The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-23
EFAB JAPAN AS A FlREBRAND.
-,cr PROBABLE IF THE NHIIxADO
rorSN,T PRECIPITATE WAR.

,,..arture of Her Fleet for Chinese
waters May BE the Striking of the
,,...I, IA start n Dreadful COnfIa-
,,rotion-The British Premier Be
,t.,ed to Have the Better of Russia
IN tbe Game of Diplomacy Now Be
ing played.
,..,f,1 cable Letter, Copyright, 1898, by
~ the Associated Press.
7,r5sn Jan. 22.-While events are NOV
,,g with somewhat dramatic rapidity in
che far East and complications may any
dow develop a situation fraught with mo-
,rsrtous dangers, when the known facts
or5 tne position of affairs are analyzed,
there is really not much reason at the
,resent moment to suppose that a solution
of tre crisis will be found in a resort to
war
There are reasons to believe that diplo-
matte circles do not fear that it will be
necessary to appeal to arms unless Japan
breaks from her mentors.
So lar as the European powers are con-
corned the diplomats throughout are sat-
lsfed that the Chinese question will not
break the peace OF the world; but they
have always feared Japan would prove
a frebrand. Unless she can be restrain
ed from impetuous action, the departure
of her fleet from Yokohama, made to-day,
for China waters, may prove to he the
striking of the match which may lead 10
dreadful confagratlon.
4 diplomatic game is most interesting. The
Marquis of Salisbury is slow in playing
/. his trumps; but unless Russia and France
4 have some up their sleeves, it would ap-
H pear that he has a decided advantage,
for the British premier has forced Rus
sia to show her hand. She no longer
conceals the fact that she regards the
n whole of Manchuria and the Lao Tung
peninsula as being her exclusive property:
but by insisting that Talien Wan be made
& treaty port the Marquis of Salisbury
=. has countered the Muscovite designs on
Port Arthur, for the latter is of little
strategic value without Talien Wan.
France of course, resents the proposal
TO open Nan King, which would clash with
her exclusive interests in Tonquin. while
n both Russia and France are deeply con-
Ne4lleu III GIGdL DIildlu s Claim TO extend
tho Burmese Railroad into the Chinese
province of Yum Nan. France has secured
pfNlleges in Yum Nan, which would be Sc
rousiy discommoded by the British Rail-
l0dd diVerung to the north, while a rail
road from Rangoon to Shanghai, which
would be the most natural result of the
Nj present negotiations, would be a disastrous
.ompeutor OF the great Trans-Asiatic Line
from Samarcad to Port Arthur (which
Russia is so laboriously cons tructing.
AS the Associated Press has indicated
hfoughout there seems to be an under
slahoihg between Germany and Great
bHtaIn, but Germany at the same time
AaS so shlfully played her cards, alter
naley caressing st. Petersburg and Lon
uou' lhat the relations between both capt.
vas are better than for a long time mast
me hrm, confident tone of the British
HH'S'eriaI utterances merely notice Rus
ga ana france, emphasizing that Great
DH'an does not intend to recede from the
nam POINTS or the position she has taken
Up ana the cabinet ministers are merely
1oeing the determination Of the country.
Hnch recognizes that if Great Britain
s'eS &c way now she will only have to fight
NV, NV odoDe IN the future, when the compile
A9I oI lhe Siberian Railway will render
umph. i'0ii 9 'ioouiesS III
@Hue' therefore, the present situation is
leeuy pregnant with possibilities. il
49, NOT be assumed that the peace is en-
TpaH1seIed' and war will not follow if Great
ntldIA maintains the ground she has
taken up 'iA9
1S usual there seems to be every expla-
ra-.ou rro OF the sudden rush of troops to
80 except the right one. What really
sosI rl' 10 nave happened is that Col. Par
80 WINE en- route to take over Kassala
,9m i ine Italians found King Menelik of
tVy ySSluia IN the greatest stage of wrath
!"e surrender of the town, which his
'ygs-y regards as part of his dominion,
~ s"e egyptians, and he is mobilizing an
5 u5 with the intention Of asserting his
so,,Ioy. a..lor''y. If King Menelik should be
tEo ~ as some suspect, in concert with
rro.11 1'1l1Hal, the danger of the situa ton is
s'tauy enhanced.
7'Vdt deal of exception is taken to the
ibo"5- ibboi'S-Ioh Of the secretary of state for
sii to'ouIes, Joseph Chamberlain, to grant
of,.. ~ 'Ae West Indies, which is only an
e ~ name for bounty. 1t is said that
rota european governments insist upon
lIs their bounties, Mr.. Chamberlain
W.. epd.ed to make the bounty of the
a pno. LuoleS permanent. The preponder-
vait. opinion seems to favor a counter
srstl7 Uuty, similar to that of the United
Pr iu the event of the failure of the
TySsels conference
pa5 ouponic plague is terribly ravaging
sa15. bombay and the Duccan. Thou
IN nave lied from Poonah and Bombay.
b0 a'u "a OF which cities the mortality is
0o weekly.
'OhANS CAPITULATE.