Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1894-08-09
JAPAN SHOOTS TO KILL.

It is quite usual for the party
that is worsted in a fight to COM
plain that the party of the other
part did not play fair, but there
| is more than the usual absurdity
in the complaint of the Chinese
and their British commercial
allies that the Japanese have
started in to fight without observ-
ing all the necessary formalities,
and are fighting on the theory
that warfare means destruction
of life. The complaint that
there has been no formal decla-
ration of war between China and
Japan is ridiculous. The dis
patch of troops to Corea, under
the existing conditions, was in
itself an act of war, and the
Chinese troops that were pro-
ceeding to Seoul on the transport
that was sunk by the Japanese
torpedo were as plainly engaged
in warfare as though all the
diplomatic formalities had been
compiled with in advance.
It is true that the transport
belonged to an English firm, but
there is no provision of interna-
tional law that permits the en-
ployment of neutral vessels for
the transportation of troops in
time of war, Or exempts such
Vessels from the military risks
they assume. If the English
choose to make this incident a
pretext for engaging openly in
the contest in Corea, that is
their right; but they must do so
as the avowed allies of China
and not under any pretext of law
Tor humanity.
To abuse the Japanese for hav-
ing shot to kill is another ab-
, surdity that is entitled to small
; consideration. No doubt the
Japanese are little old fash
, ioned in their ideas of war.
, When they went out TO fight un-
der the old regime it was with
/ the idea of doing as much injury
to the enemy as possible. 1t is
evident that, with all their readi-
t ness to accept modern ideas,
7 this old idea still clings to them,
and it may be questioned whether
the most enlightened European
: nation could suggest a better
I lway or even a more humane way
: of carrying on war against China
! than by killing as many Chinese
4 soldiers as possible. The only
e advantage which China appears
: to possess over Japan in the
contest for influence in Corea is
e the advantage of numbers. Army
n for army, the Japanese woule
3 prove the better soldiers all the
q time, but China has infinite
b hordes, a vast barbaric reserve
J. that she can continue TO poul
J, over the frontier. Human life
y counts for little in China, whert
e people die by thousands in fir,
r and food, plague, pestilence ant
|. famine, and are never missed
s and Japan's best chance of sue
e cess seems to lie in a short
d sharp and decisive campaign
II that will put her in control il
ir Corea before the Chinese Cal
r overwhelm it or British CONNER
Ie cial interests interfere.
1t It is very interesting quarre
lie as it stands, and if these two ma
5. tions can be left to fight il ou
S. unhindered the result is likely t
', lprove of value to the world q
a. large. As between the two, Js
i'd pan is certainly entitled to ou
le lsympatbies, and we do not thin
by the less of her if she shoul
Sc tight a little more fiercely tina
IN strict humanitarians approv'
Id Criticism on this score come
IS with poor grace from the British
h. when we recall the methods I
Ill warfare they have pursued
nd the East. The United States al
It's happily in a position to keep OF
5ic of the entanglement, but v
of ought to insist that the Japane'
be lshall have a fair field.