor, and bringing from the United
States experts and machinery. not obtaina BILE,
cf course. in the Philippines. The Navy De-
parTnnent tested the coal and reported adversely
upon it ar least a fuel that service, and the
army Quartermasters VINO have charge Of the mill
tary transports We're not much more favorably in
clined. At the time. Secretary Taft is said
10 have much faith in the wealth of the coal mines
OF the islands. and General Corbin in HIS last an
nual report. refers in a hopeful way to the pros
poets OF obtaining something which would be OF
value. No in the department has heard the
result OF Lieutenant wigmore's conference with
oeterEnined that no more work viii be done in the
Baton mines.