The herald., 1898-01-22
When Serious Business Is
on Hand
JAPAN IS PREPARED FOR WAR
TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS quo
IN CHINA
Even Without English Assistance the
Little Brown Man Can Enforce
All His Claims
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Specla1 wire
LONDON, Jan. 21.-The st. James Ga
zette this afternoon, commenting upon
the dispatch from Yokohama saying that
fleet of nine Japanese warships will
leave Japan in the course of a week for
Chinese waters, says:
Japan is prepared for war. That, in
nutshell, Is the news from Yokohama
today, and 1t Is really the first news
from Japan since the beginning Of the
Chinese crisis. 1t was obvious that the
japanese government had stopped tel,
egraphic communication, which it never
does except when mobilizing the army
or navy. That is precisely what it has
been doing. 1t Is understood that the
destination of the fleet is Wei-Hai-W Wei,
and there is no doubt that the movement
means that the status quo in China, so
far as Manchuria and Korea are con-
cerned, shall not be altered by Russia
or any combination Of Russian allies, in
defiance of Great Britain and Japan.
So long as the defenders policy is equal
ity of opportunity in China, they are in
a position to enforce their claims"
The st. James Gazette also gives prom
inence to a list of the ships in the Jap
anese navy, notes its immense fight
ing strength, and says:
Even with Great Britain a mere SYM
Japan could finish off all the Russian
and German warships east Of the Suez
canal in short order. Great Britain,
even including the Powerful, has not a
vessel in the North Pacific capable Of
standing in battle line against three
| different battleships Japan possesses"
WORK AT KIAo CHAU
BERLIN, Jan. 21.-The Berlin Neuste
| Nachrichten announces that the Ger
, man warships are still sounding Kiao
Chau bay, adding that the exact site
of the port is not yet fixed, and that the
government intends that the construc-
tion of the commercial port shall be
borne by private companies. 1t is further
stated that one company has already
been formed to construct the docks.
A FRENCH FLEET
PARIS, Jan. 21.-Orders have been re-
spectively, to Immediately prepare the
battleships Bruix and Vauban to re-
inforce the French squadron in the Far
East.
The ships will sail January Gath. Ad-
miral de Beaumont has been appointed
COMMUNICATIVE chief Of the French
squadron in the Far East. He will hoist
his flag on board the Vauban.
se, ,fA
tons displacement and 9O14 indicated
horse power. She has an armored belt
about four inches thick, carries two z
inch guns, six 5.5-inch quick firing guns,
four 2.5-inch guns, four 1.8-inch guns
and six 1.4-inch rapid-firing guns.
The Vauban is a steel vessel of 62O8
tons and 1850 indicated horsepower.
She has an armored belt ten inches in
thickness. carries four 9.4-inch guns, one
74-inch gun, six 5.5-inch guns and
twelve rapid-firing guns.
THE BRITISH POLICY
CHICAGO, Jan. 21.-A special to the
Times Herald from Washington, d. c..
says:
Lord Salisbury's retirement from the
Secretaryship of State for Foreign At
| fairs in the British Cabinet is foreshad-
owed by the information received at
Washington.
In case this report proves to be well
founded the Marquis will be succeeded
by statesman who is able to give Great
Britain a more vigorous foreign policy
than that which has marked the admin
istration of the noble Marquis. It is
limited that Englands foreign policy will
be made more aggressive.
According to the information upon
which this dispatch is based, Lord Sails
bury does not intend to resign the Pre-
miership of the Cabinet. That post he
will still retain, but will surrender the
Foreign Secretaryship to younger and
more vigorous man.
Although most of the Prime Ministers
of England have preferred to hold both
posts, there is ample precedent for tho
course which Lord Salisbury is now be-
lieved to have decided upon.
While Premier, Mr.. Gladstone pre-
ferred to be Chancellor Of the Ex-
chequer as the policies and questions in
which he took greatest interest were of
domestic bearing.
1t is hinted that Lord Salisbury's sue
cessor will be either Sir Evelyn Barring
Lord Cromer) or Arnold Forster. Either
of those, it is argued, would give to Eng
land that bold, masterful foreign policy
which is imperatively needed to pre-
serve her place as the first nation of the
world One of the best informed diplo-
mats in Washington, in speaking of Lord
Salisbury sprobable retirement from the
Foreign Secretaryship. said:
1.-The announcement made by Sir
Michael Hicks-Beach that England was
ready to go to war If necessary to pre-
serve China as an open market indicates
unerringly to me that Lord Salisbury II
about to retire and that England's for
eign policy is to be quickly changed to