The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1894-08-17

upon hOTed, Ine OON6TUu16DI at re-
king has industriously employed it
self for years in putting forward its
claim to suZerainity over the king.
dom, in the comfortable expectation,
no doubt, of sooner or later complete
ly absorbing it.
Both countries are alike jealous,
with the mutual fear that the other
may get hold upon Korea. In their
blind jealousy of each other they APP
pear to entirely overlook the import
ant fact that their mutual safeguard
and only sure defense against the ag-
gressions of their dreaded and power
full neighbor, Russia, is dependent on
a united purpose to uphold the SOW
ereign independence of a friendly in
tervening state.
1t is morally certain that neither of
the cOntending powers would be able
single-handed to maintain for long a
footing in Korea against Russia.
Within the last twenty-five years the
whole eastern seaboard of Asia, from
the mouth of the Amoor on the north
to the borders of Korea in the south,
including the island of Saghalien, has
fallen into Russian possession. An
other step southwark and Russia be-
comes the undisturbed master of the
maritime boundaries of both China
and Japan.
AS to the probable outcome of the
present struggle it is impossible to
predict at the present time. If the
war turns out to be of short duration,
the chances of success are greatly in
favor of Japan. In striking contrast
with other Asiatic nations, the Jap
anese are martial in spirit, easily
aroused, and in battle fierce and san
culinary to degree. Twelve CEN
turtles of civil wars, during the devel-
opment and consolidation of the en-
pire, served to create a numerous and
powerful military class among them,
who have made war profession and
in whom there has been developed a
marked military genius. This influ-
entail and powerful class, known as
the Samurai, is the representative or
type Of regenerated Japan. They are
at once the Drawn and brains, no less
than the patriotism, of the nation. 1t
was they who swept away the feudal
system of Japan, overthrow the Ty-
coon and restored the Mikado to
power, and it is they who are the
leading spirits in the present revolu-
ton il Korea. Their numbers and
influence in the rank and
file give the army and navy of Japan
an esprit du corps as marked and Wig
OrOus as that of the modern armies of
Europe.
The regular standing army of
Japan, consisting mainly of about
so, 600 infantry, is finely armed with
Murata breech- leaders and compile
ment of field pieces In the opinion
of General Grant, which he frequently
expressed while he was visiting
Japan, the japanese in its organiza-
ton, discipline and equipment, is
quite up to the average European
standards. Japan can, upon short
notice, throw an effective army of
nearly 100000 men into the field, ard
within "a reasonable time she can
and equip the whole body of
her landwehr.
1t is to be remembered that the
whole police organization of Japan
is, in itself, a distinct, separate and
powerful military organization.
The navy and naval armament OF
Japan are the special idols of the ma
ton, and are fully equal, if not super
iOr, to the army. The war vessels aud
guns are all of the latest and most APP
proved European construction and
81 n. In fact, Japan is in possession
Of every modern appliance in the art
OF. naval warfare known to the nations
OF Europe. Her warships have all
been built in Europe, and are well
supplied with modern armament,
guns of large caliber, twin screws,
steel rams, etc.
With such a naval outfit, backed by
a competent and efficient army, once
in Korea, it will require all the ac-
knowledged resources'of China to dis
lodge them
1t is highly probable that the treaty
powers, in the interest of foreign COM
merce, may unite in demanding that
the seat of war be localized and strict
ly confined to Korean territory and
the adjacent seas. Such action on
the part of the Western powers, if
taken, will have the effect of greatly
assisting Japan, in that it will leave
her practically free to concentrate her
entire naval and military strength
upon smaller number OF strateglcal
points, and will have the further eff
feet of removing the seat of war fur
ther from the Chinese base of supply.
Should the war continue for a suffi-
cient period of time to thoroughly
arouse the jealousies and animosities
of the two nations, there is great dam
ger that it may degenerate into a
deadly, fanatical struggle, and the
world may behold carnival of blood
shed, rapine and plumber unknown to
the nations Of Western Europe since
the march of the, 'ever victorious
army" under Ii Hung Chang and
General Gordon against the Tae Ping
rebels quarter of a century ago.
S. f. Chronicle.