Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-18
Russia's War Losses.

! Russia officially Acknowledges a naval loss
during the war with Japan aggregating
| S113, 100000. Seventeen battleships, five
| armored cruisers and seven protected
| cruisers. or twenty-nne vessels of the
| higher class in all, were sunk or captured.
Besides these there were several torpedo
| boats and destroyers, perhaps fifteen or
| more. The full reports on this score are not
at hand, but 1T is safe to estimate that the
actual and absolute losses to Russia In
ships of all kinds a-oroXimated fifty. In
addition to these ships lost or sunk or cap
tured there are some now informed In neu-
trail ports that are damaged to a heavy
extent. The cost of the necessary repairs
to these vessels must be added to the naval
cost of the war In point of the enemy's de-
structiveness. English and German experts
have placed the estimates of the losses at
much higher figures than that now Off
cially announced by Russia, ranging from
SIPS. 900 600 to s17aOO0.OOO.
Accepting the Russian estimate. It ID
plain that 1t will be impossible for the czar
to reproduce the lost navy for the same
sum, considering the steady advance IN the
cost of materials and labor. But this Rus
sian figure needs explanation. Does It
stand for what the lost ships actually cost
the Russian treasury, or what they should
have cost? It Is broadly understood that
there was the most fragrant graft in the
construction Of the Russian navy Stories
are told, without denial, OF outrageous pro-
ceedings In the buying of armor plate, en-
gines and guns. and in the workmanship
of assemblage. 1t would be interesting to
| know whether the difference between the
Russian and the English and German esti-
| mates of the naval losses is to be accounted
| for on this score. Have the latter esti-
| mates taken the Russian graft into the
reckoning or are they based upon a tech
| meal knowledge of what the .ost ships
should have cost If properly built2
| 1t is also stated, though not officially.
that the cost Of placing and keeping the
| Russian army In the field has been about
| 5000 OOO.oO Granting allowances for I'M
| derestimation and adding the naval losses.
a total Of s75O. 600 is obtained as IA
basis from which to compute the Russian
war cost. This does not include the naval
maintenance. which will run several MIL
| lions more, perhaps 100000 1t is by no
cost Of close upon $1,000 100000. without
| reference to offerings,
What with the losses in land. leases,
physical property in Manchuria, railroads.
ETC.. losses in life. losses IN vessels and
losses in money. this bit Of Asiatio expo
rience has cost Russia dearly It will
never be possible to figure the full sum, for
the war has demoralzed the Russian in
dustries and has precipitated domestic
troubles that have cost. and will continue
to cost for years to come. very heavily.
And the net result Of 1t all is a complete
destruction OF military and political pres
| tige IN Asia, virtually total extinction
of the Russian naval power and the hasten
ing of the day of reckoning with the long
suppressed people at home. remains for
Russia's rulers now to determine whether
the lesson that has been learned and the
opportunity that has been opened will bring
anal fruits worth the heavy outlay.