Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-01-23
THE CHINESE EMPIRE.
One Who Does Not Believe the
Japanese Will Conquer.
FROM THE STANDPOINT OF CHINA.
A Missionary Says That the Japanese
Victories Have Been Greatly Mag
indebtedness Forces.

Rev. F. Huberty James, for sixteen
years missionary in China, in an in
terview in the Boston Herald"
81 do not believe that japan will
overthrow the Chinese empire or that
she will attempt such task. A very
erroneous impression prevails here as
TO the extent of the japanese conquests.
Far from overrunning China, Japan
has merely captured few cities and
fortresses in the outlying provinces.
Wei. Hal Wei is 800 miles from Pekin.
Port Arthur is $50 miles from the
capital When the latter was captured
it was alleged that it lay on the road to
Pekin. 1t does, in the sense that New
Orleans lies on the road to New York.
If you travel from New Orleans far
enough you will reach New York.
81 do not blieve that the japanese
will ever capture Pekin. There are
three reasons for believing the contrary
first, because England will throw
every possible obstacle in the way;
second. because China will throw every
possible obstacle in the WY: third, be-
cause Japan herself is not very anxious
to undertake the task.
1.-THE march of the Japanese armies
toward the capital is not marked with
the rapidity that is commonly believed
| to be the case in this country, nor can 1
see any reason for the comparisons
which have been drawn between the
career in China of the japanese COM
mander, Yamogata, and that Of Won
Moltke in France To any one familiar
with Chinese geography, it is evident
at glance that the Japanese have ad-
vanced at pace not greater than about
five miles day. and I am inclined to
believe that half that distance would
be more accurate measure Of their
progress. This is vastly slower than
Won Moltke's advance upon Paris.
"The significance of the Japanese
victories has been greatly magnified. as
has also the weakness Of the resistance
offered by the Chinese. At Pin Yang
the Japanese forces numbered 20, 900.
the Chinese army consisted chiefly of
Mancboos, with only aobut 5000 we'll
trained Chinese soldiers among them.
If instructed in the use of modern
weapons the Manchoos would be
equally as good soldiers as the regular
Chinese forces, but they are, as rule
unacquainted,with the improved imple-
ments Of war, to say nothing of their
ignorance Of modern strategy. Then.
too, in stamina-in staying power
they are not at the present day equal to
the Chinese.
"These Mancboos are often spoken of
as Tartars. but they do not, strictly
speaking, belong to the Tartar race.
Their physique is fully as good as that
of the Chinese, but since the present
dynasty has occupied the imperial
throne they have been so favored that
they have lost much Of their ancient
vigor. and are not at all like the Man.
choo soldiers who, $50 years ago, con-
quered China.
cat Ping Yang the Manchoos broke
ranks and fed before the Japanese, but
not SO the 5000 Chinese They brave
ly stood their ground. but were unable
to retrieve the day against an over
whelming superior force. The fact
that nearly all Of them were shot. how
ever. testifies to the stubborn courage
they displayed.
"There is ample testimony of the
fighting qualities of the race when
properly generated. Chinese Gordon
and other European commanders have
praised their courage in the highest
terms. and at the recent battle of Yalu
Captain McGriffin. European officer,
who, acting as military adviser to the
Chinese. was aboard of one Of their
ships, found the Chinese sailors ad-
mirable fighters. He states that they
were ready to brave any and every
peril. The officers alone showed
cowardice. When the enemy's shot
penetrated the side of the ship. and it
was necessary to fight the flames and
stretch tarpaulins over the holes made
in the hull to keep out the water, he
could not induce an officer to head q
party. but score of Chinese sailors
promptly volunteered to brave the
enemy's guns and do the work.
THE great misfortune Of China in
the present war is the wretched leader
ship of her armies. The high officers
are chiefly members Of the imperial
clan, and have gained their commands
not by reason Of their fitness, but
through family influence and the cor
rupt use Of money. These men are
notorious towards and absolutely in
efficient. What can the valor of the
Chinese soldiers avail with such lead
ers? Would not the result have been
the same had the armies on either side
in the American civil war been simi-
larly led?
1.-THE failure to correct this condi-
ton of things is not due to a lack of
perception of the evil any more than
is the failure to correct governmental
evils in other countries 1t is simply
strongly intrenched abuse.
"In 1881, when China was contem-
plating a war with Russia, the Empress
Dowager, who is woman of very