The record-union., 1896-09-11
ADVICES FROM THE ORIENT.
IMPORTS OF JAPAN FAR IN EX.
CESS OF EXPORTS.
A New Link Between Russia and
mosa Virtually Stamped Out.

TOXIC Uapan), Aug. 26, via San
Francisco, Sept. 10.-(Correspondence of
the United-ASSociated Presses. Dur
ing the first half of the current year
Japan's imports from abroad exceeded
her imports by nearly q ,OO0,000 yen. A
preponderance of imports is by no
means new feature of japanese for
eign trade. but nothing on so large a
scale has been previously recorded. The
causes, however, are apparent, namely,
on the one hand, the flush of prosperity
that always follows a victorious war
and, on the other hand, the dull state
of the American market. During the
war great sums of money were spent in
the country, and large profits accrued to
the farming and industrial classes, SO
that the purchasing power of the peo-
pie at large developed considerably. A
keen demand for imported goods natu-
rally ensued. AS for export trade,
however, 1T depends largely on the
mood Of the American nation, Japan's
chief customer for tea and silks; and
since Americas gold and silver uncer-
tainties cripple her dealings all around,
her sufferings are vividly reflected in
the Japanese export trade
A new link between Russia and China
has been forged by the arrangement
that the steamers of the Russian vol
unteer fleet, plying between Odessa and
Vladivostock. shall henceforth call at
Shanghai. There are twelve of these
steamers, and excluding the Habarovsk,
vessel of only $500 tons, they range
from 1876 to 10,500 tons. their speed
varying from thirteen to nineteen
knots. The constant passage of such
vessels to and fro between European
Russia ard her most extreme post in
the far easS suggests the ease with
which she couhI gradually muster a
strong military force at vladivostock
We're she so disposed AT the same time
experts are we'll aware that Russia {
naval strength in the Orient is greatly
over-estimated by the general public
| She has. it is true, a squadron power
full in number of ships, displacement
and weight of armor and armament
but among all her cruisers in japanese
and Chinese waters one only carries
quick-firing guns, and the significance
of that fact is not to be underrated.
The death of the Queen of Corea has
not released the little kingdom from
| PtttlCodt government. Inc Kings Ia
vorite concubine, Madam ON Sang. now
| exercises as great influence over him as
did his highly gifted consort, and ru-
NOR says that the wife of the Russian
| representative does not shrink from
this lady's companionship on the back
stairs of Corean politics.
A subscription has been started ir
Japan for the relief of Formosans rem
/ dered homeless by the recent rebellion
The Emperor and Empress set the ex-
ample by subscribing 5000 ven. the
treasury gave 10000, and private sub.
| scriptions are rapidly coming into the
newspaper offices. 1t has always beer
| the habit of Chinese insurgents or dis.
banded soldiers to burn, pillage ant
murder. and many excesses of that ma.
ture perpetrated by the Formosan reb.
els have been laid at the door of the
japanese As for the rebellion, 1t Is
now virtually stamped out, though desul
tory raids continue to be made by little
bands of desperadoes.