The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-08-03
WAR BETWEEN CHINA AND ia
PAN.

PAN.
Although the announcement Of a dec
laration of war between China and Ja-
pan does not have official warrant
there seems to be little reason to doubt
any longer that the two oriental nations
are on the eve Of open warfare. Had
the two governments not already been
determined on this course the action tf
Japanese cruiser in sinking Chinese
transports would probably have carried
the situation well beyond the point at
which peaceable adjustment OF the
controversy would have been possible.
With the later reports Of hostilities
end the well known fact that both Chi
ma and Japan have landed troops in the
Corean Peninsula, the prospects OF any
such adjustment seem to have quite
,onlshed. In fact, the announcement
In this mornings dispatches that a
great land battle had been fought
bears out the above theory
Tht possible results Of contest te-
tween these oriental powers are so nu-
merous and involve such n variety Of
far-rcaching complications that any ae-
curate conjecture is out of the ques-
ilcn. JaIan. with the advantages of
better-organized forces and greater ce-
lerlty In military maneuvers may well
be expected to win. the early battles Of
the campaign. Superior in education
and aggressiveness, the japanese SOL
diery may even succeed in driving the
opposing forces before them so long as
the treasury at Toxic will stand the
strain of maintaining war, II is TO be
remembered also. in ttis connection,
that Japan has never been conquered,
while China has often experienced de-
feat. But conquest is not mastery, and
the secret of China's strength lies In
her extraordinary resources, which are
virtually limltless and impossible to cut
or. The nation which vanqulshes Chi
ma must first whip her by force of
arms and then defeat her In n test OF
ondurance--a contest which is practl-
cally test of relative resources ana
power Of recovery
II is In the effort to exhaust these re,
sources that stronger powers than Ia
pan have succumbed, and It is difficult
to see now how the mikado's forces
could expect to secure a lasting victory.
They might win every battle as they
virtually did In an effort to conquer
corca three centuries ago, but should
China see iit to prolong the struggle
her lnexhaustible population would stn
be capable of supplying fresh solilery;
her endless resources would stln be
open TO all demands at the time when
the resources OF Japan would have been
sucked dry, The one department in
which the island kingdom seems to be
fully match for its neighbor is its
navy, but here. as In Its military arm
II might prevail In pitched battles with
cut in the least affecting the final result
OF the war
Whether or not Japan might receive
an unexpected ally in the shape Of one
OF those revolts which continually arise
among the subiugated millions OF china
and threaten TO dismemher the nation.
Is too distant a possibility for conject-
ure. but It seems that only In some
such npheayal or In the aid Of outside
allies could she expect 10 compel China
to her win in case OF a protracted war;
II iseven possible that in the unlikely
event of China turning aggressor at a
time when Japan was exhausted from
futile efforts the latter would be forced
10 rely upon Intervention OF the civil
llaed nations. the sentiment Of which
would kS decidedly aversc to allowing
advanced ana cisillzed Japan to be