•
86
Pte. T. H. Spencer, once: Pte. A. Holmes (promoted Corpl.), once Fte. C. Marson (promoted Corpl.), once; Pie. C. McDermott (promoted Corpl.), once; Pte. J. Brierly (pro moted Corpl.), D.C.M., twice; Pte. J. Wor- thingtou (promoted Corp.) once; Pte W. Boyle (promoted Corpl.) once; Pte. H. Sanderson (promoted Corpla, once Pte. J. Caveney (or moted Corp.) once; Pts. C. Picard promoted Cor. once; Pie. F. Bancroft (promoted Corp), once; Pie. F. Brooks, once.
49 Mentions, 2 V.C.'s. 17 D.O.M.'s, 2 pro- moted Sergt., 12 promoted Corporals.
THE NORTHERN CRISIS.
[SPECIALLY CONTRIBUTED]
I.--THE MANCHURIAN QUESTION.
For the last four months ever since the demand by Great Britain, the United States, and Japan that Russia should evacuate Man churia and open the promised ports to the world's trade, Russia has been manoeuvring to gain the time necessary for the completion of fortifications at Port Arthur. She has drilled Chinese soldiers as auxiliary troops and has made her position in Manchuria so strong that now she is ready to make war-a thing that three months ago would have been impossible for her! The position of Russia in Manchuria has changed, and at the present moment she has more than 250,000 troops there. According to the latest telegrams, the Russian Minister of War has ordered the mobilisation of all troops in Manchuria as well as in the Siberian and Turkestan districts. Manchuria alone can give nearly 200,000 men, and 150,000 have already been moved from Kirin province (in the north) to the south. The mobilisation of corps from Kirin, Hailar, and Tsitsikar pro- vinces has been completed the other pro- vinces will be ready with their contributions in a few days. A conference has been held between the principal Russian diplomatic officials and generals in Manchuria and China under the presidency of the Russian Minister of War: it was attended by, amongst others, General Kuropatkin; M. Lessar, Russian Minister in Peking; Generals de Wogack and Dessino, and Captain Netchvolodoff, the Rus sian war agents in China, M. Pavloff, Russian Minister in Corea; Colonel Baron de Raben, Russian war agent in Corea; Admiral Alex ieff, Governor of Port Arthur; General Stesselt, President of the Russo-Chinese Bank in Peking M. Dimitriez Pozdeev, and many others. The conference settled the Manchu rian question. The Russian War Minister was personally against hostilities with Japan; war with Japan, he said, would be a grave issues but although personally he was opposed to it, Russia could not withdraw her forces from Manchuria and make possible the Open Door policy. In this he was merely voicing the opinion of M de Witte (now called Chancellor of the Russian Empire, and the first Chancellor since the days of the late Prince Gorchakoff), who said that Russia could never evacuate Manchuria, because she had expended there thousands of lives and millions of money. Count Lamsdorff, Minister of Foreign Affairs, recently told the Chinese Ambassador in St. Petersburg that he could not move in the matter of the evacuation of Manchuria or give assurances one way or the other, for the simple reason that the settlement of the affair had been entrusted to General Kuropat- kin, All this indicates that Russia is ready for war, and that the time has passed when she must yield obedience to the Great Powers. Had the Powers issued an ultimatum to Russia three months ago Russia almost for a certainty would have been bound to obey, because she had then only about 36,000 soldiers in Manchuria and Port Arthur was not fortified on the land side. now changed, and the answer to any All is ultimatum would be in the negative. The position of the Great Powers is therefore also changed, just as the politics of England have been changed in consequence of the visit to that country of President
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
|
(August 1, 1903.
Loubet. Previously to that visit Eng men. The Japanese have very few regular land undoubtedly would not have remained troops in Fusan, Seoul, Chemulpo, and Gensan neutral in the event of war between Russia-altogether about 2,507--but they have and Japan. But it is different now. The about 32,000 men disguised in civilian clothes, possibility of war between Russia and Japan employed a tradesmen and workmen on the formed the subject of conversation between railways, and these have ordnance and the King and the President, and the full munitions of war at hand. In Man- decision come to was that England's churia the Russians had, not more than one intrests in the question were not of week ago, 100,000 men ; but six days ago* the sufficient importance to justify interference order of mobilisation was given and on her part, even though one of the nations previously two divisions of Cossacks had at strife was her ally. Certain it is that if been ordered to Manchuria from Russia. England invaded the Baltic with her fleet, The mobilisation of the northern provinces- Russian troops would be sent against India, Kirin, Hailar, and Tsitikar-had given more where Russian secret agents of all kinds have than 150,000 men to the south, and these for more than fifty years been striving to troops are all mounted. The southern promote rebellion against the rule of Great provinces can supply about 100,000 men, Britain by specious promises of liberty and making in all 350, 00 men without the forces other privileges. Most of the revolts during from the Siberian districts, which can the last thirty years have been the outcome of contribute no less than 400,000 men, although Russian influence, and even now the people their transport to Manchuria could not be of India only await the appearance of Russian | accomplished in less than two weeks. soldiery in their territory to uprise once more Of the fortified strongholds the most notable in rebellion and fight the English under the are certainly Port Arthur, Talienwan command of Russian officers. It would be a (Dalny), Newchwang, Inkow, Port Lazaroff, comparatively easy task for Russia to pour Vladivostock, Blagovestchensk, and Moukden, troops into India by means of the railway in all of which places the Russians are she has built in Turkestan, which almost hurriedly making preparations for war. In tehes the frontiers of Afghanistan. This Newchwang they have built near the coast time it would not be a little war like the three batteries with cannon of different sizes Boer War, and the cost to England in men and other fortifications and encampments. and money would be stupendous. For these (If you go on a steamer you can see the reasons England cannot, will not, make war batteries and four or five different encamp- against Russia on the side of Japan. Money ments.) These encampments near New- she may give to Japan-before now Japan has chwangare mostly unoccupied, and that means received millions of English guineas-but any that Russia will move a big force of troops to other kind of help, no. It is no secret that this place with a view to repelling any descont nearly all, if not quite all, of the Japanese which the Japanese may make upon the men-of-war have been paid for with English coast near Newchwang. In Talienwan the money. Nor will the United States fight Russians have made very little preparation against Russia. President Rooseveltand Secre- in the way of fortifications, but they will in tary Hay would like to, perhaps, but not the the course of a few days have it encircled in American people, who speak their mind a series of forts. Should the Japanese come through Congress; and three-fourths of from Talienwan they would have to attack Congress oppose the idea on the ground of the Liaotung Isthmus and the Hsinhanchen the enormous cost. Besides, America has too Mountains, on two sides of which-from many trade interests with Russia to risk Talienwan and from Newchwang the Rus- them in a war, and so she will not fight. sians have constructed big fortifications with That leaves Japan isolated. She has issued magnificent artillery of all sizes. These an ultimatum, and Russia awaits only the positions could not be taken without terrible arrival of her Minister at St. Petersburg to
loss of life. reject the terms of that ultimatumn and refuse to evacuate Manchuria; certainly after that ultimatum nothing remaius for Japan but to declare war against Russia. The Japanese Government is not disposed to take that step, but the masses desire war, and their will must be that of the Governinent. The people of Japan have already clamoured for war, and had their wishes been gratified Japan would have stood a good chance of winning, for Russia at that time was not prepared. Now she is prepared, and the chance of Japan has gone by. Ere long Japan will have lost her footing in Corea, and so again she will find herself undone. Russia is now the leading power in Manchuria and China and even, in part, in Corea, where the Emperor can do nothing without the approval of the Russian Minister. And that is one of the greatest reasons for the war.
II-THE ARMIES OF
RUSSIA.
B
JAPAN
AND
and telegrams fortelling an outbreak of war Of late there have been a mass of articles between Japan and Russia, and the Russian Government have been only awaiting the arrival of the Minister of War Kuropatkin from the Far East to give a firm refusal to the Japanese ultimatum, after which the Japanese Government can do nothing less than declare war.
the Russian and Japanese forces, based on Now I propose to give a full account of personal observations through Manchuria, Corea, and Japan. In while travelling Corea, Russia had only about 8,000 (now more) men on the banks of the Yalu River, near Wiju. There are no fortifications made, guard of the Russian army which will protect but these troops will be only the advance Manchuria. In the event of war this force will be supplemented by more than 10,000
*It will be understood that we in no way endorse these statements.-ED. D. P.
Port Arthur has been fortified for a number of years, but the fortifications con- structed there last spring have made the stronghold a first-class fortress. Especially from the sea is Port Arthur strongly held. There you can find ordnance of all sizes from little Schnell-shooters, mortars, carronades, etc., to huge guns throwing shot weighing thousands of pounds. The Russians have also mounted there great dynainite cannon. one shot from which can destroy and sink a battleship of the biggest class. In addition to this, Port Arthur will certainly be pro- tected in the strongest possible manner by torpedoes in the same way as Talienwan and Newchwang. The command of the fort will be taken by Admiral Alexieff who is known as a famous strategist and brave general; and General Stesselt will probably take command of the First Army, which will occupy the Liaotung Isthmus and the Hsinhanchen Mountains, and under- take the defence of Port Arthur from the land side. General Stesselt's army will consist at first of 80,000 to 90,000 men. The Second Army will occupy Moukden, which has been very well fortified during the past defence against any attack on the part of year and will be able to offer a formidable the Japanese.
is stated that the Minister of War, General The general staff will be at Kharbin, and it of Infantry Kuropatkin, will take command of the entire force with the rank of Field Marshal. Vladivostock though not so strongly fortified as Port Arthur is sufficiently de- task for the Japanese. I had forgotten to fended to make its capture a most difficult state that the number of pieces of ordnance constituting the defence of Port Arthur exceeds 540 (without the light artillery which and this will be further supplemented by is with the army corps under General Stesselt), 72 cannons of the most recent Schnell- shooter type from the famous French firm of Schneider. Of these, 18 are at present
* i.e. six days before the 26th ult.
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