Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-30
ne War "A the Hast.

war In the East throws very little ed'
diuonai light upon the operations OF
either OF the combatants. The Chinese
officiai reports bear internal evidence OF
unreiiability. and ofYiciai Information from
japanese sources Ii slow In coming to
hand. There seems no doubt. however.
that the defeats suffered by China
at Ping Yang and on the mouth OF the
Yalu were crushing. and that the ia
panese are pressing their advantage with
the determination Of forcing the fighting
| to q finish. This view II strengthened
as well by the comments Of the press OF
the European powers most interested In
| the outcome Of the war as by advices
from the more immediate vicinity Of hos
tllities.
A dispatch from Shanghai says that
the Japanese have succeeded In entering
the enemy's territory and have defeated
the Chinese in battle at point between
Moukden and the frontier, but 1t Is not
stated whether the victorious column
was that started presumably for Mouk-
den after the engagement at Ping-Yang.
or another. 1t appears that there are
several distinct divisions Of the Japanese
army In the field, but the intelligence as
to the exact locality Of their operations
Is confusing. not to say mystifying. In
any event. the probabilities are that 1t
Is too early for a battle OF any magnl-
tude to have been fought on Chinese
soil.
Moukden is In the Province Of ShlHg-
King. in Southern Manchuria, which
province Is separated from Korea by the
Yalu river. When the geographical and
typographical conditions Of the country
are considered. 1t will be seen that 1t is
far cry from either the Shing- King
coast or Ping-Yang to the ancient Man
churian stronghold. II. as suspected, the
Japanese. after the naval fight of the
mouth of the Yalu, which gave them
command OF the Yellow sea. landed a
force In Shing King to cooperate with
the flying column from Ping-Yang, the
likelihood Of the Chinese having made
Moukden their base Of retreat is en-
HANGED. Moukden is the land-key to
Picking, and IL even a fraction OF what
has been telegraphed regarding the I'M
easiness which exists in the Chinese
capital Is to be credited, nothing is more
improbable than that the Chinese would
send any considerable force beyond
Moukden to meet the invaders. Never
theless, uncertain as is the news re-
garding the exact situation, It affords
tangible ground for believing that the
ultimate objective point OF all the ia
panese manoeuvres Is Picking. Moreover,
the indications are that the japanese will
reach that point, unless the European
powers especially interested In that quar-
ter OF the globe interfere.
And this qualifying suggestion brings
up one Of the most,'i not the most far
reaching questions connected with the
conflict Even II these powers do inter-
pose. what will be the aftermath as In
volved in their respective attitudes to-
wards Japan, China. and Korea? So far
as It affects England and Rus
phase of the momentous Eastern
question; but since 1t began these two
nations have discovered some singular
shifts OF sentiment. 1t has been gener-
ally conceded that an Anglo-Chinese en-
tente was necessary for the protection
Of British interests in Central and East
ern Asia, especially since Russia obtained
possession Of Vladiyostoek. the prospec-
tive Pacific terminus OF her Trans-Siberian
railway; also that Russia was endea-
voring by every diplomatic means possible
to prevent such an entente. After the
Ping-Yang and the Yalu engagements.
however. the London Times and other
influential British journals began to
bolster up Japan in most exalted terms.
and few days ago there came from st.
Petersburg a semi-ofiicial hint that 1t
would be well, in the interest Of civiliza-
ton in the East, which Japan claims she
Is fighting to advance. for Great Britain
and France to occupy China Jointly.
That this points an almost entire change
of front on the part OF England and
decided veering around on the part OF
Russia will be readily appreciated by all
acquainted with the game the two powers
have been playing in the far East Yet
a glance at the map OF Japan, China.
Korea, and Eastern Siberia will afford
a very ineligible explanation OF the pro-
ceeding. The taking by Japan Of "her
rank in the hierarchy Of nations" as the
London Times phrases 1t, and the inde-
pendence and elevation Of. Korea would
make Japan the keeper Of the gates to
the Japan sea Jointly with Korea, she
would occupy the same strategic position
with reference to that body of water and
the North China sea that Turkey occu-
pies with reference to the Black sea and
the Mediterranean. and consequently
bear the same relation to the Eastern
question in the far East that Turkey.
backed by England, bears to 1t in Eu-
rope. With this explanation in mind the
policy of both powers in leaning towards
Japan becomes clear. The European ma
ton whose influence dominates Japan
will hold the strongest hand in the East
ern game.
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The Clouds Respond.