Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1905-03-17
DOES RUSSIA REALLY INTEND
TO CONTINUE THE WARP

TO CONTINUE THE WARY
Undismsyed by the overwhelming disas-
ter 10 General Kuropatkin's army near Muk.
den, Count Cassini, the Cars Ambassador
at Washington, says, In an interview pub
lished in the Sun yesterday:
However generous the terms which Japan
might offer, Russian prestige lie not among
them. That is one thing for which the war
will be fought TO the end. Victory for the
Russian arms will alone make for peace; II
not OF Tai pass, then at Hardin. Russia
will also assemble another army, mightier
than before, and with that army she will
settle the issue. 1t may be six months, a
year, or perhaps two years Time will be
no consideration.
Ii Count Cassini speaking seriously, or
are bis brave words merely the language oil
diplomatic "bluffngH" Sometimes bluff"
goes long way, but there Is no reason To
think 1t will go any farther with the Japa.
nese now than 1t did during the diplomatic
negotiations before the war began. The
Jsps STOOD pat" then, and there are many
indications that they will stand pat" now.
Why shouldn't theyi Everything has gone
their way on land and on the sea. They
have won without a break. They are I'M
possession. They have an unbeaten army
superior In equipment and stronger numer-
icslly than that OF their foes. Surely the
Russian Ambassador In Washington does
not imagine that q "bluf" would have
any effect upon such seasoned warriors as
oyama. Kuroki and Nogi, or upon the ex
perienced Statesmen at Toxic. Hence it
may be inferred that he really means what
his language lmports-thAt Russia Intends
to continue the war until her prestige has
been restored and the issue has been settled
with due regard 10 her interests In the Far
East.
In France and In England the opinion
prevails that Russia has been beaten ire.
parably. Count Cassini will derive no sat.
isfaction from the expressions Of the mill.
tary experts and the press Of those coun
tries. Moreover, in France, which ls the
ally Of Russia, there Is an urgent and gen.
eral demand for peace French statesmen,
financiers and investors Of small amounts In
Russian securities insist upon the termina.
ton Of the war. Some of the most respected
and influential newspapers In France have
pointed out that Russia has been 30 weaken.
ed by the war with Japan that France no
longer derives substantial benefits from the
alliance. II, they say, Germany should find
1t TO her interest to make war on the French
Republic now, Russia, because OF defeats in |
the Far East and revolutionary movements
at home, could render no assistance TO her |
ally. The Germans have nothing TO fear |
from the Russian army and navy. 1t will
thus be seen that Russia's French ally not |
only takes pessmistic view Of the situa
ton, but actually discredts the alliance.
There may be some bluff" in this pessim.
ism, but there is also a suggestion OF truth
10 II, which must be rather bitter 10 st
Petersburg.
While Colonel Won Gaedke, q German
military expert, has frankly stated his belief
that "it 10 all over with the Russians" since
their defeat near Mukden, there are other
German officers who do not entirely concur
10 his views Count Cassln may extract
some comfort from a statement made since |
the Mukden disaster by General Won der
Goltz, chief Of the First Army Corps. Gen.
Won der Goltz is one of the ablest men In the
German military service. 1t was this officer
who reorganized the Turkish army on an
efficient basis. His opinion is that "the fate |
of the whole war depends on whether Rus.
STA succeeds in winning back the control of |
the sea Should she succeed 10 doing this, |
the lines Of communication by which Jap
an ls able continually to supply and aug.
meut her forces would be taken away, and
in the end the material preponderance Of
Russia would make itself felt" That seems
to be a safe proposition, and perhaps even
the japanese would not seriously contro
vert II. But does Count CAsslni or any
other Russian believe that what the fine
feet which was assembled under the guns
Of Port Arthur when the war began could
not accomplish can be effected by ADM.
raj Rojestvensky's squsdronsi Does Gen
eral Won der Goltz believe III But. adds the
General:
II Russia does not succeed 10 obtaining
command OF the sea. both combstants have
40 equal chance OF hnal success, and the re-
suit will be dependent on the financial ex-
haustion Of one or the other side.
The war has lasted Is months and the
Russians have not scored a victory of any
Importance. Yet General Won der Goltz
suggests that IL the conflict continues indie.
dnilely "both combatsnts will have an
equal chance of Anal success" That con-
clusion may be sound from the viewpoint
OF the military expert, but to the lsyman 1t
does not seem to be- logical. II the victories
and reverses had been evenly distributed
among the bellgerents the final result might
reasonably be considered 10 doubt Still,
the opinion of General Won der Goltz will
strengthen the war party 10 St. Petersburg.
Yesterdays dispatches from the Russian cap
ital state that ii has been decided by the
Gar and his advisers TO continue the war
II that decision does not eventually pppve TO
be bluff It would appear Ambassador
Cassini spoke by authority when he declared
that the conflict would go on. But the &C.
ton of Paris bankers in refusing TO sub
scribe to the Russian loan must be disheart
ening to the war party in 81 Petersburg
The bankers are not bluflng. - Baltimore
Sun Of Wednesday.
--s~--
10 few days the War Department will
take action on the joint resolution OF Con.
gress directing the return TO their former