The San Francisco call., 1897-12-24

France and Germany The old time
talk about the relative thickness of
blood and water is revived
1t is acknowledged by all travellers
that Russia is carrying everything in
the East with high hand. Korea is
nothing now but a Russian province.
The King is regarded as a subject of
Russia who is expected to obey the
Car in all things. The Russian Min
lister at Seoul, who was visiting Pc
king at last accounts, is said to be
holy Tartar. He made q remark one
evening at a social gathering to the
United States Minister that the Amer
lean missionaries should be ordered to
leave Korea. The American Minister
replied, saying that the suggestion
could not be made at the United States
legation
The missionaries have shown dispo-
sition TO mix up in the politics of Ko-
rea. The American Minister recently
sent them circular calling their at
tention to such interference and ad-
vising them against it, but they paid
no attention to the protest other than
to direct the attention of the Minister
to the bad grammar of the circular. In
The event of war between Russia and
Japan, Korea would be the scene of
desperate fighting. The missionaries
have been advised in a friendly way to
leave the country.
1t would not be at all surprising if
japan should get much the best of the
conflict in the earlier stages of the
war. The Japanese are spelling for
fight. They are patriotic and de-
termined. The army Of Japan is pow
erful and the navy Is formidable. The
people of the nation cannot understand
why their rulers submit to the en-
croachments of Russia and Germany.
The nation of 45,O00,000 people is on a
war footing.
Russia is making great preparations
for a conflict. For the past two years
there has been constant stream of
transport steamers from Russia in Eu-
rope to Russia in Asia. These ships
stop at Nagasaki for coal and then
proceed to Vladivostok. These ships,
ostensibly carrying emigrants to ST.
IBERIA, are, in fact, transporting soldiers
to points on the line of the Trans-Si-
berian road within easy call of the
garrison at Vladivostok
Russia has strong fleet in the Ori-
ent. Ship captains observe the strength
and general style of the Russian men
of-war. Russias powerful fleet is
fully matched in every respect by the
WarSh1pS of Japan. An article from
the pen Of Charles H. Cramp in the
North American Review has been wide
ly read by naval officers in the Orient.
1t is there shown that Japan's navy
l.
going ships Of 111,OO0 tons dispIace-
ment. and twenty-siX torpedo boats.
The five sea- going vessels of 32. 900 tons
total displacement, which have been
ADDED since the war, represent the most
advanced type of model naval archi-
lecture. and include two first-class bat
tle-ships of 1880 tons each, the Full
and Yashima.
The ship building programme now
in process of actual construction is
calculated to produce by the year 1903
total effective force of sixty-seven
sea going ships. twelve torpedo catch
ers and seventy-five torpedo boats.
with an aggregate displacement of
more than 100000 tons.
Japan, according to Mr.. Cramps es-
innate, is not only building more ships
than any other power except England
but she is building better ships in
English ship yards than England her
self is constructing for her own navy.
What other nations are doing NAV be
described as progress, but what Japan
is doing must be termed as phenom-
email.
Japan is second only to England in
naval activity being ahead of France.
much in advance of Germany and
vastly in the lead of Russia and the
United states. Japan is drawing on
the ship building power at once of
England. France, Germany and the
United States.
1t is assumed that Japan's purpose
is the general one Of predominant sea
power in the Orient. Mr.. Cramp fig
ures that Japan, at her present rate of
naval progress, viewed with relation
to the lack of progress by the United
states and Russia, must in three
years be able to dominate the Pacific
against either. For a time it was sup
posed that Japan had hostile designs
toward the United States, but il is
now clear to all observers that she
proposes to try conclusions with Rus
sia.
One word from England assuring
Japan of support would precipitate the
conflict The sympathy of England Is
with Japan, but the latter wants
something more than sympathy. The
JapS are full of the spirit of resist
ance, but they have no money.
In war with Japan Russia might
be able to utilize Chinese soldiers. pro
vided they could be disciplined into
fighting material. Not much is ex
The story is repeated in Hongkong
and Yokohama of the review of Ii
Hung Chang's army by the American
Consul at Chez Foo. The American
an exConfederate, was asked to re-
view the soldiers of Ii Hung Chang,
At the close of the parade Lii asked
the Consul what he thought of his
army.
DO you want to know what I really
think?" said the American.
Il do" replied the exalted China
man.
well, to tell you the truth plainly
your army isn't worth -
THAT is what 1 thought" said Ii
Hung Chang, but others say what
f,a7,1 l.,