Arizona republican., 1905-01-29
PHOENIX. ARIz.. JANUARY 29, 1905
The Second Stage of the War.


 After inaction for three months, en- forced by the rigor of the Manchurian winter. the war between Russia and Japan seems to have been renewed Tn earnest. The engagennts reported to- day seem to partake of the nature of general battle. but it may be two or three days before 1t can be definitely known whether the main armies, rath- ar than their advanced lines, have joined in a third great conflict. Ihe battle front of the two armies is more than one hundred miles in length, and for several miles along the center the two armies have burrOwed into the ground within gunshot of each other In places not more than hundred wards divides them. It is obvious that e frontal attack by either army would he fooIhardy, and that pending flank ing movement by one side or the oth- CT the fighting will be by the wings, which have some space in which to naneuver. It being so far from the ex- tremity of one wing to the other, or either army, not even the command ing generals can know at once Wheth- CT a general battle is on.
 It appears that Kuropatkin has talk en the offensive, but it may well be doubted whether he has done so of his own accord. St. Petersburg hints that he has received instructions to renew the war and thus divert the attention of the Russian people from the critical situation of home affairs, IL seems reasonable to suppose that if left to decide for himself Kuropat- kin would wait until the breaking up of winter permitted him to resume op- erations with the necessary reinforce ments and without subjecting his troops to the extreme discomfort and hazard of taking the offensive in the intense cold which still prevails. On the other hand, it is entirely probable that the Russian government is only too glad to make KurOpatkin get busy" whatever the outcome From the viewpoint Of the worried govern ment, it is much better to sacrifice portion of the army at the front than to permit internal conditions to remain as the uppermOst subject in the minds of the Russian people.
 The government made a similar move after the disastrous battle of Liao Yang. The murmurings at home became loud, and there was a general cry for an "On to Richmond" policy" Port Arthur must be relieved. And
 rn expect that KuropatlIin could break through the Japanese army and march south to Port Arthur, he was ordered to make the attempt, nevertheless The result was the battle of the Shakhe river which was equal to the battle of Liao Yang in disappointment for the Russians If a great battle is un- der way now, it may be safely assured that 1t was begun under orders from St Petersburg.
 Indeed, there Is ample reason to be- lieve that the Japanese are satisfied with their present position. Their pol lev. according to the Japanese minister to England. is to remain henceforth chiefly on the defensive. The first stage of the war has been passed, with every thing in the hands of the Japanese for which they aimed at the outset. They have taken possession of Korea, have driven the Russians out of the Liao Tung peninsula, and have thrown a cordOn across southern Man churia, which leaves the Russians with no outlet to the sea except at Vladi- vostok, far to the northeast. Port Ar thur has been captured. Russia's east ern navy has been annihilated-
 The Japanese have talked much, 1t is true, about driving the enemy out of Manchuria entirely. and doubtless they would be glad to accomplish that But the mikado's strategists are as cautious as his soldiers are daring and impetuous. They have realized from the first that Japan's only hope of ulti- mate success lay in seizing and holding the ground they have actually taken and then acting on the defensive. II would be a fine thing to drive the Rus sians out of all Manchuria, but the ef- fort to do that would involve a series of attacks against one intrenChed posi- tion after another in addition to at tacking superior numbers, and a dan Eerous Iengthening of the Japanese line of communication with the home base. Such would be a campaign exactly to the Russian liking-it would harmonize with their policy of Turing" the Japa- nese far from their home and base of supplies.