The Daily News. FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 1905. JAPAN'S NAVAL TRIUMPH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7838, 2 June 1905, Page 2

The Daily News. FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 1905. JAPAN'S NAVAL TRIUMPH.

Such a complete an J crushing defeat as that suffered by the Russian navy at the hands of the Japanese will bo recorded as one of the Jaiemorable events of the world's history. The humiliation of Russia means the exaltation of Japan to the position of a new Great Power with potentialities for good or ill. It should also 1 cany with it 1 ' the door of Vladivoslock. and, let us hope, the cessation of hostilities at an early date. Although the result of the engagement was never for a moment in doubt, ir is only fair to give the Russian Admiral credit for making the best of the -stops and men at his command, and giving a good account of his tactical skill. No one could have Conceived that such a niisjrablc exhibition of incompetency would have been witnessed as that which resulted in the complete annihilation of a fleet which, on paper, was equal to that of Japan. The mere fact that the Japanese had the important advantage of being in their own* waters, and were stimulat-

Ed by their previous successes, would not be sufficient to account for the overwhelming victory which they obtained at such comparatively small cost. If the true cause could be actually ascertained it is probable that, in the first place there was a widespread feeling among the Russian men who manned the combined fleet that they were going, to their doom. Tie Dogger Hank .incident opened tlw eyes of the world to the disgraceful state of nervous tension and apprehension which existed amongst oilicers and men. Then, the long deln> which has taken place while Admiral Rozhde.stveusky has been doing his best to irritate the neutral Powers, has tended to demoralise rather than to inspirit his subordinates. There is also good ground for believing that after the squadron had set sail northwards the crew of one, at least, of the ships mutinied on the voyage, and lastly, that same discreditable panic which was so conspicuous in the North Sea fiasco appears to have set in with redoubled force directly the Russian fleet came into collision with the Japanese. Admiral Togo had plenty of time to make all his arrangements for striking the crushing blow on which he was concentrating, his energies. There is every reason for crediting him with accurately foretasting the probable route to be taken by the antagonist whose strategic powers he seems to have guage'd to a nicety. According to the story of the Russian survivors Togo's attack was so sudden and complete, and the plan so different from what was expected "that the entire fleet was seized with panic." What plan the Russians expected would be adopted is impossible to conjecture, but probabiy the Russian Commander will have a little story of his own to tell on this subject later on. One thing is certain, no matter whether from bravery or desperation. Admiral Rozhdcstven t sky led his fleet to its doom, and by the ruins of his owji ie;>utation he has provided material for a brilliant triumph for the victorious Togo, When the details of thi' fight become known, they will undoubtedly throw additional lustre on the achievements of the Japanese navy, and its brilliant Comman-der-in-Chief. Without doubt the Japanese Nelson took the enemy b,\> surprise in the onslaught which he made on their fleet, and it is extremely likely that after he had directed a rapid and well sustained lire* on the enemy frtfiu the battleships andteruisei-s.. he let loose the torpedo boats which swarmed around the Husxiiin vessels' like hornets, |h|it with much more deadly effect. The ' feelings of the people of Japan must ', be somewhat akiu .to those which found expression in England in th« defeat of "the Spanish Armada—the nearest parallel in history to the operations off Tsushima. Russia is now practically without a navy, and to (soirlfniic the war.on 1 land would be n suigida) policy. The sooner the Czar acts on his first idea on hearing of the'defeat, that "all is over," the better chance there will be for his kingdom. W'nut the effect, of the news will be on his already disaffected subjects remains to be seen. Tho contingency of a widespread revolt does not seem remote. Kvory hour wasted in useless 'dreams that "Russia cannot bo beaten," is likely to prove disastrous to the came of Imperialism in Russia.: