Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-08-11
The British Lion and Russian Bear.

The war cloud in the old world result
ing from clash of interests between Eng
land and Russia in China has brough.
into fresh prominence the extent to which
the United tates is concerned in the COM
mercial future of Eastern Asia. Russia
has replied to England's declaration that
she would mot tolerate any interference
OF another power as between her maies-
tvs subjects and the Chinese government
contracts freely entered into with them
by the latter" and would Support the
Chinese government in resisting such ag-
gression," by taking possession of New
Chwang. This is the place to which the
railroad at the foundation of the trouble
was To be extended by British
capitalists, under Il guaranty from
the Chinese government, with Sc
curity for payment on the railroad
Russia ordered the Chinese government
not to make any loan on the security of
| the road itself, and TO England's defiant
challenge it responded by occupying the
terminus of the proposed road. Russia
has thus slammed the "open door" in the
face of John Bull, and in the estimation
oF many Europe faces probability Of
war such as she has not confronted in
Il number of years.
| The Russian government has been stead
| lily pushing the zone of its influence in
Northern China in defiance of England's
protests. and the Russian diplomatists
evidently assumed that one more slap in
the face for England would be received
as had former offences of a similar char
acter. The Russian government was UNI
doubtedly led to make this new encroach-
ment by the knowledge that it would re-
ceive the tacit support of Germany and
| France. which are also seeking new COM
mercial fields in that quarter of the globe
and which are thus mutually Interested
In breaking down the prestige that Great
Britain has held in China.
England is undoubtedly in a position to
bid defiance to Russia owing to the enor-
nous fleets which she could direct against
Russia's weak points. Great Britain could
send a large squadron to Eastern Asia
without weakening to any appreciate ex-
tent her naval force in European waters,
and inasmuch as the conflict would be
largely on water, with the possible eXcep-
ton OF territory in Asia, Englands naval
superiority would probably be a decisive
factor in tine struggle.
| TO all appearances Russia has not yet
reached a point where she can engage in
war with England to the best advantage
for herself, She can not send her forces
to the Pacific, which washes her Eastern
boundaries except by the ocean, and her
ships would be at the mercy of England
my Rad war vessels. A war over Chinese
territory would naturally involve extended
operations on land and sea in the Far
East. and England would now be In a
more favorable position for the carrying
on of such operations than her adversary.
When the great trans-Siberlan railroad is
completed, however, the situation will he
entirely changed, Russia will then be
nbls to throw million men, II necessary,
upon the Pacific coast without the least
danger to her line of communications, be-
cause the great railroad will be all within
her own territory and 30 situated that 1t