The Capitulation (Fall) of Port Arthur

NB: C r i m i n a l

i g n o r a n c e***

("T i m e s")

Colonial adventure

with Manchuria.

* In the margin beside these words V. I. Lenin wrote: "it conducts all relations with Russia and Russian committees only through". In the process of editing the draft, V. I. Lenin crossed out these words. Ed.

** For the article "The Fall of Port Arthur" see Works, 5th ed., vol. 9, pp. 151-159. Ed.

*** - Criminal ignorance. Ed.

H
Military significance The main goal of the Japanese.

Destruction of the fleet.

Causes of the military debacle
The Tsar's plan:
200,000 for
Kuropatkin.

Provisions?

Artillery?
(300 million rubles)
48,000 prisoners.

Victory in the main.

Dangers for Kuropatkin
multiplied tenfold.

Impossibility of recapturing
Port Arthur
Lack of preparation.

Bureaucratism.

Thefts etc.

Low level of officers and soldiers
The showy side
The fleet's crew cf. "Independance
Belge" "Wars are waged by peoples."
"Times": Criminal ignorance of strategy*.

World-political significance.

Childish consolations:
It became easier for Kuropatkin!!
"Frankfurter
Zeitung" cf. "Vossische
Zeitung" excerpts 757.

Center of gravity -
The Pacific Ocean.

Asia defeated Europe.

Expansion of the world market etc.

The capitulation of Port Arthur is the first step toward the capitulation of tsarism
[irreparable breakdown of autocracy].

Wars and their revolutionary significance: weakness of the revolutionary
classes.

War and its sentimental condemnation. The class point of view.
"Speculation."

War and class struggle.

The calamities of war.

* - Criminal ignorance in strategy. Ed.

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Written in the second half of

First published in 1927

in the Lenin Miscellany VI

Printed from the manuscript