The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-29
Russia's Internal Troubles and tho
War.

Russia's Internal Troubles and tho
War.
The news from the theatre Of hostili-
ties in Manchuria is conflicting, 40
oording TO dispatches sent on Friday
by Gen. KURoPATKIN. the Russians have
had decided advantage in the fighting
which has taken place on and near the
Sha River since Thursday morning.
They are said 10 have captured some
positions OF strategic importance on the
Japanese left, and to have repulsed an
attack levelled at their own left by Gen
! KURoKI.
The assertions arc not confirmed by
dispatches from Toxic and It is hard to
reconcile them with the fact that on
Friday the censorship permitted the
ST. Petersburg newspapers to print a
report that Gen KURoPATKIN had opened
negotiations with Marshal OYAMA II
we could accept the report as authentic
we should have to assume that per-
emptory orders have been received from
the Gar by the Russian Commander
must be arranged as quickly as possible,
in order that a part Of KURoPATKIN'
army may be recalled to European
Russia for the purpose Of cooperating in
the repression Of threatened uprisings in
Poland and elsewhere
We pointed out some time ago that the
decision to send to Manohuria large
part Of the army habitually stationed
along the line Of the Visttila was OF
doubtful expediency, inasmuch as the
opportunity thus offered might be seized
by Polish revolutionists. The necessity
Of coping with the formidable strikes
which have taken place during the last
week in ST. Petersburg, Moscow and
many other cities has compelled the
Government to deple,e still further the
well equipped and highly disciplined
force usually distributed in garrisons
throughout Russian Poland In War
saw, indeed, large body OF Russian
soldiers seems TO have been retained,
but such a precc' ion would scarcely
avail to avert an insurrection, which, if
resolved upon, would probably begin at
a distance from the Polish capital
II the Poles have made up their minds
that the present conjuncture is pro-
pftious for a national uprising, like that
Of forty years ago, their first outbreaks
| are likely to occur near the frontier Of
Galicia, whence they could rely on pro-
curing a good deal OF support, in spite
Of the Austrian Governments attempt
TO enforce neutrality. No similar CO.
operation could be hoped for from Posen,
| because Of late the Berlin Government
! has egnally increased the military es-
tablishment on its eastern frontier and
has drawn an almost impenetrable cor
! don around its Polish subjects. There
| are many millions OF Poles however, in
| Russian Poland alone, and II they can
manage 10 procure arms they can give
! the Cars Government a great deal Of
! trouble at this time, when 1t would be
| impossible to detach for operations
against them many OF the troops now
concentrated in st. Petersburg, Moscow,
Odessa and other centres OF Russian
/ industry.
Under the circumstances, the imme-
/ date conclusion of an armistice. followed
/ by an early agreement upon terms of
peace in the Far East, would seem 20 be
a course that would strongly commend
itself to the Cars most loyal and wisest
advisers, who have at no time hesitated
TO express disapproval of the war with
Japan. The mere announcement that
a large part Of KURoPATRIN' army had
been recalled would probably suffice TO
discourage Polish revolutionists, not
withstanding the fact that many weeks
would have to elapse before a consider
able number OF soldiers could arrive
from Manchuria This is so patent that
the precauton would almost certainly
be- taken If the Russian authorities at
Warsaw had reason 10 believe that an
uprising was really imminent in Poland
KURoPATKIN's soldiers could un-
doubleday be trusted to fight the Poles.
, but can they be relied upon to view with
appreciation the massacre of their Rus
sian compatriots by the Grand Ducal
coterie last Sunday in St. Petersburg?
The army at the front well knows who
are chsrgeable with the suffering brought
upon it by the gross inadequacy of it's
commissariat and medical departments.
1t may return TO Russia in a sullen,
vindictive frame of mind Even vic
torious soldiers have sometimes shown
themselves intractable. Some Of the
Imperial Guards themselves, who had
taken part in the occupation of France
after the downfall Of NAPOLEON, came
back 10 Russia with anger in their hearts
and entered into the 'Decembrist" con-
spirscy. which could only be put down