The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-07-23

-. Japan Is Indignantly protesting agains
: step which is contemplated by Germany
; in the matter of protecting the vast mari
time interests of the China Merchants
Steam Navigation Company, a corpora tion
operating an immense fleet of steamers
between ports in China, Japan and India
and those OF the Old World.
Diplomatic correspondence. somewhat
OF an evasive nature, has already been In
dnlged in TO some extent. Germany has
not yet given her answer, so the >advlces
per the steamer Rio Janeiro state, and 1t
may be weeks before she will take the
matter under official consideration.
- The Chinese capitalists bave formally
made application to register all OF the
: navigation cOmpany's vessels, twenty-slX
= in number, under the German flag. The
reason for this action is an early eDdeavor
TO secure Germany's protection for large
line of freighting thai might fall legiti-
mate prey TO the speedy cruisers OF the
Japanese navy.
The empire of China would be greatly
benefited were this move successful, as the
ships could pass to and fro between all
ports with valuable aud necessary cargOes
OF provisions and war material.
German capitalists own about one-six-
teeuth of the stock of the Chinese Mer-
chants Steam Navigation line, and upon
this small fraction of an interest held by
the foreigners is based the demand for
GerDany'S protection.
Correspondence on the subject has
already been placed in The hands of the
proper authorities in China, Japan, on
the other hand, has forwarded protest
against action, saying that such an act
would be hostile to the good will now
existing between the island kingdom and
the fatherland.
There are two or three big lines of
Chinese-Owned ships that Japan has hopes
of ca pturing and utilizing for her own Dur
poses in Transporting troops and other
wise. The Japanese say that the only
interest held by the Germans in the
steamer line in question is vested in the
steamers klang-Yu and Fushm. The re-
naming twenty-fOur of the feet are
owned and controlled exclusively by Chi
nese.
. The foreign residents of Shanghai claim
that the papers forwarded to the Depart
:. ment of State simply called for the re-
registering and clearing of the TWO vessels
first named, and that no application had
been made to reclass the whole of the COM
pany's floating property.
THIS allegation is stOutly denied by the
Home Government of Japan, which has
. minated that the scheme is a clever
dodge on the part Of the Chinese mer-
chants, who have about 1900 900 in
vested in an enterprise that would be
seriously menaced and perhaps effectively
crippled by war with Japan. To force the
line TO cease operating would mean the
loss of an immense trade and compel the
tying up OF an enormous amount Of capital
that has been paying a large interest on
the investment.
japan insinuates that she would retail
ate were Germany to favor the Celestials'
move. Her trade would be Withdrawn
from that country and friendship would
be declared off.
From the following list of the Chinese
merchants ships some idea may be formed
Of the extent of the service furnished by
Them
Fung.SGun, 868: Fushin, 1904: Hae-An 869;;
Hae-Chang, 324; Haze Shin, 1853; Haze ling,
1893; Hsno5CChI, 1Q63; Il sin: F91g, 1868;
Kwan, 1880; -kiang- Ping, 1872; Kiang- Teen.
1868; htaug-Tung, $40; KianGYu 227O;
Kiang-Yung. 1911; Kung-Pai, 692; Kwang-
Chi, 3l3; Kwang- Lee, 1903; MeefOo, 1889;
PoOChI. GA; TOo.Nam, 1862; Yehim, 755
YungChing, 761,
r.: Dropping the subject of dhe registering
OF the steamers, private advices have 1t
that Japan is depending largely for sup
port from France and Russia in the pend
ing struggle.
= England, it is believed, has prepared
herself for such an emergency, and is hold
Ing her fiset pending further orders. This
Tumor, however. is looked upon as of an
alarmist origin.
:. apan has placed an order with the
Themes Iron and Shipbuilding Works for
an armoIed battle-ship of the first-class
Che vessel is to be of 1910 600 tons displace-
:ment and Il 900 indicated horsepower 1t
must have speed OF 10 knots.
:. line plan of the builders is said to be to
arm the ship with nothing heavier than
ten-iDch guns, of which there will be
large battery. a second battery of six and
eight inch rifles Will meet with considera-
tIon. It would seem from this that Japan
intends to test the usefulness of light guns
in big ships.