The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-04-15
RUSSIAN GOVERNMENTS AID AIRABLE
lF0RTlTUDE.

Several weeks have elapsed since Mukden, the
fercest and longest battle of all time, was fought
The conflict has exhausted both sides, who are now
improving the temporary lull to recuperate and re-
! organize their land forces The attention of the
world is at present rivetted upon the action of the
| fleets of the beligerents. The whereabouts of the
Russians are fairly well known, but speculation is
| rife concerning the probable spot where the en-
gagement will take place-the consequences of
which, from military standpoint, may prove more
important even than those of the Manchurlan cam
paign. The result will decide the question of the
mastery of the sea. Should the japanese feet be
defeated deeisively, the situation will be changed
and become for Japan fraught with danger Her
armies in Manchuria will be separated from their
base of supplies, her coasts and ports will be ex-
posed to the rayages of the Russian navy, and she
may find it impossible to forward the reinforce
ments. in men and supplies, essential for the
cessful prosecution of the war on land. The naval
engagement in the Chinese sea may be as disas-
rous to the hopes of the Mikado the battle of the
Nile proved to the plans of Bonaparte. On the
other hand, japanese victory ought to make for
peace contamination most devouty to be hoped
and prayed for.
Whatever the future holds in reserve for both
parties dspassonate observer is forced to record
the magnificent calm and foPtitude which the Rus
sian government has displayed during the trying
ordeal which their country has been undergoing.
At the beginning of this year. the internal situation
seemed to be most critical The demonstration at
the Winter Palace, the strikes and riots in several
large cities the unrest in Poland and Finland the
local opposition to recruiting for the army and the
assassination of prominent officials seemed to lend
a color of truth to the announcements made in sew
eral quarters that the hour of the Russian revolu-
ton had struck. Interested parties were even spec
ulating upon the changes which this revolution
would produce-not only upon the administrative,
but also upon the essential form of the government
of the Gar. The official and non-oficial press of
the world-the British and pro-British American
part of it especially-teemed with forecasts, the
gloominess of which was in direct ratio to its Rus
sophobian sentiments There was an unanimous out
burst of eXultation from the British press over
Russian disaster and japanese success all the more
when we recall its historical hyper |
'ensitiveness to comment during the Boer war. |
Through it all the Russian government preserved !
is equanimjty- In calm and dignifed terms it an
bounced to the chanceories of the world that the
var would continue, that the internal disorders |
we're not the result of widespread revolutionary
movement, but were due to dissatisfaction with To-
al industrial conditions, that they were labor
trikes pure and simple and that in spite of few
ncenddry proclamatons and political crimes, the
masses of the nation animated by a profound
Owe Ct the Fatherland and are satisfied with their
government. The disaster of Mukden did not
hange this attitude SO far as the outside world
an now Judge, quiet has been restored and, without
uss or furry, the government is endeavoring to re,
eem the past disasters. This calmness forces upon
he observer the conclusion that Russia is still a
nghty power, conscious of her strength and adj
'irable In adversely, whatever may be her other