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Show JAPAN'S ADVANTAGE In a war between Itussla and Japan the odds would not bo so strongly on Russia's side as the woild may suppose. sup-pose. A war on the Manchurian Issue Is-sue would be conducted In and near that province, and that would give Japan an advantage, at least at the start. Japan could put more vessels In that quarter than Itussla can furnish. fur-nish. Japan could throw morosoldleis Into Koiea and Manchuria than Itussla Itus-sla could bring with Its present Imperfect Im-perfect railroad facilities. That railroad rail-road across Asia to Manchuria would undoubtedly be quickly cut by Japan In case of war. Russia would have an linmeasuiably longer lino of communication com-munication to guard than England had in the Hocr struggle and would have a mote povveiful and aleit enemy than that with which England had to deal. Manifestly, If war Is to tomoovei the Manchutlan question, It would be better for Japan to have It fought now than to have It delayed until, half a dozen or a dozen yeais hence, Russia's line of communication Is enlarged and strengthened At the picsent moment Japan could put mote lighting men Into the Held In the disturbed dlstilct than Russia could, and as thcJapancse have shown themselves, In the Chinese war of 1801 and In the Peking campaign of 1000, to be as good soldiers as any In the world, Russia would And Its hands full In looi. Morcvcr, n war on the Manchuilan Issue would undoubtedly put England on Japan's side, and that would give the little Pacific nation a very good chance to come out ahead. All this makes tho stories or war preparations In Japan highly cicdlble. |