The record-union., 1897-12-28

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the japanese would ally themselves
purpose Of striking a blow at Russia,
a Power which they are firmly con-
vinced menaces not only their aspira-
tions of ggrandizement, but likewise
their very existence as a nation. 1t
cannots be denied that if there is any
fighting to be done the dispute has
been well timed by the Kaiser, since
the Trans-Siberian Railroad is not yet
completed, and Russia's troops and
munitions of war have to be conveyed
to Vladivostock by sea. They are
reaching that port, however, by every
steamer, and even sailing vessels, from
Odessa, and, while the greatest Sc
crecy is observed with regard to the
size of the Muscovite army already as
sembled there, some idea of it's i'm
portance may be gathered from the ca
bled demands for tenders for provis-
ions and supplies which are constantly
reaching San Francisco from Vladivos-
tock
RUSSIAN TROOPS AT VLADIVIS-
TOCK.
There is every reason to believe that
at the present moment the troops at
Vladivostock number close upon S0,-
600 men, a force which, while suffi-
cient to crush the little German army
of 5000 men at Kiaochau, might, new
ertheless, experience some difficulty in
doing so were the Germans to be re-
inforced by japanese army corps Had
the Kiaochau and Samsah questions
arisen a year hence, when the Trans
Siberian Railroad will be completed,
and when it would have been possible
for the Car to pour into Eastern ST.
beria and China an uninterrupted
stream of troops and supplies, the su-
periority of Russia would have been
SO complete as to render the issue of
any conflict with her in China a fore
gone conclusion. But as the matter
stands now, Germany, allied in Asia
with Japan and in Europe with Tur-
key, with Austria and with Italy, may
give a hard fight to the F'ranco-Mus-
covite alliance.
Emperor Williams motives in order
ing his cnly brother off to China at the
present juncture are of varied char
acter. In the first place, he hopes to
take advantage of the fact that Henry,
brother-in-law of the Car. and on ex-
cellent terms with the latter, Princess
Henry of Prussia being the favorite
sister of the young Czarina If the
Kaiser expects, however, that this re-
lationship is likely to stand in the way
OF Russia's policy and interests in Chi
ma he is much mistaken. and he need
only recall to mind the fact that Mus
covite cruisers figured in the front
rank OF the international fleet that
blockaded Crete and which threatened
to capture Prince George Of Greece and
to sink his flotilla if he attempted to
land on the island although he is the
nearest and dearest cousin of Emper-
or Nicholas, who is indebted to him
alone for the preservation of his life
from the hands of an assassin on the
occasion Of their joint visit to Japan.
In the second place, there is no doubt
that Prince Henry's dispatch to China
has endowed the whole affair with pres
tlge, has given it Importance has
stirred German patriotism and restored
the waning popularity of the imperial
family: nor can it be denied that by
sending him to China at the head of
some 1000 officers and men, in addi-
tion to a thousand volunteers recruited
from among the bluest blood Of the
German empire, the Emperor has given
a tremendous flip to his naval propa-
ganda and has silenced to a great ex-
tent the strong opposition that has un-
til now existed to his terribly costly
programme for the increase Of Ger
many's navy.
E1nallU he ~
Emperor. though fond of his brother
after fashion. prefers him at a dis
tance, rather than beside him. AL
ways superior to the Kaiser alike in
the directions of his family and in
those Of his countrymen, Prince Henry
has been the object of repeated mani
festations of jealousy on the part of his
elder brother, manifestations which
eliminated about three years ago in
Prince Henry going on half-pay. TAX
ing up his residence abroad with his
wife and child and remaining more
than year without returning to Ger
many, which he did only after the
united efforts of his mother, Empress
Frederick, of his uncle, the Grand Duke
of Baden, and of his grandmother
Queen Victoria, had succeeded in
bringing about a reconciliation with
his brother. Emperor William thor
oughly realizes that he is always at q
disadvantage whenever his brother Is
by his side. As quiet, modest and un-
assuming as William Is the reverse
Henry makes friends everywhere In the
navy his freedom from affectation and
pride cause him to be idolized by his
messmates, and especially by the men.
the latter never failing to recall that
on two occasions he dived from his
quarterback to rescue drowning sail
ors. He is wonderfully talented. is a
composer Of no small merit, PLAYS
beautifully on the violin, paints well,
and, in fact, excels in almost every
thing, except in shooting, for he is not
a good sporting shot. Passlonately de-
voted to his profession, he insists that
he has spent some of the happiest DAYS
of his life at sea His boyhood was
passed in twice circumnavigating the
globe. first as midshiprnan and then as
Lieutenant. visiting every corner of the
earth and carrying the flag Of Germany
into regions where it had never been
seen before.
POPULAR WITH THE GERMAN
PEOPLE.
This in itself was sufficient to interest
the German people in this young
Prince, the first of his house to seek
adventure in such far distant chimes,
and his healthy, manly and interesting
mode of life was compared greatly to
his advantage to the somewhat dissi-
pated existence of young army officer
which his elder brother was leading in
Berlin. Moreover. this training, the
best that young man can receive, con-