The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1904. RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LIV, Issue 2836, 5 January 1904, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1904. RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Nothing can be more interesting at the present moment when war in the Far East seems to be very near, than to receive information regarding the relative strength of and position of the two belligerents—Russia and Japan. A writer in the " Pall Mall Gazette," who appears to have a thorough knowledge of the subject, has published an exhaustive article in that journal. Some parts of this, quoted by the " Dannevirke Daily Press" are exceediegly interesting. The writer in question asserts that war is only possible [if Great Britain and the "United States show a readiness to leave Japan to tackle Russia alone. On a peace footing Japan maintains an army of about 150,000 men, speedily increased to half a million on declaration of war. Her mobilisation scheme is a very perfect one, nnd she has demonstrated its efficiency by severe tests. Declaration of war would assuredly find Japan ready to strike the first blow, as it is certain that declaration has been anticipated in a practical manner. Thanks to her insular position, a powerful navy and largely twined reserves, she can despatch an army to the Continent without much rizk of a counter-stroke, confident, in the security of her lines of communication, and the advantageous proximity of her main base, dockyards, and sotnee? of supply. At the present moment the available sea power of the two ii-itions in the China seas discloses what is practically a numerical equality with a slight preponderance in weight in favour of Japan. Russia has been making** a parade of her ships at Singapore and elsewhere, just as a prize fighting bully used in times of old, to walk ronnd the ring and show his muscle, and she has made some late additions. A class comparison, however, of the Japanese and Russian ships in the possible area of conflict, reveals a preponderance of fighting effectiveness for the Japanese battleships and cruisers. It is the limit of that area which has allowed Japan to meke use of space monopolised in ships of other navies by coal storage, for immensely increased weight of armament, offensive and defensive, and in supplies

of ammunition, factors which must tell. Her first line of battle is fully up to date, her vessels among the swiftest in the world. She has four naval bases distributed with a view to tbe present situation, and absolutely secure from attack ; arsenals and dockyards splendidly equipped, utterly regardless of money. What Russia has made a parade of Japan has done with modesty The Russian navy is undoubtedly a powerful engine of war, aud the technical efficiency of it» officers reaches a higher general level than is to be found in their opponents, although the thoroughness of the Japanese system of naval education would seem superior. Consider how recently the latter has emerged from obscurity! But as with the rank and file of the rival armies, so again it is with the spirit animating the man behind the naval gun, which will as inevitably tell on the modern battle day as ever it did of old. And here the little brown man, the provoked patriot, is immeasurably in the lead. Natural man to natural man, the two are equal, but in the grip of a remorseless and relentless tyranny, the tyranny of the Bureau, the Russian cannot hope to fight on an equality with the citizen of a free land fighting for his birthright. This is the fourth large war Japan has undertaken for the independence of Korea since A.D. 240. And this time she is fighting for the freedom of Japan as well, with the

fate of Finland ever before her to warn her from the weakness of coming : to terms, never adhered to by Russia ' though sealed by the most solemn oath of Czar and of general. During the late Boxer war in China, British tars in the tops looked down upon many a Kussian deck and watched the men at drill. Every Russian officer carried a short whip, " and every now and then would apply it relentlessly to the heads and bodies of the wretched seamen as they were urged to extra smartness. At sea, as on land, the Russian treats his men as "driven beasts." As to her total force,Jthe Japanese Slinister at Washington, thinks it impossible for Russia to increase and feed beyond 150,000. The pinch will come when stores the are exhausted. Within reach she has 300,000 men. If we believed her statement oi periodically arriving reinforcements, she has already millions ; she exaggerates or minimises as suits her purposes. But her forts speak for themselves, and tell no lies. Vladivostock, for all warlike purposes a fostering shelter and impregnable defence, is equalled by nothing in the Far East, not even by Hong Kong Port Arthur is unfinished, but has 24ft of water in the inner harbour, and is on a narrow peninsula exposed to attack by land and sea. Vladivostock has its utility largely curtailed by its distance from the Bay of Pechili, and is cut off from that arena of war by the Straits of Korea ? which will be easily

gendered impassable as long as the fleets of Japan are able to keep the sea.