The herald., 1894-08-01
THE DANGER OF THR CoREAN I'M
BROGLIO.

The hostile attitude OF China and
Japan In the Corean imbroelio cannot
but eventuate in var between these Two
most powerful nations of the orient. In
deed war has already practically COM
mencsd. China entered upon war when
she shipped troops in large numbers to
Corea, and Japan responded in war
when she fred into and sunk trans
port, engulfng and killing 1000 Chi
nese soldiers. Therefore the declaration
of war is mere formslity, for actual
hostilities between the two powers have
been already commenced.
The western world might look upon a
decimating war between these two Ash
attic nations with judicial unconcern, but
for the fact that it may result in men,
ace to modern civilization. 1t may &C.
custom these heathen nations to war on
the advanced lines OF the superior races
OF Europe and America, and make them
an element of serious danger to the peace
OF Christendom. They have already
availed themselves of the wonderful i'm
provements that have of late years been
made in modern ships Of war, and are
equipping their soldiers with arms Of
precision Of the best modern patterns.
They will doubtless be drilled by expe-
rienced Europesn and American officers.
and made as perfect in discipline and
military msnGuvres as the Asiatic 10
capable of being made. A protracted
war, such % We are now threatened with.
is ell that is needed to turn them into
veteran soldiers. They only lack the
morale to become efficient soldiers, and
that will come with long practice in the
'tented field"
We presume that nobody whose opin-
ion is deserving of attention, will deny
to the Chinese the common quality OF
brute courage. They are as stolid in
face of death ~ the American Indian,
and as ready to fight among themselves
as Sioux or Apaohes. They are only
tame and docile where they are domin.
ated by stronger and superior race.
Bus let them once feel that they are on
an equality In arms and discipline with
European soldiers, and lot them realize,
further, the fact that they are vastly su-
perior in numbers to any of the western
nations, another Gengis-Kahn may arise
among them who may lead them into
warliks expedition that may in the end
prove dear to Christendom.
The late General Miller in speaking of
the qualities possessed by the Chinese
to make efficient soldiere, drew serious
attention to the fact that the greatest
problem presented to military men in
the mobilizing of great armies for ag-
gressive warfare was the difficulty OF
organizing q commisssriat equal to the
requirements OF the modern soldier.
But with the Chinese this difficulty
would be one thatwould cause but little
trouble. As long ss the commiasary
could supply the men with rice and tea
they would be in trim for effective
service. Where q European soldier
could only carry rations with him for a
day or two. the Chinese soldier could
carry supplies for a number OF days.
Expedition and celebrity of movement
would be the result Of this advantage,
and every military man knows that b2s-
ties are won more frequently by speed
of movement on the march than by
steadfastness in the field.
Perhaps this Chino-Jspanese wsr will
become q nursery for Asiatic soldiers
that will prove very costly to western
civilization in the end.
Since the above was written We have
received dispatches announcing . great
naval engagement between Japanese
and Chinese war vessels, in which the
former sank the largest battleship pos
sessed by the latter, q vessel OF 7400
tons, and destroyed three OF her
cruisers. This is the first naval battle
that has taken place between armored
vessels equipped with the latest long
range and rapid.firing guns, and the
ease with which the monster Chinese
warehip seems to have been disabled
and sent to the bottom carries out the
fears expressed by experienced com
msnders at the time the Victoria keelee
over and sank in the Mediterranean
that these huge battleships would prov,
inefficient in a sea fight with the smaller
and more manageable ironclads. Ihii
important naval battle will render fulfill
all the efforts OF the western powers t.
compose the differences betw cen Chin
and Japan. So the war of militsry edu
cation to the oriental nations will e
on.
-