The Portland daily press., 1895-01-21
THE CHINESE WAR.
An American Missionary Talks on the
Subject.


the Chances Now Favor Peace and
Perhaps Close Political and Commercial
Relations Between the Two Countries.
The American Board of Com missioners
for Foreign Missions, representing Con-
gregational chu1 ches, knowing the value
of his opinions on the war between
China and Japan, has solicited an ex-
preston of them from Rev. Henry Blodg-
ct, D.. D, of Pekin, who has spent 40
years in the service of the board, and 30
years in Pekin. He is now in this coun-
try.
Conflicting reports have been pU blished
concerning the war. its possible and
pro ba BILE outcome, the attitude of ire
sponsibl Chinese toward the mission
aries in such an emergency as the invas-
ion of the REGION including the North
China mission by the Japanese forces.
DR.. Blodget, therefore, has been asked
by the corps of executive officers fol his
views, and has responded. He says:
The facts in regard to this war are bet
ter known in the United States than in
CHlud, anu dIO hnOW du al Cdi1lOi dhJs
1T is frequent remark among foreigners
resident in Pekin: Our most reliable
news comes from London" The reason
of this is obvious. Distance is no longer
to be taken into the account. The care
full reporters sent out by managers of
the leading newspapers do their work
for all the world, and it is much better
done than the work done by interested
parties or by irresponsible newsmongers.
the n00nlR Of China
very little is known regarding either the
causes of the war or the facts occurring
in it's progress, and the widest and most
absurd runners are afoat. The same is
true in regard to large part of the
officials and literary men.
In Japan, on the contrary, everything
is published, and perhaps some things
which do not occur, in their numerous
newspapers, and their cities and towns
are Illuminated at every victory over the
Chinese. In consequence partly of this,
the most intense enthusiasm for the war
prevails, even the boys and the girls in
their schools practising military drill.
"On to Pekini" was the cry everywhere
as we passed through that country. mo
treaty until Pek1n is taken"
VIII the Japanese reach Pekin? They
have fought well aud are very brave.
They have gained many victories. Their
officers have been able men and skillful
generals. Their armies have been loyalty
supported by their government and peo-
Pile; but they have still great work
before them.
In the early part OF January they had
not taken Yingtsu, which is the port of
Niu-Chuang, and is more than 300 miles
by land northeast from Pekin. During
the winter the army corps, marching
from its present position toward Pekin,
must be cut off from communication
with the sea. Coolies from Japan must
carry it's munitions of war and supplies
for it's commissariat. The weather is
cold, the mercury falling as low as TO
zero, Fahrenheit, or even lower than
this. Fierce winds sweep down from the
north, and the ground occasionally is
covered by a fall of snow. Already we
hear of the Japanese army suffering from
the cold 1t would not be strange if the
Chinese soldiers, who are accustomed to
this climate, should recover little
courage, and, having been furnished
drill from European officers, should offer
serious resistance to the progress of the
Japanese.
The boast of the japanese was that
they should reach Pekln in Novem Der.
As things now stand, it seems improba-
bic that they Can accomplish this during
the winter; and if the Chinese and
MduCuuS 1Cludlu pha 10y anu
improve the opportunity of this delay.
they may fail entirely in their purpose.
The Japanese, though in mum bers equal
to the population of the British Isles,
are imm easurably inferior in wealth and
in resources for prolonged war. 1t is
possible that they may be defeated even
py their own victories. The task they
have undertaken is too great for them.
What has been written is on the sup
position that the " ar is to be continued.
But in the mean time negotiations for
peace are going forward. What will be
the result of these? We believe they will
be successful. The treaty powers desire
peace, and will use their influence to
secure it, China is ready for peace, even
on humiliating terms. Japan, consider
ing the honorable position she has al
her march on Picking and grant terms
of peace, such as can be accepted. Yet
these terms may be somewhat difficult
to find. They involve the interests of
European powers, as well as those Of
China and Japan. The great Siberian
railway will be finished in a few years.
Will Russia be satisfied to have
Viaivostock, port which is closed by
ice for four months each year, as the
terminus of this railway on the sea-
board? Will she not wish for her trans
continental railway port further south,
which is open all the year; that is to say,
a port in Korea?
But such a port would make Russia
leading power on the Eastern bordesr of
China and in the Pacific ocean. Will
England consent to such an arrange
ment9 viii France and Germany con-
sent? Will China and Japan consent?
Korea is a second Constantinople. The
only solution of the difficulty in regard
to her seems to be to give autonomy TO
the nation, autonomy guaranteed by all
the powers. AS for Formosa, Great
Britain and France would both oppose
the cession of that island to Japan,
should such proposal be made. 1t is
matter of course that heavy war in
demnity should,be sought by Japan, and
to this claim China will be compelled to
agree.
it is not improbable that very close
commercial and political relations will
spring up between China and Japan.
Already the productions of the soil and
the manufactures of either nation are
found in the markets of the other. Such
trade is sure to increase greatly, and it
will be regulated by the treaty about to
be made. There need not in this respect
be in the treaty anything unfavorable to
foreign interests. Both nations will
adopt the method and appliance of mod
eru warfare, and, of war as they can find