The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12
THE WAR IN KOREA.

The news from the seat of war in Korea
continues to be mystifying. The most posi-
tive statements of fact turn out to be con-
lectures or fictions. 1t is probably true that
China has poured a large body Of troops
over the frontier into Northern Korea
a dispatch says 10000 men-while on
the other hand, Japan is landing force on
the Korean shore Of the strait of Korea,
making Fu-san its base. Meanwhile the
Japanese are massing a strong naval
force in the port Of Chemulpo. while the
Chinese are collecting their northern
squadron in the Chinese harbOr of Tsin-
Ha- Wac, in the province Of Sbantung.
1t is said to consist of twenty warships
with ten more to come from Foochow.
Reliance may be placed on the dispatches
from st. Petersburg which state thata fleet
of eight warships has left VladivostocE for
Chemulpo, to protect Russian interests IN
Korea; the dispatch ADDS that land force
is ready to follow at a proper time. 1t Will
probably turn out that the protection OF
Russian in terests in Korea implies the &C.
cupation of a Korean port as the terminus
Of the Siberian Railroad. But Russia Will
probably wait for a suitable pretext for
thus intervening in the conflict. Asiatic
wars generally drag a slow length along !;
there is no necessity for any haste.
Orientals say that the present kingdom
of Korea has become impossible. and that
it must be replaced by a new organization
The people are disaffected, and the King
is unable to suppress rebellion; his troops
are defeated whenever they meet BODY
of insurgents. The most energetic citl-
Zens belong to a society called the Iuga-
huto, whose policy is to resist the invasion
of reform. They are opposed to the ad-
mission of foreigners into Korea, and are
in favor Of the revival of the ancient laws
and customs which were in force at the be-
ginning of the century. Their idea is
Korea for the Koreans. and their favorite
maxim is that the best thing to do with
| foreigner is to cut his head off. The King
of Korea, who can hardly be described rs
an enlightened monarch, is progressive
in comparison with the amiable conserya-
tives of the Tugahuto. He would like to
put them down, but unfortunately they
are too strong for him. Seeing the mort
bund condition of the monarchy Japan
proposed to administer upon its estate,
lust as Nicholas of Russia proposed to
deal with Turkey half century ago; but
China has interviewed, as England and
France did in the Crimea. being unwilling
to permit Japan to enlarge her dOminions
by acquiring a slice OF territory which
geographically forms part of the Chinese
empire.
But here complications without number
supervene. The japanese papers are
boastful of Jaran's ability to drive the
| Chinese out of Korea, and to conclude a
peace which shall repeal the treaty oil
Jientsin. But in the East as in the West
providence is apt to be on the side of the
heaviest battalions. China can lose army
after army of $4,000 or 10000 men in
Korea, and can replace each in turn with
another army equally strong and equally
well armed without serious inconvenience.
But if Japan loses one large army it will
| set the MIkado thinking. A war against a
power with practically unlimited resources
| is not a war which a practical statesman
will willingly undertake.
Again, Russia looms up as factor in
the strife, the more formidable as its pur-
poses are secret. There is significance in
the following paragraph from the N0UOe
! Tremyd oil Moscow:
Japan has spent much energy and money In
perfecting her armament 1t is not to- be
ina gined that a practical people like the Jap
anese have gone TO so much trouble for moth
| ing 1t is evident that war OF conquest on tht
mainland is the object But Russia cannO
| afford to acduiesce in the conquest Of Korea by
the japanese. Japan would be a very different
| neighbor from the weak Korean kingdom
Japan is not only powerful, but aggressive
Russia must receive a barbor in Korea TO pro
| teet her trade.
The other European powers, England
Germany and France, seem thus far con
tent to remain neutral. The official organ
at Berlin thinks il only reasonable tina
Russia should get a seaport in Korea
England has declared that she will not in
terfsre in any event.
The interests of civilization would b.
promoted by the extinction of the Korean
monarchy, and it does not appear tina
they would be antagOnized by Jspanes
occupation of the peninsula. But if Chin;
would not agree to this, and if Der com
mand of leves would enable her to wea
out any armies the Japanese might send t.
the theater of war, it is difficult to see how
the conflict will be likely 10 end.