The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-08-05
The Corean War.

The Corean War.
The war which has been declared be-
tween China and Japan, on account Of
their differences in respect TO Corea,
promises to be a long one unless the great
powers Of Europe interfere and put a
stop 10 it. If they should interfere it
would be quickly ended unless they
should have selfish purposes in view and
become involved in the war Russia is
particularly anxious to get possession Of
/ some Of the harbors Of COrea, and Eng
/ land, besides being greatly interested in
] the commerce Of China seriously objects
/ To Russia getting any concessions in
| Corea. Other European nations are in
| terested 20 q greater or less extent in the
questions involved in the war. The
United States alone of the great powers
are disinterested. They do not desire TO
acquire territory, nor do they seek com
merclal advantages by means Of war. If
China and Japan should desire, therefore,
to submit their differences to an arbitrator
they would likely turn to the United
States.
Corea is not an Insignificant country.
It has an area about twice that of Penn
sylvania, and population Of more than
8,OO0,0 600 1t is peninsula in Eastern
Asia, and comprises also a small portion
of the continent 10 which it is attached.
The average width of its territory is 1876
miles and its length is little less than
GOO miles
The trade of the country is almost
wholly in the hands of the Jap
anese. They have very large interests,
and the effort of Japan to give those Jap
anese traders prope~ protection is the
cause of the war between China and
Japan.
Corea was at one time a province of
China, and although she has attained in a
great measure her independence, her
ruler still acknowledges allegiance to
China. Her government is thoroughly
corrupt, and her people are so dissatis-
fed with it hatrebellions are Of frequent
occurrence. The taxes are so burdensome
and so unequally assessed that commerce
is carried on under great difficulties.
Japan in the interest of the Japanese
merchants in Corea, demanded certain re-
forms in the administration of the gov
eminent. Japan insisted upon her de-
| mands being complied with and proposed
to compel compliance with them by force
China as already stated, regards Corea
as being, in a measure, one of her pro
vinces, and she interfered and declared
that Japan should not carry into effect
her proposed Corean policy. There was
a clash between the two nations and war
is the result.
If Japan should be successful the way
to progress and prosperity in Corea would
be opened. The county is extremely pro-
ductiye and the people are anxious for
changes that would enable them to bet
ter their material condition.
If the European powers do not interfere
the chances are that Japan will succeed
in forcing China to permit the administra-
tive reforms of which Corea stands so
greatly in need. 1t is true that Japan is
by no means as strong a nation as China,
but her people are far more advanced in
the methods of modern warfare. In 1890
she had 10000 men in her army and Ia, 900
in her navy, and population of 40, O00, 900
to draw upon for re -enforcemnnts. China,
it is estimated, has an army of 500, 900
men and militia force of 100000. Her
population is stated to be 10000, 900.
Despite the vast superiority of the Chi
nese in numbers the Japanese appear to
have no apprehension as to the outcome of
the contest. They know they have a
great advantage in being better prepared
than the Chinese, aud, besides, they are
united and enthusiastic, while in nearly
all the Chinese provinces there are dis
sensions which make the Chinese much
less formidable than they appear to be-