Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-05-11
WAR DURING THE WEEK
No Important Developments in the
Naval Game.

Naval Game.
The weeks developments in the
naval game in the China Sea make il
clear that Vice Admiral Rojestvensky
will not undertake to give battle to
Admiral Togo, or to make a dash fol-
a safe harbor at Vladivostok until his
feet has been REINFORCED by Rear
Admiral Nebogatoff's division.
Rojestvensky left the shelter Of the
French harbor 1T Kamranh Bay just
In time to prevent the neutrality crisis
between Japan and France from as
suming 40 critical stage. Apparently
he anchored just outside the three-mile
limit, for French dispatches from
Kamranh Bay said he would not leave
the AMMAN coast until he was Joined
by Nebogatoff's ships.
Concurrently the wires have been
busy with rumors concerning Neboga-
toff's collection Of antiques, which is
to reinforce Rojestvensky. This
squadron may have reached the China
Sea without having been observed by
reliable witnesses, but that does not
seem probable.
ROjestvensky has now been three
weeks in the China Sea, a time long
enough, it would seem, to satisfy him
that Togo has no intention of leaving
the neighborhood of the japanese
naval bases to attack him.
Admiral Togo is still keeping his
fleet well away from the trade routes
Otherwise his vessels would have
been reported long before this. In
addition to the many ports which have
been closed by the Japanese to COM
merce, the whole of the island of For
mosa has now been proclaimed to be
under martial law It might be IL
ferred from this that Togo was in
waiting in FormoSan waters, but such
an inference would be rash Only the
event will show where Togo elects to
meet Rojestvensky. when Rojestven-
sky elects to proceed ON mis- course.
No one knows where Togo's fleet Is
but Togo. There is, however, a quiet
note of confidence in all Toxic dis
patches, which indicates clearly thai
in Japan, at least, there is no anXiet,
for the outcome of the naval combat
when it does take place.
The neutrality question seems to
have settled itself. Probably if the
truth were known the Toxic statesmen
were not nearly so angry with France
as the japanese newspapers represent
ed, and doubtless France received
nothing. that could by any stretch of
diplomatic usage be called a protest
or q demand Cor an explanation"
AS a matter Of fact, 1t is clear that
Japan has little to gain and much to
lose by compelling a serious diplo-
matte breach with France over the
neutrality question. 1t is easy to say
that by coming to an open rupture
with France over q real or fancie.l
grievance Japan could call upon Eng
land to fulfill the obligations Of an
ally. Such contingency could be
that Japan might lose more than she
could gain by dragging England and
France into the war.
When four nations engage in war,
necessarily four nations are concerned
in the adjustment of the terms OF
peace. At present Japan has proven
herself stronger than Russia on land
and sea. If Japan unaided can whip
RuSSia-thpn only J9D1n and Rucsio
will be concerned in the peace settle
tment-and Japan can dictate the
terms. But If Japan drags France and
England into the war the peace con-
ference will much resemble a confer
ence of the pOwerS-and Japan, so far
from being able to dictate terms alone.
would be in the minority and com
PEELED to accept what she could get.