Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-10
REnOuRuEs nr CHINA.

A Shanghai, China, dispatch TO the New
York Herald says that unless France aban-
dons her prelenses to Anam war with China is
inevitable. Should such prove TO be the
case American and European trade will be
affected. Ii the Chinese ports should be
blockaded foreign commerce will he sus-
pended; if they remain open there will prob.
ably be brisk trade In furnishing war sup
plies 10 the Chinese. The prsliminaries Of
war are certainly going on in China, accord
ing to Geographic dispatches from that coun-
try. From them we learn that the Oh ief
Foreign Minister is convinced that fighting
is the only way out of the difficulty; the
Council OF Mandarins have decided to put
the amy on war footing; there ia gre at
activity in drilling and preparing the troops
for active service; at the naval stations of
Shanghai and Foo-Chow fifty batteries OF ar.
tillery have been equipped and the forts along
the Gull Of Peehele have been strengthened.
The Chinese Secretary OF Legation at Wash.
iugton, Chi Yewpg, in an interview with
the HsrdIfs Washington correspondent, said
that China has now all the modern improve
meuts in rihe9, muskeis, light and heavy
artillery, mortars, SHELF, ETC., besides we'll
drilled troops. The Chinese navy consists Of
between fifty and sixty effective ships and a
number OF ironclads; also, steel-plated ves-
sells have been ordered from England and
Germany. China can readily concentrate
from 100000 to 10000 men along the
provinces adjoining TonquiD, and if re-
quired 100000 troops can be marched TO the
field. II is expected that the Chinese war
ships will prevent the French landing 10
Tonquin, but if landed the great heat of the
climate will be more than French troops ex-
posed ia the field can stand. The Sccre tary
further ssid there was no doubt, if France
SHOULD refuse 10 RECOGNIZES the sovereignty of
China over Anam, hosilities would be
inevitable, and VIceToy Lii has already been
ordered to tske command of the Chinese
troops, and Chinese aeet had been ordered to
Touquiu. Beyond all this Chi YewUg said
that there is n strong war party in Chiua,
men who chafe at the low scale ia which
Chinese courage aud enterprise are rated,
and who want the world to see what that
people can do on land and sea, now they
have modern arms snd fleets, and have their
troops drilled and disciplined By European
officers according to modern tactics. In
short, the Chinese of to-day are not the
Chinese of fifty years sgo. They are CON
scious Of the superiority they have acquired,
and the war party desires that the existence
of that superiority shall be Demonstrated in
the open field. The Chinese have the great
advantage OF being near the scene of strife,
while France has to bring her troops and
munitions of war from great distance, and
into climate very trying TO Europeans.
The New York Herald observes: "The
Chinese have been for a number of years
quietly preparing themselves to face a
hostile European power. They msy not
prove able 10 use the new tools of war
which they have provided; but if they
should obtain a success sgsinst France, that
might turn out 10 be a very important event
In the worlds history. A nation of $50 ,000, 900
people, energetic, easily handled, and virile,
though not warlike, might make a mark 10
history if ii should be induced by a &c ccess-
ful foreign war to turn its attention to terri
tOrial conouest -