St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-24
THE FRANc0-CHINEsE VAR.

THE FRANCO-CHIEESE VAR.
The latest cablegrams from Europe indi-
cate that war between France and China has
been begun. The causes which have led to
this result are generally familiar to the pub
lie; that is, as familiar as is possible consid-
ering the obscurity of the Chinese policies,
and the understandable character of
Chinese people. There is a claim for in
demnity presented by the French for losses
sustained at the hands Of the Chinese in
connection with Tonquin, and at the same
time, there is similar claim presented by
the Chinese for losses sustained by them.
The origin of the difficulty is obscure, and
without the official reports of both sides
cannot be understood in detail. Generally
it is claim for damages, each side assertin G
that the other is indebted to it for injuries
sustained. There are other incidental
causes which have led to the final rupture.
1t is charged that Chinese jealousies upset
the treaty which the well known Li-Hung-
Chang negotiated with the French; and the
French exhibit good deal of irritation over
the intrigues of the Marquis Tseng, the Chi
nese ambassador, who, it is asserted, la
bored while in England and Paris, to secure
he downfall of the Ferry ministry.
Whatever may be the exact cause of the
rupture, hostilities on a large scale will be
of great advantage to the world in at least
one particular. Opportunity will be afforded
the nations to secure an insight into that
mysterious country which, despite all that
has been written about it, is yet veritable
terra in cognita. We know the location of
some Of its principal cities, and something
of its political composition; but of the real
people we know comparatively nothing.
There is no agency in modern times
which is so prolific Of geographical
knowledge as war, The present
generation will bear testimony to this fact,
and will readily agree that they learned more
Of the various countries and peoples affected
during the Crimean war, the Franco-Prus-
sian conflict. the Austro-Prussian encounter,
and the Franco-Prussian, Russo-Turkish,
the Anglo Egyptian and South African con-
tests than they did from the ordinary studies
of geography, and all the information which
could be- obtained from gazeteers, books OF
travel and other sources of knowledge.
The foundation of the Chinese empire
dates somewhere in the mists of the past
and it has remained almost as mysterious
during its later, and even its modern eX-
istence, as in its origin. 1t is generally con
| ceded that that China antedates even Egypt
| and that its existence as a country can bC
traced back not less than thirty centuries be-
! fore the Christian era. 1t is more than
twenty centuries ago that the Chinese wal
was constructed and which is yet in many
places in fair state of preservation. 1t is 1
country with history which reaches further
back into the mythical than the birth of Ro
mulus, or the advent of the Egyptian Menes
! 1t is this obscure country and people thai
are about to be opened up to the investiga
ton of the army correspondent, and whose
knotted mysteries are about to be severed
with the sword. The study will be an inter
esting one, as it cannot fail to reveal muct
| that is not now either not known or whose
existence is but dimly suspected. The worlt
will learn something of the military organiZa
ton of the country, its resources, its interna
management, its practical operations. Wha
we now know is little of its coast towns it
navigable rivers for 4 short distance from
! their outlets, some of its chief towns. anC
! somewhat as to its products. Of its unknown
| interior, we may hope to secure some infor
nation of that interior which is a country o
/ 800, 600, 600 inhabitants, and yet is only
| in area, about one-third of the entire Chimes
| ;hof Mon trDlio C,~aa KnLnuor
Kashgar. Tonquin and other vast province
lie outside of China proper, and while a por
ton of the empire have never been explored
! or opeued up to trade and with all their vast
ness and their possibilities, are sbsolutel,
! unknown to the exterior world. Possibl,
the war about TO commence will let som,
light into these mysterious rccesses.
1t is not to be inferred that in case Franc,
! shall commence the war in earnest it will b,
of short duration. The Chinese are not a
they we're when the English ships of va
| opened their seaports with their guns, il
order to enforce the entry o
opium into the ''Flowery Kingdom ;
| The American Ward, ''Chinese Gordon,
| and Others have been at work on the Chimes,
armies so that they no longer, as of old, adj
vance to fight an enemy. beating tom toms
and turning somersets to brighten the foe
They have steel cuirsssed fleet, with rifle,
| guns, torpedoes, and all modern improve
meat. Their armies are drilled in the Euro
pean style, and their arms are OF the yer,
| best modern make. They have 600, 600 mel
available for immediate use, and reserv,
which will furnish million
more: They will fight on their own terri
| tory. The eastern and southern portions o
the country are excellently adapte,
for defensive operations, being il
the main, series of valleys, o
compartments which are enclosed by hill
and mountainous ranges. So far as ex
plored, it is difficult region in which t
carry on an offensive warfare, at suy dis
lance from the coast. The French, in an,
case, will be great distance from their has
of supplies. II the contest lasts FOR an.
length of time, the difficulty attending tn
transport of troops, ammunition and quar-
termasters' supplies viii be prodigious one
The nearest point in China to France is dis
tant over one hundred degrees OF longitud
aud thirty degrees of latitude. France wi
be engaged in lighting an antiRsdean enemy