BEGINNING OF THE END.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12608, 24 June 1904, Page 4

BEGINNING OF THE END.

' ■ <► ".. ■'" Hitherto the campaign in Manchuria'tiaa only been a fatal one to Russia because of th© demonstration that the Japanese, outclass their opponents in every way. Had this Biot been shown, had the '•' Muscovite generals been beaten ; back by overwhelming numbers or by any unforeseen pressure, . ■ they might still have hoped to win. But it is hardly doubtful that whatever he irdjjftt , be on the Volga or the Danube the .Russian is no match for the Jap in Manchuria, and we are likely at any time to hear of disasters which mean the beginning of, the end of the Manchurian campaign. By an artistic use of their naval base—scientific is too colourless a; term to apply to the brilliant work of the Japanese strategists—the troops of the Mikado have been moved into positions which command not only Port Arthur, but' the whole of? Southern Manchuria. Kuropatkin's reported unwillingness to venture anything for the relief of the great fortress Is entirely justified, the relieving army of Stakleberg having been trapped, and Kuropatkin having been completely foiled in his desperate attempt to extricate his subordinate. We may anticipate that in a comparatively short time, whatever happens to Port Arthur, the scene of battle will be shifted to the country round Mukden. It is an interesting problem whether the Russians will attempt to hold that town or will endeavour to fall back upon Harbin, if permitted to do so by the Japanese flanking armies. Since Kuropatkin saw the danger of allowing -his armies to be coaxed towards Port Arthur he can hardly, be said to have endangered his great reputation by the recent defeats, and may now be permitted to do exactly as he pleases without direct or indirect interference from St. Petersburg. But it would take genius to stem effecI tively the triumphant march of the Japanese, and there is no reason to suppose that. any[thing more than ability* v '