New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-11
NE1RING THE END IN THE EAST.

NEININh IHE END ~ IHE L-fO''
The news that the Japanese have captured
Port Arthur may or may not be true. II mat
tiers little: for in the latter case the report only
anticipates the occurrence Port Arthur has for
some time been completely invested. both by
land and by sea. and its fall has been as well
assured as anything could be in military af-
fairs. 1t Is true the place should be wellnish
imprcgnable Nature did her share toward
making ii so. and the best European science in
the employ Of the Chinese Government years
ago added its efforts toward the same end. But
all these things count for nothing if the factor
of blood and brain be lacking. The strongest
fortress may become IL hopeless prison-h0nsc
and that seems to be what has happened nj
Port Arthur. 1t stands nj the end of Il long
narrow promontory. the Regents Sword" so
that it can be attacked by land only from one
side. But the Japanese have been allowed 10
land an army OH that promontory. between Port
Arthur and the mainland. absolutely cutting the
place off from succor by land; and the landward
Notifications have long been so neglected rs TO
be of little service. 1t stands. too at the inner
extremity of deep. narrow bay. giving it great
security from naval attacks. But instead of the
Chinese manning the entrance 50 as to keep the
Japanese out. the Japanese have seized the
entrance and shut the Chinese in. About all
that is left of the Chinese Navy has for Il week
been cooped up in the harbor. with Japanese
ships. torpedoes and submarine wires barring
the way to escape.
Admiral Fr"manle has declared that the
fall Of Port Arthur will end the war. He is
good judge of the situation, and his opinion
should be correct. Indeed. ii is difficult To see
how the Chinese can hold out any longer after
such il catastrophe Their entire fleet is gone
Their strongest and best-cquipped naval station
and dockyard is in the hands Of their foes.
Their only well-organizcd and efficient army is
routed. What remains, but 10 sue for peace:
There has been much talk about Chinas i'm
mense reserve Of strength. and the impossibility
Of conQuerlng nation that has practically I'M
limited numbers. Such talk is idle. Science
counts. not mere bulk. The Mancbu Tartars
conquered China, and they were fewer than
the japanese. The vast multtudes of Chinese
soldiers were helpless before a little band Of
Europeans in 1860 When an army IS mere
confused and orderless mob, the bigger ii Is the
more helpless it is. There is every reason TO
suppose that the japanese will be able to con
tinue their march to Picking with but little de-
lay And such delay as there is will be caused
by the weather rather than by the mob of ban
dts which the Chinese call an army.
They will be able TO do So Whether they
actually will do so or not is another question.
There is reason to believe that they would
rather not do SO If the war can be satisfactorily
ended without it. This Is not war Of con
quest. Japan has desire either 10 become
master Of China or to break up the Chinese
Empire. Indeed, she would regard the break
ing up of that Empire most serious dsas-
ter That is obvious and has been made plain
all along. And Japan knows. too, that the
capture Of Picking and the fall of the present
Chinese dynasty would almost certainly prccipi
tate just that very catastrophe. Therefore she
would prefer to have terms made before the
last extreme step is taken What she does
want is 10 accomplish and make permanently
secure the great objects for the sake Of which
she entered upon this war. Those objects are
the independence Of Corca, the reform OF the
Corean Government, and the progress Of civiliza
ton in the East unhndered by Chinese inertia
tortionate demands made upon China. nor
| any that in justice should not be acceded TO-
And the best part the European Powers can
play. if at this late hour they want to NEEDLE
in the matter, is to persuade China to make
peace promptly, on the terms proposed, lest a
worse fate befal her