New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-23
are in a sad way gentlemen; but please choose
Your horn of the dilemma.
RUSSIAN TROOPS IN CHINA.


The statement is put forth that Russia has
taken possession Of Ncw-Chwang and Is mass
Ing no less than 10000 troops in or on the con-
fines OF the Chinese provinces of Kirn ana
Manchurla: and much agitation is caused theF.-
by In the minds Of those who would deplore Inc
occupation Of n China shop by Bear more than
10y Bull. The emotion Is not altogether unwar-
rantcd. but the element of surprise which seems
to be injected into II Is jnstifablc on no ground
but that OF wilful non-information. 1t has been
perfectly patent 10 all the world or To all The OBJ
servant and understanding world for some year1
that Russia is accommodating formidable military
forces in the Lower AmOOr region: and 1t has
been for some months similarly and In equal de-
gree patent that she has acquired the legal
right. by formal. public and unchallenged treaty.
to effect a complete military occupation not only
of Manchuria and Kirln but Of LiauTong Itself.
right down to and including Port Arthur and
fallen Wan. We published That fact in these
columns months ago-that Port Arthur had
been made as much Russian as Cronstadt and
that Kirln was no less Russian garrison city
than Holy Moscow itself.
Down To n couple Of years ago Russian troops
had not permanently crossed the frontier. aud
there were not more than 10000 or 10000 OF
Bat since then there has been steady and I'M
concealed, though transformations. influx OF
them Nor are they merely companies of Cos
sacks There are. 10 begin with, about 10000 of
the best European Russian infantry, supple
mented by $4,000 Siberian infantry under Euro
pean officers Then there are 5000 Cossacks,
mostly cavalry, but partly mounted infantry.
Finally there are eighteen batteries of artillery
riein N moi
and 100 guns There is TINS a total force Of
fully $4,000 men, forming an army complete
and well balanced in all its parts. Nor is this
army chiefly in garrison at Nladivostok or on
the northern side of the Amoor. The bulk Of 1t
is now on Chinese soil. AT Krin. M0ukden, ISL
Ts-Har, Port Arthur and elsewhere. It's d-
visions control and command every road leading
TO Picking from the north, northeast and north
west, and are within easy marching distance of
that Forbidden City. What movements have
been made during The present crisis in Chinese
affairs cannot be confidently stated. since the
Russian Government. controls all lines OF news
transmission In and from those regions ana Is
exceedingly chary in letting information escape
10 the outer world 1t is reasonable 20 suppose
however that there has been considerable
closing in Of the lines upon the Chinese capital
Now. however dsquicting all this may be 10
those few who have vainly hoped 10 keep Rus
STA altogether ont of China. II is rcassuring 10
those who take a philosophc view of the case
That Russia would absorb. annex or IN some
way acquire a large part OF the Chinese Empire
was forrgOnc conclusion years ago TO all but
the wilfully unperccvng That she should do
so In case Of the disintcgratioD or partition of
the Chinese Empire IS entirely reasonable and
proper: for not only are the Russian and Chi
nese territories contiguous, but the two peoples
are closely related in race and blood. Russia be
ing next 10 China the chief MOngolian and Tar
tar nation in the world Finally. that Russia
should At this time enter npon actual possession
of the Northeastern provinces Of China is OF
good omen to all concerned. for II places within
available distance n force competent 10 deal
with any crisis or debiclc that may occur at Pc
king. 4 revolution in that city would. in the
absence Of such force. mean chaos and horrors
unspoaknble And Russia alone is able 10 pro-
vide such force to prevent the catastrophe
That mighty army just north of the Great Wall
is thus a guarantee of safety to the interests OF
all Powers in that part of the Chinese Empire
and lis presence there is not in the least incom
patible with m equitable recognition of the
rights and interests of ether Powers elsewhere