San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-05-09
JAPAN AND RUSSIA.


still open to question whether
Japan has actually relinquished
her hold on the main land Of China
in answer to the demands Of Rus
STA. There may be seeming ac-
quiescence in the demand OF Rus
STA, but the Japs have been fight
ing with their eyes open, and it is
not likely that they will surrender
their present advantage until they
are actually obliged to. They are
born diplomats and in the art Of
polite deception can give points to
any of the European nations.
When the grievances that Japan
has against Russia are considered,
also that it is with Russia and not
with China that Japan must even
tually dispute the supremacy Of
the East, this apparent surrender
Fot advantage must be taken with
allowance. Russia's designs on
Corea are too we'll understood in
Japan to require any emphasis to
be:put upon them. The occupation
Of that peninsula by Russia carries
with it the occupation of Man
churia, the northeast province
of China, lying between Corea and
the southern boundary Of Russia.
1t is this country that Japan de-
manded from China and which
Russia, backed by Germany and
France, is protesting against. Man
churia is divided into three dis
tricts. the southernmost OF which is
called Shrinking. The name of
Liao-Tung is also given to this same
promontory. Japan declares her
willingness to give up all her
claims to Manchuria, except the
southern extremity Of the Lao
Tung peninsula, extending back
from Port Arthur to Talien. This
is the very key to the whole situa-
ton and with this in the hands of
Japan she would command the
gulf of Pi-chi.li. Commanding this
she has her hands on the approach
es to Pekin and would virtually
command great section OF inte-
rior China. Not only so, but she
would be most effectively placed
to prevent the designs of Russia
on Corea and the southern coast.
Russia understands this and so
does Japan and the issue is certain
to end in a fight for the pos
session of this vantage ground.
Japan may say in words that she
will vacate this Peninsula, but as
China does not insist on this as a
condition precedent to the signing
of the treaty that treaty will be
signed and Japan will spar for
wind. She can stand a war with
Russia much better than is gen.
orally supposed, for her people are
warlike, flushed with victory, have
possession and are virtually on
their own ground while Russia is
an immense distance from her
supplies and would have to trans
port her army thousands Of miles
in order to reach the seat of war.
Japan is as we'll equipped at sea
as Russia il not better and the odds
are by no means as heavy against
her as at first sight might be sup
posed. This much is certain, Japan
finds in Russia her real obstacle
in the way Of Empire in the East
and will fight to secure her SUI
premacy. In the mean time there
is growing conviction in the
minds Of France and Germany
that they are aiding Russia for her
benefit and not theirs, and time
will cool their ardOr. England is
in sympathy with Japan and the
moral influence Of this fact will be
considerable in concluding the &C.
tion OF both France and Germany.
Altogether it seems that the war
between China and Japan is but
the Introduction to the real contest
for Eastern supremacy, which is to
be waged between Japan and Rus
STA.