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THE PROGRESS OF THE WAR.
(Daily Press, 30th March.) War news continues to be scanty, but two facts stand out prominently, to judge from recent telegrams. In the first place, the situation at Port Arthur is unchanged that is to say, the place remains in posses- sion of Russia's garrison and fleet, but the latter is unable to move more than a short
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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[April 4, 1904.
see what
tha, and here accordingly we must be pre-recover either of her strongholds; while pared to hear first of some decisivo step. in Corea Japan could render her posi- tion impregnable, the configuration of the country and the
nearness of Japan's base of supplies making this a comparatively easy task for a military nation. Newchwang would have to be evacuated by the Russians, if not already captured by the Japanese, an event to which we may look forward unless something very startling occurs.
And then ?-again it may be asked. Well, we do not Russia could do to regain her position, or indeed to prolong the struggle, unless she could drag China into it, which all the Powers are bound to do their best to prevent. Un the other hand, Port Arthur and Vladivostock may hold out and Japan may he beaten on the Yalu. Russia may make her weight tell, In that case, it remains to be seen whether the Powers, or rather certain of the Powers, can afford to see We believe not, and in spite of the selfish- Russia predominant and Japan crushed. ness of international politics we think that Japan will in any case reap the reward of her bravery.
The
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HILL DISTRICT RESERVATION.
(Daily Press, 1st April.) The steady advance of the Japanese troops in Corea is manifested in the telegrams published the last two days. They have successfully repulsed a Russian attack at Chongfu, or Chengju, as it is generally spelt on the maps. This is a town about distance from the harbour, and then not in
ten miles further along the road to Wiju sufficient strength to engage with the than Kasau, which was the advanced post Japanese. The latter, however, failed in of the Japanese when last reported. The their second attempt, on Sunday last, to telegrams vary somewhat in their accounts
bottle up'
"the harbour. They cannot, of the fight. The Japanese appear to have therefore, detach the bulk of their fleet for had both infantry and cavalry, though other purposes, but must keep a strict watch REUTER Only mentions infantry. still on Port Arthur, with occasional bom-Russians, according to the same authority, bardments to keep the garrison occupied. were Cossack troops; they were 600 in In the second place, Japan's military plans number, says the Japanese official account. in Corea are maturing, and the First Army, The collision took place outside the south 40,000 strong, has been gradually pushing gate of Chengju and the Russians were North, the Russians in the meantime falling driven back, the Japanese then occupying back. The Japanese appear to have come
the town. The losses are variously to a halt on the Cheng-chen-gung River, estimated. The Russians allow 15 killed and having occupied and fortified a 45-mile long wounded on their side; the Japanese found front, stretching from Kasan on the coast nine or ten of their dead on the field and north-west of the river, through Anju and in the fortifications. The Japanese official eastward. It is claimed, on S. Petersburg report gives five killed and twelve wounded; authority, that any further advance is im- but REUTER says that 50 Japanese were probable until the streams are clear of ice, the killed, deriving his information from an Russians in retiring having destroyed the unknown source.
(Daily Press 29th March.) The affair was one of bridges over five rivers on the road to Wiju. outposts, it is clear, and the Russian defeat Service Sir WILLIAM DES VEUX, former In his recently issued book My Colonial This may be so, but we should like to know is not significant, except as showing that Governor of this Colony, speaks with a the Japanese version before we judge advance they are not in great force south of Wiju certain amount of pride of the fact that dur- impossible, in spite of the boasted Cos- now. The Japanese have advanced to ing his administration a measure devised sack attacks. That the Japanese army
within 70 miles of Wiju on the main road, by himself was passed which proved “of should have reached Anju without a struggle | and Wiju is but a few miles of the Yalu inestimable benefit not only to the European would have been declared equally impossi- estuary. They seem to be moving forward population, but even to the richer Chinese." ble a fortnight ago. Even the Russians, at a more rapid rate than before, having by This was the European District Reservation however, do not seem to expect a serious this time presumably strengthened their line Ordinance of 1888. At that time, as Sir struggle to occur until the Japanese reach of communications and established their WILLIAM DES Vaux writes, the high rents the Yalu. At that point two great armies conmissariat on a sound footing. What obta able from Chinese-inhabited houses, will be face to face over an extended area, is happening to the considerable Cossack crowded together as close as possible, had with a river between them. The question force" operating east-south-east of the caused a continually increasing intrusion of will then resolve itself into a matter of out- Japanese advance, of which we were told such houses upon the quarter of the town flanking tactics, for which the Japanese cer- roin S. Petersburg a few days ago, we do formerly occupied exclusively by Europeans. tainly must be the most favourably situated. not know. Perhaps it is limiting its atten- It was thought previously that the Japanese,
"Little by little, but at a gradually increas- tion to a Japanese movement from the direc-iag rate, the Europeans were being, se to having been reported as landing at Taku. tion of Gensan. Of such a manœuvre we speak, pushed out of the town of Victoria." shan and penetrating to Feng-hwang-cheng, hear nothing whatever from the Japanese-a It seemed as if Europeans would shortly were already preparing to turn the Russian fact which does not, of course, prove its position on the Yalu, but either that report non-existence. It does not seem probable was incorrect or else any landing in the that there is any large force of Russians, neighbourhood of Taku-shan must have even of Cossacks, in Corea, except possibly been directed against Newchwang, not east-just south of the Yalu. ward. Indeed, we are warned from Chinese continue to push forward with the whole If the Japanese sources to look for a land attack on New- of their First Army, it seems likely that chwang shortly as well as one from the sea. they will before long accomplish their first From another side, too, Japan might try to purpose, that of clearing Corean territory of outflank the Russians, that is from some spot on the north-eastern coast of Corea. It is said that they have already made a landing at various places between Gensan and Vladivostock, but climatic conditions have been against them Moreover, the Russian cruiser squadron at Vladivostock has still to be reckoned with. But it is scarcely open to doubt that the disappearance of the snow and ice will be followed by vigorous Japanese action in the North-East, The question remains, what will the Russians be doing in the meanwhile? They are strengthening their lines on the Yalu, and preparing to defend Newchwang in force. Port Artuur holds out and is not cut off from Moukden, while the fleet in the harbour is at least in a condition still to come out and fight under cover of the forts. Vladivostock is yet under the rule of frost,|| and nothing is likely to happen there while this is so. The winter, as was anticipated, is playing a very important part in the war. When it breaks up, events may be expected to move much more rapidly than now. Newchwang will be the first to feel the
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the enemy.
only have the alternatives of living under the unhealthy conditions engendered by the overcrowding of a neighbourhood by Chinese-inhabited houses or of residing their pockets. So the Ordinance- or rather in the hill district at a heavy expense to Ordinances, for there were two dealing with ́ the matter, Nos. 16 and 26 of 1888-were passed. Nevertheless, a large portion of the area intended to be reserved has since But when they have driven the Russians practically been absorbed by Chinese, and out of Corea, their plan of campaign then? It is interest of European householders that the process may be asked, what will b it has been brought vividly to the attention ing to note that about two weeks ago the threatens to go on and deprive them of military correspondent who is writing in their stronghold, if we may call it so, at the the Times on the Russo-Japanese war gave Peak. Consequently a petition has been a piece of counsel to Japan which certainly got up by owners and occupiers of houses merits attention. Japanese, so a telegram to the Indian papers
e strongly advised the in the Hill district, and the Bill which was states, to regard the seizure of Port Arthur, Council meeting yesterday was the outcome read for the first time at the. Legislative Corea, and Vladivostock as ending Russian of this agitation. The petitioners base their dominion in East Asia, and he deprecated case upon the question of health, and right- an advance to Harbin. What Japan's ly so. actual plans are we cannot, of course, pre-process mentioned above extends to the Peak They argue that, if the absorbing tend to know, but we should hardly think very serious results they contemplate a perilous advance far | Europeans and their families will follow.
to the health of into North Mauchuria. If within reason- able time they can bring about the fall of go to," the petition runs, "they would then There being no other place for them to Port Arthur and Vladivostock they will at
"be driven to reside below, where the con- the same time annihilate the Russiau fleet, and it would be very many years before Russia could venture to meet Japan at sea again. Then, with full control of North- east Asiatic waters in Japanese hands, it is difficult to see how Russia could hope to
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ditions are highly prejudicial to their "health. The Hill district is undeniably "the healthiest part of the Colony for all
those to whom life in the tropics presents "the disadvantage of an unnatural environ- "ment; in fact, it is the only accessible
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