The herald., 1894-09-18
THE JAPANESE VICTORY.

The opinion is expressed that the
great and decisive victory OF the Jap
anese last week. in which it is claimed
that out of 10000 Chinese engaged in
the action there were l6 600 killed,
wounded and taken prisoners, will put
an effectunl end to the war. We csn
hardly coincide with this view. China
has tremendous resources. This loss, ss
far as men is concerned. is a mere bsga
telle to @ nation that counts her popula-
tion by hundreds of millions. Unless
the prestige OF this victory should have
demoralizing effect upon the Chinese
mandarins, and cause them to lose
heart, they can soon repair their losses
and present formidable front again to
the enemy.
There is, however, no doubt that the
morale OF the Jspansee is far superior
to that OF their enemy. They have so
lar exhibited dash and elan. an adapt
ness to war and military intelligence
and savior faire, which has not been
shown, even in slight degree. by the
ponderous Chinese empire. In num-
bers the Japanese are Insignificant COM
pared with the people they are fighting.
but in alertuess and readiness in COM
pactness and soldierly intelligence, and
even in that dash and courage which
makes q small army prove more than
equal to many times it's number in effect
iveness, they have shown themselves to
be complete masters OF the situation go
far.
The subjects OF the miksdo have pro-
flied by their study OF the military
ecence of the advanced nations 0. Eu-
rope and America. They have sent Their
young men to the beat military schools
OF the west, and have assiduously tried
to copy the best exemplars of warlike
efficiency to be found outside OF the
Orient. 1t looks very much as if they
had been for years carefully preparing
for the event that mas happened, and
have made themselves masters OF the
developed experience in wsrlike con-
duct of the western nations. They are
a people possessed in a high degree Of
the initiative qualities, and they have
been careful to put these qualities into
the best training as to arms, tactics and
superiority in their means of naval at
tack and defense.
The Chinese have also made An effort
TO improve their navy, and although
they have added to their strength on
the seas larger number OF heavy iron
clads, with loag.range guns, than Japan.
yet their ships have not been handled
with anything like the effectiveness the
Japanese have shown. Indeed, the Jap.
saAsa- a-ara-mnch the better eeamen. for
as an insular people they are almost to
q man a nation OF sailors.
From the way in which the Japanese
have adapted themselves to the inn
proved mode OF warfare Of the western
nations, from their quickness of appre-
hension, their wide intelligence and
their steadiness and courage, they seem
destined to achieve the position as re-
CARDS the Asiatic coast that the English
have achieved in their relation to the
European continent. Indeed, the COM
parisou may be made stronger, for il
they continue to perfect themselves in
the modern modes of warfare they will
have much easier task to dominate
the Asietic coast than Great Britain has
had to establiah the high prestige she
possesses as TO the continent OF Europe.
1t is needless to say that the sympa-
thies OF Americans, especially Western
Americans, are with the Japanese in
their war with China. Instinctively this
sympathy is based upon the fact that
the Japanese have shown a spirit oi
progressiveness which has not been in
evidence with the Chinese sincs they
have been intimately known to us.
Even at this stage OF Asiatic develop
ment, the Japanese are following rap
idly in the wake OF western civilization
whilst the Chinese as q people are but
little advanced from what they were
centuriea ago. There may be another
and deeper reason for our sympathy
The Japanese are the hereditary enc
mics OF the Chinese, and they will al
Eruption OF the Mongolan EN-
pire upon the civilization o
the world by way OF the Pacific ocean
Whilst China may in the coming year
become 8 great maritime power, he
am bitiou, should it ever take such direc
ton, would find barrier at her yer.
door in any attempt she might fee
powerful enough to make upon Chris
tendon by way OF the Pacific coast.
1t is not easy to peer into the distan
future; but q century or two of civili1
iag influences, coupled with the tire
mendous advances the whole world vii
make in arms aud the science OF wa
may bring China to position OF mel
ace which may be fraught with danger
we can but dinly spprehend at the pre-
ent time.
Apcutr GuNTurR'g atOrv of Mr. PO