New-York tribune., 1905-04-25
MOVES N THE WAR GAME.

Russia is to be congratulated on the shrewd-
ness and nerve OF her admiral in the Far East.
Despite the sport that was made Of him during
his dilatoIy voyage. Admiral Rojestvensky is
showing himself Il man Of excellent pith, who
lets no obstacles prevent the attaining Of his
ends He reached the waters of AMMAN with
his ships in bad condition. They needed 10 have
their hus cleaned and their bunkers and store
rooms replenishel There Russian port
available, and under the common understand
ING of neutrality il would have been impossible
for him to enjoy such facilities and advantages
in "A neutral por; But what is a little thing
like neutrality 10 a strenuous warrior. bearing
with him the fate OF empire He simply diSre-
gar,led il with nonchalance scarcely short OF
sublimity. He put into Kamranh Bay as
though il were CrOnStadt iarbOr and made
himself quite at home getting his ships into
fighting trim while a feet Of coasting vessels
brought him all manner of supplies from neigh
boring neutral ports. OF course there were pro
TESTS. Japan protested 10 France and France
protested 10 Russia. aud France sent orders to
her officers moi TO let him infringe upon nrti-
trality. and Russia sent him orders not 10 en-
barrass France by such infringement. IN an
swer he simply stood pat until lie had got all
he wanted ana then moved ont, Now, what
matters il if it is found that he did abuse the
hospitality oi france: All the apologies and
!
tage lie has gained for Russia or the potential
harm ih2i has been done to Japan.
The comedy element is supplied by some witty
Partisan papers. which affect to deplore the in
Justice that has been done 10 Russia in turning
ROjcSivens6y incontnently ont Of French
waters. He was there little if any. more than
a week. while single day is the conventional
limit % such asylum. After only a weeks Sc
curiiy recuporation and preparation he must go
ou1 into the cold world again and meet the .Iapa-
nnse. And this" they Cxclaim with racv GaIlic
humor. lis neutrality" That is of course the
best possible tone 10 assume. 4 serious attempt
10 defend the Russian trespass would provoke
llOmeric laughter. while any earnest reproof to
Russia would he AN unpleasant thing for one
ally 10 give another. II is a characteristic and
often an effective French device Ia turn an awk-
ward corner with jest. and IL seems probable
that in this ease il will prove effective OF
course. when they lay aside the jest and con-
slider the matter seriously French statesmen
cannot help thinking how they would feel If
they were treated as Japan has bcen-if, for ex.
ample, there We're war between France and
Japan, and Japan sent feet around 10 the
Channel and England let it un into SOuthamp-
ION Water and lie there for a week repairing
after lis long trip ANA preparing for the coming
battle II is 10 be doubted If Mr.. Punch's Jokes
would be sufficient 10 turn the corner in diplO-
macy which that would create. But then there
Is a difference between English and French wit
What counter moves Admirals Togo and KAN
lmura are preparing the world is not ye. per
| United 10 know. II Is really an extraordinary
hlhg mat the entire Japanese navy practically
mas been 50 successfully kent hidden for The
! last week or ten days That element of secrecy
-. 40 doubt, a most important II not an essential
one. Tor the Japanese ieet is CARRYING an incom-
nnrabiy heavier burden Of responsibility than Z,
me Russian and according 10 an conventional
methods OF estimate Is overinatciiet I,v The .,I-
perlor power of its opponent Tho odds would
perhaps have been ia favor of the Russians