The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-10
rUx END OF tue WAR.


TIE END OF rae WAR.
The severe fighting In china q ended.
The capture OF weshatwei and tho Chi
uese fleet are events OF decisive Inn
portanoe. The sfsat sea fortress and
the warsaips In the harbm have been
blockaded for nany weeks. ard have
not been q meuace 20 the japanese.
who could have gone ahead and cap
tured Picking with little hindfance. The
only fortifications now between the
Japanese and Peking are the Taku
forts, near Tientsin. at the mouth OF
the Peiho river, on which Pekinz h
situated. To reach Picking It - not
necessary to take these forts, Tor they
can be avoided by an invading army.
It - thought that the Japanese are
about TO occupy cnefoo. east of Well
hafWei, where American missionaries
live In luxurious houses. with plenty Of
servants. Chefoo has recently been
fortified. but IL can offer no strong re-
ssstance. IL the Japanese take posses
sion OF that city II may mean that 1t
viii be the base Of Supplies Tor the Pc
king campaign. As the Chinese have
now no feet. a Japanese army can land
where IL pseases on the coast, and a
long overland march will not be neces-
sary. Between Picking and the mouth
Of the Peiho river the country Is per-
fectiy level. and troops could make
good progress, even though there are
no good roads.
The troops that the Japanese have de-
feated are the flower OF the Chinese
army. At Pingyang. Ii Hung Chang's
best soldiers. drilled by Europeans and
equipped with modern arms, were van
pushed: IN Manchuria the much
Wanted Tartars were cut to pieces,
and at Weshaiwef the defense was d.
rected BY intelligent European officers.
Tho troops OF Southern China are
worthless a. lighters. and their mere
numbers would not avan. China is
over the ropes. waiting Tor the knock
out blow.
The battle OF the Yalu gave the first
test Of the comparative value Of light
and heavy warships. The fast Japa-
nese Cruisers ran all around the two
great battleships of China, escaping In
jury themselves. while they sunk the
smaller Chinese vessels. They were
unable to penetrate the heavy armor OF
the battieships. yet by their greater
speed were able to take position that
would enable them to reach any do
sired spot on the enemy. At the Yalu
fight the Japanese showed how tor
nedoes could be guarded against. for
the Chinese used them. but without
effect. The Japanese, however. dared
not continue the fight after dark. for
fear OF terpedoes. At weihaiwei, on
the other hand. the japanese destroyed
the two great battleshipe OF China with
torpedoes.
The loss OF life on the japanese side
has beer small. except at Port Arthur
and weihaIwes. They took these forts
at great cost, expecting TO retain them
permanently and thus control the Chi
nese coast. making China forever a
secondary power. Korea, ever which
the war was begun. IS less important to
the japanese than these great fort
resses. Japan has said repeatedly that
she docs not wish 10 annex Korea
England. Russia and France. each of
whom owns territory wrested from
China. are watching the war closely.
Epr the fsrst time IN many years there
IL good understanding between these
powers. There Is no Indication that
they intend b. save China from ample
punishment. or to interfere with japan
in any way except as regards territory.
They have announced that Japan will
not be allowed 10 acquire territory on
the mainland This refers not to
Korea. which Japan does NOT want. but
to Fort Arthur and weihaiwel, which
she does want Japan Is to be per-
united 10 exact a war Indemnity. 10
keep the captured guns and war vessels,
and. Ii is understood. 10 annex She big
island o. ForTrsosa. which China ncnii-
nally owns. bat which she has never
conquered from the savage aborigines
After the close OF the war Japan win
be cursed by military party that viii
he clarnoring for glory and conquest,
As there will he no excuse for quarrel
with China. and as Francs. England and
Russia are to, large for the island en-
pire TO ansagonsze. the warriors viii be
obliged TO oeatesss themselves with
parades ard memories OF the conquest
Of China. Hawaii viii never be taken
by the japanese. for the United States
has something to say about the new
republic. and France ana England
might ebject To The spoiiation Of the
Spanish possessions,
Commercially there SCENE 20 be no
limit to the possibilities az Japan. In
pottery, carving. Woodworking and
sseoora,sva art the japanese excel any
other people in the weird Their
artistic eye ard deftness OF hand sooS
make them skilled workssaen IN rev la-
d.ssgrscs The era thing lacking To
make = great commercial nation. aae-
auats coal supply. Is furnished b. the
annexation OF F'orynasa- Jatsaa exports
1rexsed leather to Europe. and supplies
- Asia with silk urshreaias. japanese