The policy of Russia in regard to Manchuria being now plainly revealed, it seems desirable, says The Times, to consider the present distribution of her troops in East-jem Siberia and the available means of communication. The northern frontier of this Chinese province is roughly 1,600 j miles in length. It is defined by the course of the Argun river to its junction with the Amur, thence for 860 miles it follows the latter to Khabarovka, its extreme north. easterly point, and then, after trending: south for 250 miles along the Ussuri, it makes a westerly detour ending at Fengtien on the Tiunien, which runs into the Sea of Japan, short distance to. the south of Possiet Bay. A glance at the map will show that Siberia overlaps Mauchuria or the west for about 300 miles, and on the east for about 500 miles. In other words, the province, as regards the greater part of its area, bulges into Russian territory. The route of the Siberian Railway, skirting the southern shore of Lake Baikal, follows the valley ofthe Shilba river to its junction with the Argun, and then takes the line of the Amur to Khubarovka, when it abruptly turns south to Viadivostock. For about 1,100 miles, therefore, this railway will skirt the Manchurian frontier, From Khabarovka to Viadivostock (485 miles) a light contractor's railway on a oft. gauge, allowing a train speed of 15 to 20 miles an hour, has already been laid. The intended Manchuria branch of the Siberian Railway is to leave the main line at Stretensk, on the Shilba, and after crossing the Argun river and the Khingan range, to reach Petuna, probably Kirin, before bending south to the Liaotung Peninsula.
This is in the near future; but _meanwhile the water communications during the summer months, from the 15th of May, to October 15th, are singularly complete and extensive. From Khabarovka, at the extremity of the railway, the Amur is navigable up to its junction with the Shilba and on to Stretensk—a total distance of about 1,100 miles—and many steamers and barges are available. The New and the Old Amur companies have at least 40 steamers and 160 barges, and the Trans-Siberian Railway administration is also creating n considerable flotilla in addition to private steamers and, launche: The upstream voyage from Blagovestchensk on the Amur to Stretensk is accomplished in seven to 12 days, and the channel of the Shilba has been buoyed and light-At Iman on the Ussuri, a Belgian steamer 260 feet in length, and a Glasgow steamer of 210 fect will be launched this summer for service on the upper Amur and the Shilba. Seven large barges 210 feet long will also be available. The water routes above described follow the frontier; but there is an important navigable affluent of the Amur which traverses the heart of Manchuria. The Sungari, which joins the latter river at Mikhailo-Semenovskaya, was first navigated by steamers up to Petuna in 1894, and last year a steamer reached Kirin. Tsitsihar, on the Nonni, which joins the Sungari near Petuna, has also been reached by steamer, and it seems possible that naviyation may be extended to Merguen about 150 miles from Blagovestchensk. Fifteen British-built steamers and 40 barges are to be put upon the Sungari this year, so that materiel for the Manchurian railway will then be transported into the centre of the province, and the section between Port Arthur and the Sungari can be begun forthwith, Another river, the Hurka, turning into the Sungari at Sansing, can be navigated with some difficulty by native boats as far as Ninguta.
Several caravan routes lead from Siberia into Manchuria. Petuns and Kirin can be reached from Stretensk rid Staro-Suruhaitai on the Argun, Hailar, and Tsitsihar on the Nonni. This route is, however, very Tong, and between the Argun and Hailer there is_a dearth of water.- Another post toad leads from Blagovestchensk to Tsitsihar (about 290 miles), and thence to the south the country is capable of providing supplies for a large force. From Poltavka, a jan port on the eastern side, there is a road 375 miles long to Kirin, which is traversed by native carts in 15 days, and another route of about the same length leads from Fengtien. The roads of Manchuria are frequently nearly impassable in summer, but easily traversable in the winter months, when water communication is suspended.
The Russian field force in Eastern Siberia, when placed upon a war footing; consists of:—Cavalry, 88 squadrons; artillery, 17 batteries; infantry, 37 battalions. There are in addition five battalions of gar-risen infantry, and seven companies of garrison artillery, together with engineers and a submarine mine corps, assigned for the local defence of Viadivostock. Exclusive of an infantry battalion and a company of garrison artillery quartered at Nikolaievsk at the mouth of the Amur, the Russian forces are distributed in two main groups east and west of the Manchuri frontier. In the neighbourhood of Vladivostock, on the adjacent frontier, and ab Grafskaya, Iman, and Khabarovka on the railway there are about:—Cavalry, 10 squadrons; artillery, 13 batteries (including two Gin. mortar batteries); infantry, 18 battalions. At Verkhni Udinsk in the extreme west, and echeloned along the Shilba river, there are:—Cavalry, 18 squadrons artillery, two batteries; infantry, 17 battalions. Along the northern frontier, at the important' port of Blagovestchensk, on the Amur, and at Ekaterino-Nikolskaya there are two battalions, six squadrons, and three squadrons respectively. The headquarters of the Commander-in Chief of the Ussuri force are at Nikolski on the railway a short distance to the north of Vladivostock.
The quality of these forces probably varies, as they contain Trans-Baikal Cossacks (cavalry and artillery) and torn Siberian Infantry brigade. Their distribution, from Verkhni Udinsk in the extreme west to Fengtien in the south-east, extends over about 1,800 miles. They can at any time move into Manchuria at many points, and Kirin, the most important town and the centre of a rich district, could be reached in about five weeks from the Eastern fron! The advantages of water communication are so great that during the summer months troops and stores can be transported in steamers into the heart of the country. The preparations seem to int to a commencement of the Manchurian branch, railway as soon as the navigation of the Amur and Sungari rivers is open, and military guards will doubtless accom, the plant. Manchuria lies in the han: Russia, an easy and a valuable acquisition.
On the other hand, the field force which could at this moment be concentrated in the neighbourhood of Vadivostock or of Possiet Bay does not exceed 20,000 men with 66 field guns and 12 mortars, and this moderate strength cannot be reinforced from the sea till the ice breaks up, or from the troops on the Shilba and Amur till these rivers ate open to navigation. Considering that Japan proved able to place a Inrge and well equipped army on shore in Corea, the Liautung Peninsula, and Shantung, the importance to Russia of being able to hold her own at sea this corner of the world is manifest, and the significance of the naval programme recently announced is amply explained.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.