Ir must be borne in mind that Japan has not armed herself with any desire to take revenge on Russia for turning her out of the Liaotun; Peninsula and taking it for herself, or from any youthful endeavour to show that her prowess is not limited to beating an Oriental foe. She is determined, and in this she is supported by the two great English: speaking nations, to maintain the independence and integrity of China and Corea. She formulated her demands last summer, and stated more than once that from these demands she would not recede an inch, and she has kept her word. She has gone on quiet! ating to support her demands by force if necessary, aod has been "undeterred by all the well-palted reports of Russia's strength by land and sea. Diplomatically she has worsted Russia completely. The forty-years-old Stendehip of the United States for Russia has melted away entirely; by her alliance with Great Britain she has made it impossible for France and Germany to come to Russia's'aid without incurring risks out of all proportion to any possible advantages these Powers could gain by taking Russia's part; and she has conquered the friendship of China which Russia thought she had finally secured. This must be the bitterest 7 {pill of all, after all the- open' and underground work of the Cassinis, the Ouktomskeys the Pavlofis, the 1 Leseara, and: other able Rassian. re-Russia into the unenviable position of presentatives, Japan. has, brought having to yield completely,..and this, according: to. the latest, Reuter's telegram received she is...now prepared to do, "But. it is.'to be feared. that) Rassia has. pub off her. yielding too long..-Japan., has every justification for believing, apart from Viceroy Alexeieff's alleged memo-random, that if Russia yields. xiow.at
as soon.as she has, been "able to intention of resuming ber aggression the eleventh hour, it is only ith the
provide her Viceroy with an overwhelming force. Japan's object is, on the other hand, so to order matters that China shall' have time so to strengthen herself that she may be able to protect her independence and integrity herself; and Japan. is probably right in thinking that the surest way to do this is to fight Russia now.
Direct telegrams from Tokio.have been scarce during the last few days, but from private letters and from various indications we can form a probable' idea of -Japan's plai of campaign. As we have told "our readers wore than once, hostiliti¢s
ment. The Russian naval force is'at will be opened by. a naval. engage-the present moment in three sections, the largest at Port "Arthur, neat Viadivostock, while the third is on its way from Suez,. preceded by.the two: new Japanese. cruisers, from Genoa, Japan has the strategical advantage of being in the- centre between these three sections, ' We learnt a few-days-ago that the Viadivostock section of the Russian fleet started out to join the main body at Port Arthur, but had to return because, owing to the ice, it could nob make more than.four knots. The real reason for its return was that the Japanese standing squadron was waiting for it in the Corean Straits. "The naval engagement that we are awaiting will come from. Japan's determination not to allow the Viadivostock squadron or. the squadron-that is coming from Europe to join the main of the Russian fleet at Port ur, and the interest will begin to rise: when the Kasuga "and Nisshin are at' or*near Singapore. From the*telegratis so: far received it is evident that they are making
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.