Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 May 1905 — WAR DURING THE WEEK [ARTICLE]

WAR DURING THE WEEK

No Important Developments in tbe Naval Game. The week's developments in the naval game in the China Sea make it clear that Vice Admiral Rojestvensky will not undertake to give battle to Admiral Togo, or to make a dash for a safe harbor at Vladivostok until his fleet has been re-enforced by Bear Admiral Xebogatoff's division. Rojestvensky left the shelter of the French harbor at Kamranh Bay .just in time to prevent the neutrality crisis between Japan and France from assuming ao critical stage. Apparently he anchored just outside the three-mile limit, for French dispatches from Kamranh Bay said he would not leave t’ 't Annum coast until he was joined by Xeboga toff’s ships. Concurrently the wires have been busy with rumors concerning Xebogatoff's collection of antiques, which is to re-enforce Rojestvensky. This squadron may have reached the China Sea without having been observed by reliable witnesses, but that does not seem probable. Rojestvensky has now been three weeks in the China Sea, a time long enough, it would seem, to satisfy him that Togo has no intention of leaving the neighborhood of the Japanese naval bases to attack him.

Admiral Togo is still keeping his fleet.well away from the trade routes. Otherwise his vessels would have been reported long before this. In addition to tint many ports which have been closed by the Japanese to commerce. the whole of the island of Formosa has n’ow been proclaimed to he under martial law. It might be inferred from this that i'ogo was in waiting in Formosan waters, but such an inference would be rash. Only the< event will show where Togo elects to meet Rojestvensky, when Rojestvensky elects to proceed on his course. No one knows where Togo's fleet is but Togo. There is, however, a quiet note of confidence in all Tokio dispatches, which indicates clearly that in Japan, at least, there is no anxiety for the outcome of the naval combat when it does take place.

The neutrality question seems to have settled itself. Probably if the truth were known the Tokio statesmen were not nearly so angry with France as the Japanese newspapers represented, and doubtless France received nothing that could by any stretch of diplomatic usage be called a “protest’’ or a “demand for an explanation.” As a matter of fact, it is clear that Japan has little to gain and much to lose by compelling a serious diplomatic breach with France over the neutrality question. It is easy to say that by coming to an open rupture with France over a real or fancied grievance Japan could.call upon England to fulfill the obligations of an ally. Such a contingency could be imagined, of course, but it is clear that Japan might lose more than she could gain by dragging England and France into the war.

When four nations engage in war, necessarily four nations are concerned in the adjustment of the terms of peace. At present Japan has proven herself stronger than Russia on land and sea. If Japan unaided can whip Russia —then only Japan and Russia will be concerned in the peace settlement —and Japan can dictate the terms. But if Japan drags France and England into the war the peace conference will much resemble a conference of the powers—and Japan, so far from being able to dicate terms alone, would be in the minority and compelled to accept what she could get.