Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 1905. A LESSON FROM TUB WAR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3500, 23 March 1905, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 1905. A LESSON FROM TUB WAR.

The cost of the war in the Far East has been, for the year ended last month, to japan and Russia respectively £4,000,000 and £7,000,000 a month, in round numbers. In spite of the added cost to Ihc Czar’s Government it hat; received inferior service in every way. Then again Russian loans have not been received willingly on the money markets of the world, and only a. smbll proportion—£27,ooolo66 out of £84,000,000 —has been raised within Russia. At the present moment the great Empire’s administrators are appealing for another £40,000,000 to cany on a struggle of which they are too obstinate to perceive the uselessness. Japan! on the ctliCi hand, out of some £50,000,000 borrowed to date, has raised more than half—about £28,000,000 —in her own markets. Of some £70,000,000 which the Mikado's advisers have allowed, for flic; prosecution of the war this year almost the whole can be raised at home, A year of successive victories for Japan has made that country’s affairs loom large on the horizon of world-politics, and has also done the nation a great service by placing its financial credit in a most favoured light. Russia’s war troubles have inflamed the downtrodden people at home and have landed the Government into a financial morasS fi'oiri which it is difficult to see any way of escape. As a contemporary has pointed out, the whole war has been an example of what may be done by a comparatively small nation united throughout by patriotic enthusiasm against a vast empire mighty in numbers, but seething with discontent and rebellion because of centuries of oppression and misgovernment. It is a possibility to be hoped for that inability to secure the sinews of war may before long compel Russia to desist from a struggle which cannot be otherwise than hopeless, and make the best terms possible. Then she can go about the urgently necessary task of setting her own house at home in order by alleviating some of the miseries of her long-suffering people. Her hopes of foreign mediation to lessen the effect of Japan’s terms in the final settling up of accounts must surely be based on foundations of sand, or she must imagine the nations of the world have short memories of the incompe'ence and inhumanity that have distinguished the Muscovite national career during the past year.