The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-03-24
PREPARED FOR WAR.
ENGLAND SEEMS TO HAVE WON HER
POINT IN CHINA.

Apparent Success OF Her Demand For
Open Markets-China May Profit by the
Rivalry of the Powers-EngIand's Vast
Preparations For War.
1t is now pretty generally recognized
, that the eastern crisis had passed beyond
the point of immediate danger before
the public was informed of its acute
phase There is no longer much doubt
that Englands peremptory demand for
open Chinese markets has received
what may be described as tacit and
temporary recognition from the powers,
including Russia. The struggle for para
mount influence at Peking still goes on,
and upon the issue of that contest much
depends.
China, if she exercises Der usual
oriental shrewdness, ought to profit
much at the expense of British and
Russian rivalry, and there is already
evidence that she is fully alive to the
possibilities of the situation. The game
of the division of the Chinese empire
has been checked for the time being,
but if Lord Salisbury succeeds in regain
ing the ascendency at Picking which he
allowed to slip away to Russia three
years ago it will be only at enormous
cost. Meantime more complete details
of the vast preparations for war under
taken by the British government are
now available Inasmuch as the crisis
is only postponed, and at any moment
may become acute, it will be interest
ing to indicate some of the measures re-
Gently undertaken.
First, there were the preparations
for calling out the naval reserve; sec
ond, mobilization orders were sent to
the commanders of the home naval sta
tions, followed by similar orders to
commanders of stations abroad; third,
the completion of plans for the prompt
organization of flying squadron, which
was to consist of not less than ten war
ships; fourth, the decision to increase
the personnel of the navy by more than
1000 men, which is now being carried
out by the quiet enlistment of stokers
and other classes of men; fifth, the in
crease of the army by 10, 900 men; sixth,
enormous purchases of steam coal and
general replenishment Of stocks at all
stations at home and abroad; seventh,
the elaboration Of plan for an emer-
gency squadron composed mainly Of
battleships more or less obsolete and old
fashioned, but effective for home de-
Tense.
The last measure, decided upon few
days ago, attracted little attention in
London, although it is not the least sig
nificant of the series. because it indicates
the probability that England's foes,
in the event of war, will include France.
OF the IL battleships included in the
emergency squadron not a half dozen
could safely be sent far from the home
base, and as matter Of fact most of
them would be assigned to specific posi-
tions in the waters separating England
from the continent
The British fleet in Chinese waters
has been augmented since the trouble
began by two powerful cruisers and
two torpedo boat destroyers. Other
steps have been taken, one of which es-
capped notice, even by rumor-namely,
the dispatch of orders to the commander
of he Australian squadron to hold in
readiness for China the four cruisers
Mohawk, Orlando, Pylades and Royalist.
The defense of Australia was to be
undertaken by a half dozen small ves-
sells, together with five small cruisers,
part of the cost of which is betrayed
by the colonial governments on condi-
tion that they shall always be kept in
colonial waters. This arrangement was
considered safe because it was not
thought that France, for instance,
would be able TO spare single ship for
those remote waters, and if any were
sent they would not be able to keep the
sea any length of time owing to the inn
possibility of getting coal.
The report that the Pacific feet was
ordered to China was only partly true.
The whole feet was not, of course, to
be spared, but the second class cruisers
Amphion, Leander and Phaeton are now
under orders to be ready to start. Fur
Their enormous contracts for supplies Of
steam coal have been placed in the past
fortnight at Cardiff and other south