Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-20
FACE TO FACE AGAIN.
THE EvER-sHIFTING wAR-CLOUD
HANGS OVER THE ORIENT NOW.
GREAT BRITAIN AND NEW-CHWANG.
IL Is I'm Important strategical and
Commercial Point, and She VIII
Demand That Russia Leave 1t nm
Open Port.
tcorrespondeno. Of the plspatehl


LONDON. November lO.-"shlps strip
ped for action. and ready TO put TO sea
at an hours notice" This news from
Wei-hsi-Wel came like a bolt from the
blue. Every eye had been on Fashoda,
and the war-cloud seemed to be any
where but in the Orient Suddenly the
Fashoda incident was eclipsed altogether
By the report OF the cry Of ready from
the British feet in Chinese waters, and
much that had been enveloped In mys-
terry became clear. 1t was for Russia
after all. that the war preparations were
made. The nation knows a good deal
more now than 1t did few weeks ago
about the international situation in the
far East. and can talk glibly Of stra-
teglcal points that, until recently, were
unknown by name. even 10 those up
on school geography.
We have learned that the preparations
for war by Great Britain are due TO the
report that the Russian Bear has COB
bled a place called New-Chwang. and
that the lion is disposed to interfere with
the bears meal in which case there IS
likely to be a serious disturbance or the
worlds peace II the news by cable OF
the occupation of New-Chwang and the
Liau-river forts by Russian troops is con-
frmed. II looks as though the Cars SOL
diers had overstepped the limits OF ter
ritOral acquisition, for New-ChWanS Is
a treaty port. and is not safe place 10
seize without consulting the Powers.
The town Of New-Chwang is of great
Importance strategically, standing. as II
does. at the junction of two rivers, ana
being a landing place FOR new railroads
that are planned TO extend in that dlrec-
ton, and connect the spot with prosper
Gus parts of China. it is of immense
Importance to both the United States and
England that the port be kept open, Tor
there are great possibilities for the ex-
tension OF trade at this point, and WIN
out doubt. the preparations that are pc
ing made to prevent the closing OF TINS
port 10 Great Britain will be as much in
the interests of American exporters as
those of this empire The policy OF the
open door would be a dead and buried
one. indeed. were Russia permitted to
hold w-Chwang.
As to Russia's ability TO do So even
should Great Britain tackle her single
handed. and the wonderful navy Of the
United States be not with the British IN
their fight for free rights TO all traders
i'm the Orient, there is very much doubt
in the minds OF naval experts. The
British feet in Chinese waters is a very
fine one. There are two iirst-clasS bat
tleships, two armored cruisers, and Sc
cond-class cruiser, three torpedo-boat-
destroyers, and a gunboat, in the fleet
that The cable SAYS lies stripped Tor
action ready to dart out at an hours
notice TO attack the Russian ships. Be-
10 there
are many ships in the vicinity Of the
scene OF impending trouble. These addi-
tional ships include battleship, eight
cruisers, some of formidable tonnage and
fast steam-power, besides thirteen small
er boats of the gunboat variety that
could be formed into a dangerous mos
quito fleet
Russa's feet in the Orient cannot be
any match for that of Great Britain
How many Of the Cars ships really are
in the far East is not accurately known
but it is believed that they consist Of
eight fairly large vessels and ten small
ones. The largest Russian warship there
is believed TO be a battleship of the Sc
cond class. The others are cruisers Of
large and small tonnage-eleven in all
and some insignificant gunboats.
1t is certain that the British ships could
easily smash any fleet that the Russians
could assemble in Oriental waters, pro-
vlded the fight took place I'm the open
sea. II the British commander had to
do as Dewey did-seeE the Russian ships
in fortified harbor and sink them, be-
meath the protection Of land guns-the
task would be very much harder.
There is another factor. however.
France may add her navy to Russa's
and the two combined would make
fighting force whose power could not be
lightly treated. In that event. on whom
could England count? There Is unques-
tionably at this crisis looking towards
America on the part Of the British. al
though there is no sign Of apprehension
among the subjects of the Queen. If
they have TO fight Russia and France to-
gether they will undertake the task
cheerfully and confidently. They be-
lieve. though, that the fight for open
ports in China is one that interests
Americans as much as it does Britons,
and the superb work OF the United States
navy in the war with Spain has made
the British feel that Of all allies they
would rather have the conquerors of Ma
Mia and Santiago.
II France joins Russia, Great Britain
can probably count on Japan TO aid her,
and the little Japs have shown them
selves TO be born fighters. Their fine
navy, allied TO that of Great Britain,
would make a combined fleet in the
Orient calculated 20 leave very little hope
for the Russians and French. Great
Britain alone would have an even chance
against the latter nations in the Orient.
With the Japanese ships lined up with
hers. Great Britain would be a 1OO-to-1
shot. from the point Of view OF the naval
expert who likes TO make bets on inter-
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