Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-07-26
THE COREAN TROUBLE.
The Causes Of the Rumpus Between
China and Japan.
China Mas Superior military Force-Essniy
Matched in Naval Strength.


present trouble over Corea are - thus
enumsr rated in an interview ia London by
Henry Norman, an Englishman who has
spent some time in that country:
First of all comes a permanent ill-feel-
ing between Chinese and japanese, who
have a rooted dislike for one another. Sec
ond, their mutual jealousy as the two great
Far Eastern powers. Third, there Japan's
vastly preponderant interests-populstion,
shipping, trade-in Corea, against CHI
ancient suzerainty and her modern political
control of Corean affairs. Fourth, the re-
bellion in Corea, threatening all foreigners,
including japanese, stands for something,
but not so much as has been made out, for
Corean rebellious are not very serious al
fairs. Fifth, Japan is exasperated
by the decoying of the pro-Japanese
Corean rebel, Kim Ok.Kyun, from his
refuge in Toxic, and his brutal murder in
Shanghai, winked at by the Chinese govern
ment. Sixth, Japan is afraid, not without
reason, that China is about to settle her diff
ficulties with Russia by allowing the latter
to occupy port on the east coast OF Corea.
Finally, both countries believe themselves
to possess powerful forces of the European
kind, and are not sorry to have an opportu-
nifty of showing what they can do with
them. This is much truer of Japan than OF
China.
Mr.. Norman has high opinion of the
Japanese army. Up to the time of the
Franco German war the instructors of this
army were Frenchmen. The result of the
war was sufficient, in Japanese opinion, to
make a change desirable, and the French
instructors were changed for English, Ger
man and Italian. Few of these remain, as
the Japanese now think they know enough
about the art of war to prosecute it without
foreign assistance.
In fight between the Japanese and
Chinese the former, in MIR. Norman's
opinion, will surely win, as the Japanese
army is equipped according to the most
modern ideas, and il of considerable size,
while the number of troops that China can
put into the field is known to none outside
of the "Flowery Kingdom" and to few
within the realm. Their equipment, too,
is good deal of mystery.
The Japanese. Mr.. Norman says, are
not only well drilled and well armed, but
they are brave and they are painting for q
fight, one with China preferred, as
the hate the Chinese with whole-souled
rancOur.
Regarding the suzerainty of China over
Japan it amounts. Mr.. Norman thinks, to
very little. The "Son of Heaven" as the
Emperor of China is styled at home, con-
sders himself the suzerain of the world.
He was suzerain of Lower and Upper
Burmah, and lost them both. Thibet is
the only country the "Son of Heaven"
would fight desperately for.
Of tho King and GROWN nriDpp Of ('Orpn.
by whom he was received, Mr.. Norman has
not q tlattering opinion. The crown prince
he describes as little better than .'hydro-
cephalous" idiot. The King, is slight i'm
provement upon this. Corea alone is not
in position to make fight. The country
is impoverished, and under its present ruler
is of no use to the Coreans or to ANYBODY
else. There are only few hundred Corean
opera bouffe order.
| If war is declared it will probably begin
at sea, and it is thought in naval circles
that at the start the Japanese would have
the advantage, because the vessels are in
condition for immediate service. Yet the
two nations are nearly equal in naval
strength.
The Chinese navy consists of so vessels,
but many are small and obsolete in type.
There are five effective armored ships, built
within the last II years, four being battle
ships (Chen-Yuen, King Yuen, Lai Yuen
and Ting Yuen) and one ping Yuen) a
coast defense ship. There is also an
armored wooden gunboat, Tien-Sing. These
vessels are armed with Krupp guns, the
Chen Yuen, of 7430 tons, carrying l2-inch
rifles. There are 10 cruisers carrying
Armstrong and Krupp guns, two torpedo
cruisers and several small gun vessels.
The Japanese navy consists of 80 vessels
of all kinds, including five armored ships
(the Fu-Soo, Hi-Yei, Kon-Go, Rio-Jo and
Tschiyoda). Theses range from
1900 to 300 tons and are armed
with Krupp guns, lighter than
the Chinese bsttleships carry. There are
IA cruisers of good size and well armed
with Krupp and Canet guns, three coast de-
fence ships, with IL inch French rifles,
half dozen corvettes and few training
ships.
This balance of resources does not ex,
tend to the army, ia which China has an
enormous advantage in numerical strength.
Ia times of peace China's army numbers
500, 900 to Japan's $4,000, but on wal
footing the Chinese strength is 100000
men, while the japanese forces under like
conditions number only 100000 troops,
with 20, 500 mounted police.
Military experts here believe that while
Japan might obtain temporary advantage
in the early stages of the war with China
she very likely would be ultimately over,
whelmed by sheer force of numbers.