Smyrna times., 1894-08-08
War in the East.

Twenty odd years ago the German
army marched from Berlin to Paris,
sweeping before it the army of Napoleon
III. What had promised to be a great
war was ended in few months. 1t
was explained that the great improve
ments then recently made in firearms
and equipments had made a long war
impossible. The French, owing to
corruption in the army administration,
were not so well equipped or organized
as the Germans, nor so ably COM
manded, and they were beaten at every
turn. Since 1872 the weapons of war
have been made much more destructive
than they were at that time, and war
vessels especially equipped with bat
teries ten-fold more effective than any |
that have heretofore been employed IN
actual warfare. China and Japan have !
both built modern naVies, but there is |
good reason to belieVe-apart from the |
results of recent actiOns-that Japan |
has the more effective navy, made so
in part by the greater skill and intelll- |
gence of her naval forces. Just as the
improved weapons used in the Franco
German war put an end to the conflict
in few months, the superior army be-
ing irresistible, so in this japanese
| Chinese war the destructive modern
weapons of the japanese warahips APP
pear to be sweeping the Chinese ships
from the seas. The superior force in
skill and direction, backed by these
mighty engines OF war, is irresistible
and crushes out of existence every
thing that attempts to stand before it.
In the naval battle of Monday, the
Japanese feet is reported to have sunk
a great Chinese ironclad, and to have
captured two of China's modern
cruisers. These vessels were armed
with Krupp guns, Hotchkiss rapid-fire
and Gatling guns, but they were pro-
bably not we'll fought, the Chinese
navy being extremely inefficiet Ten
years ago one of its principal fleets was
destroyed by the French mainly by the
use of which the Japanese are specially
skillful.
Although the reports of the war
movement are meagre, it is apparently
the purpose of the Japanese to push
forward as rapidly as possible the de-
struction of the Chinese navy and force
the conclusion of a peace before the
Chinese have an opportunity to mass
their numerically stronger forces
Taku, the port blocaded by the Japan
ese, is at the mouth of the Pei-hO river,
only about one hundred miles from
Pekin. Thirty years ago it was sup
posed to be impregnably guarded from
} the seaside, but Krupp guns would
probably reduce the old.time forts in a
: very short time, leaving the way open
to the Chinese capital.
, II is quite within the range of possi-
bility that the war may be brought to
an end in this way before European
nations, which are obliged to move
slowly, have an opportunity to inter-
vene. For commercial reasons Eng
g land is disposed to defend China, and
her newspapers are now engaged in
3 working up case against Japan, be-
cause of the sinking of Chinese trans
:. port which was flying the British flag
r This affords sufficient excuse for in
= reference if an excuse is wanted, bui
the English Ministers will want time
to consider the case, as any move
:, on their part might bring about The
long expected European war. 1t i:
It generally assumed that Russia and
'f France would array themselves on The
If side of Japan, and that Germany would
DdCh vi III idhN3 NSpONiulis 40 wv ti'@
l. officers are reported to have been re
} fused rescue when they swan to TIN
L Japaneses ships after the sinking of tn
10 Chinese transport.
y 1t is more probable, however, tha
ls Great Britain will proceed cautiously
20 in the affair and avoid an actual con
10 1ict. War is really dreaded by ever!
IS European nation. Il would be short
'r lived, no doubt, but enormously de
structive. That is the contribution 10
et wards peace of the inventors of neN
in weapons and high explosives. Their
is, moreover, q strong disposition Il
10 make use of arbitration to avoid
W costly conflict of arms. The Japanes
by their earlier successes have made
OF easier 10 settle the dispute by arbitra
a tion. They can afford to make term
ne since prolonged conflict would hrin
upon them a numerically stronger fore
a and China crippled in her navy an
'r, with her capital in danger may also
ne more disposed than heretofore to liste
to the voice of mediator.-Ph PhitGde
vo phiG Ledger.