The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-06-27

inferior to that which she occup led two
years ago. Not only Is Japan at present
absolute mistress OF the maritime com
m%unications between the mainland and
the Island Empire, but her base Of oper-
atoms would now be not the southeast
ern corner Of Corea, but the stronghold
OF Mukden, a point well advanced on
the railway leading TO Hardin. No mill
tary expert thoroughly conversant with
the present situation in Manchuria
would deny that should the st. Peters,
burg Government in its desperation
tempt fortune once more in the Far East,
it's soldiers would probably be driven
into the Amur River within the span OF
a single campaign.
A successful issue Of a renewed con-
test with the Mikado's empire would be
hopeless, not only on the grounds just
named but for two other conclusive
reasons. We refer to the existing often
sive and defensive alliance between
Great Britain and Japan and to the fact
that, ven as regards the borrowing OF
money for domestic purposes, Russia
stands upon the brink of bankruptcy.
That alliance would render it impossible
for the Car to secure any military or
naval aid from France Or Germany.
He could not get it from France, be-
cause that country would not, for the
Cars sake, break its new and cordial
understanding with Great Britain; he
could not get it from Germany, be-
cause the first regiment lent by Emperor
WILLIAM II. for service in Manchuria
would give the signal for an assault
upon Germany's costly navy and hard
won colonial possessions. AS for the
financial that would be needed
by Russia to prosecute another war in
the Far East, how could these be attain
able when the last loan obtained in
France was only granted on two specific
conditions: first, that NICHOLAS IL.
should keep his promise to introduce
representative government in his domin-
ions, and secondly, that a very large
part Of the money advanced should be
retained in Paris for the payment Of
interest on preceding obligations2 There
was a third stipulation, namely, that
the new and every previous loan effected
by, the St. Petersburg Government
should be ratified formally by the Duma,
a ratification not yet secured, o likely
to be conceded until the relations be-
tween the sovereign and the national as
sembly are materially changed. Japan's
credit, on the other hand, has been sem
sibly improved since the conclusion Of
the Peace Of Portsmouth. Her alliance
with Great Britain is a precious guaran-
tee not only of naval but Of %pecuniary
aid.
The attempt to divert the minds OF
their subjects from domestic grievances
by a foreign war is an old trick OF
despots, but the time when the Car
could practise it with any chance Of
success has passed. Had NICHOLAS ii. !
wished to employ it he never should
have given his assent to the Peace Of
Portsmouth. Had he insisted upon
fighting on until his army had retrieved
its reputation he probably could have
counted on the maintenance of its fdel-
ity. 1t is hard, on the other hand, to
keep brave men loyal when they feel
that after being half starved and i'll led
they are branded in the eyes Of their
compatriots with the infamy Of surren-
dering to enemies whom they have
despised. 1t was a bitter and vindictive
mood in which the discredited regiments
returned from Manchuria, and it is no
wonder that the seeds Of d~isaffection
found in them a fertile soil. General
RENNENKAMPF can be but ill acquainted
with the breadth and depth of their
discomfort if he believes that the repa-
triated soldiers would go back with a
blithe heart on a FOOLS errand to the Far
East when they have work more con-
genial, if more sinister, ready to hand
at home. When next they fight it will
be for their fathers and their brethren
against the detested bureaucrats, who,
not content with having robbed them
and shamed them, would now make of
them the tools for the strangulation of
their country's liberties.
The Russian army would never sane
ton a renewal of the war in the Far
East under existing circumstances. Once
L. L. . - l