Russia's fleet destroyed
Posted: 02 Nov 2006 @ 00:00
June 2nd, 1905.
THE YEAR 1905 will rank in naval annals with 1805. Tsushima will be
numbered, with Trafalgar, among the decisive battles of the world. Without a
detailed knowledge of the facts of the engagement in the Korean Straits, it is
possible to say that the Russian fleet is practically non-existent, and the
Japanese navy is greatly augmented by its captures, while Japan's mastery of
the Pacific is established. Imagination fails to picture the horrors of the
engagement, and to estimate the suffering and misery which are the consequence
of this waste of lives. It is all terrible and deplorable. We wish it were
possible to hope that this crushing disaster to Russia meant a speedy end of
the war. The best efforts of France and England will doubtless be put forth to
effect an understanding between the two belligerents, but the implacable temper
displayed by Russia after her disaster in Manchuria leads us to anticipate that
she will go on fighting, unless Japan should offer the easiest terms of
submission. If the latter, however, should insist upon such an indemnity as
that she is justly entitled to claim, Russia may say that she prefers to spend
the money on a project of revenge. So there will be more useless butchery and
more desolated homes.