The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-06
WAR CLOUDS IN THE FAR EAST
AND RUSSIA BOTH IN
CREASING THEIR FORCES.
Loyds Selling Insurance Against eak
Between Them in 1907 German FIX
pert Thinks Financial Trouble VIII
Postpone COntest Russian Gains.

Special Gable Drsp itch 10 THE SUN.
LONDON, Dec. 5.-Simultsneously with
an in English newspapers
that some of the T.loyds underwriters have
been i~nsuring against an outbreak of war
between Russia and Japan in 1907 at five
guineas or S5.25 per cent. Col. Gaedke,
whose articles and correspondence in the
Berliner TdyebLdh during the recent war
attracted universal attention, writes for
that journal a remarkable article on the
military position in the Far East.
Col. Gaedke recognizes that the time for a
a renewal Of hostilities is not yet. He says
there are clear signs that the air is loaded
with electricity. but the financial condition
OF both Russia and Japan will postpone
hostilities. Russia's naval strength in
that region need not be considered. Still
Japan intends to have eight battleships Of
the Dreadnought type sfioat within eight
years, while the continued increase of her
fighting strength ashore is remarkable.
For a time japan increased her army
only by the -four divisions raised during the
war. She now intends to increase it to
twenty divisions, gradually forming ten
army corps. The cavalry also will be in
creased considerably. Machine guns will
be attached to every infantry regiment.
The railway troops and balloon detaoh-
ment will be increased. and also the fortress
artillery. The authorities are meditating
a reduction Of the period of military service
from three years to two.
In the meantime Russia's military posi-
ton in the Far East has been considerably
bettered. h had only SO battalions there
before the war, and now has 1877. including
the European division, which remains at
Hardin until April 1. when japan and
Russia should evacuate Manchuria accord
ing to the treaty. Altogether in West
Siberia, Transatlantic and the Maritime
Province Russia has nine divisions Of rifles
and one OF foot, with three reserve brigades
of foot. The latter are twice as strong as
they we're before the war.
Thus Russia has fifteen field and reserve
divisions, not including the force at Har-
bin, each of sixteen battaIions, totallinG 258
battalions as compared with only 1915 mobile
battalions az the beginning of 1904. Her
cavalry strength is about the same as it
was before. Her field artillery has been
increased from eighteen to sixty-three
batteries, each Of eighty horses, in peace,
forming ninety batteries of eight guns
each in war. There are sixteen mountain
batteries, ten heavy mortar batteries and
forty-six siege batteries. The railway
troops and sappers remain as before. The
fortress artillery at V~ladivostok has been
raised to twelve batteries. The railway
guards number from 10000 to rs, 900. al
though Russia's portion of the railway
has been reduced.
Col. Gaedke thin ks hat Russia's stra-
tegic position in the Far East has improved
very much. Vladivostok has became a very
strong fortress. Hardin, probably strongly
fortified, would be besieged immediate ly
upon the outbreak of war. Communica-
ton with European Russia ia now shorter
and less liable to interruption.
A despatch to the Times from Toxic
records the general belief that the next
budget will provide for greatly increasing
the Japanese army, which, when the pro-
gramme is carried out, will number $780, 900
men. Funds will be obtained by econo-
mixing in other departments. There will
be no new taxes or new loans.
IL is understood that the progra mme
was lengthily discussed by the Cabinet.
The Minister Of War declared that the safety
of the country depended upon the execu-
ton Of the scheme, which aimed solely at
making Japan too formidable for anybody
to attack her.
The other Ministers did not take the same
view but finally yielded.