The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-22
All the European Powers HastiI,
Fleets in Oriental Waters.
FRANCE BUYING TRANSPORTS
JAPANESE WAR VESSELS TO SAIL
FROM YOKOHAMA TO-DAY.


LONDON, Jan. 21.-The Oriental seas will
soon be dotted with war ships, Great Brit
ain is adding to her already powerful fleet
in Chinese waters by sending the vessels of
the North Pacific station across the ocean
from Esquiraault, Japan's great fleet is be-
ing hastily prepared for service Russia has
massed her commerce destroyers'' in Chi
nese harbors, German ships are hurrying
toward Kiaochau bay by way of the Indian
ocean, and France is dispatchng to the
Orient all the vessels she can spare from
home and her colonial possessions. Not for
many years has there been so much naval
activity among the European powers. What
this activity will lead to time alone can
definitely disclose. That it portends war
does not require the affirmation of seer,
but when and where the dogs of war; will
bark is an unanswerable question just now.
If China submits to the intimidation of Ger
many Russia and France and grants con-
cessions that will have the effect of closing
portions of the Celestial empire to the COM
merce of the world, except the three pow
ers mentioned, it is almost certain that
Great Britain and Japan will proceed to
forcibly open the ports of China to all COM
ers, This is what Britain demands, and
she is openly supported by Japan, and, indi-
rectly, by the United States, for the latter
nation, although at present keeping out of
the squabble, will not it is thought here,
permit her treaty to be violated by the clos
ing OF ports against her. commerce.
The newspapers of London are all dis
cussing the probabilities of war. but the
diplomates insist that movements of the
fleets are mere peace" precautions. The
st. James Gazette this afternoon, comment
ing on a dispatch from Yokohama saying
that a fleet of nine Japanese war ships will
leave Japan in the course of a week for
Chinese waters, says: Japan is prepared
for war. That, in a nutshell, is the news
from Yokohama to-day, and it is really the
first news from Japan since the beginning
of the Chinese crisis. 1t was obvious that
the japanese government had stopped tele-
graphic communication, which it never does
except when mobilizing the army or navy.
That is precisely what it has been doing.
1t is almost certain that the destination of
the fleet is Wei-Hai-Wei and there is no
doubt the movement means that the status
quo in China, so far as Manchuria and
Corea are concerned, shall not be altered
by Russia or any combination of Russas
allies in defiance of Great Britain and
Japan. So long as the defenders policy
is equality of opportunity in China they are
in position to enforce their cIaims.''
The st. James Gazette also gives promi-
nence TO q list of ships in the Japanese
navy, points out it's immense strength and
says: hven with Great Britain a mere
sympathetic onlooker, 1t is probable that
Japan could finish off all the Russian and
German war ships east of Suez in short or
der. Great Britain, even including the Pow
erful, has not vessel in the north Pacific
capable of standing in battle line against
three battle ships Japan possesses"
A special dispatch from Paris published
this afternoon says orders have been re-
ceived at Cherbourg and Toulon, respective
ly, to Immediately prepare the battle ships
Bruix and Vauban to reinforce the French
squadron in the far East. The Bruix is a
steel vessel of 4754 tons displacement and
9,049 indicated horse power. She has an
armored belt about four inches thick, car
f1ring guns, four 2.5-inch guns. four 1.S-inch
guns and six 1.4-inch rapid-tire guns The
Vaupan IS vessel of 6,20S tons and 1850
Indicated horse power. She has an armored
belt ten inches in thickness, carries four
S,4-inch guns, one 74-inch gun, six 5-inch
guns and twelve rapid-tire guns. The two
Admiral De Beaumont has been appointed
commander in chief of the French squadron
in the far East. He will hoist his flag on
Doard the Nauban.
The Berliner Neueste Nachrichten an
nounces that the German war ships are
still sounding Kiaochou bay. adding that
the exact site of the fort is not yet fixed
and that the government intends that the
construction 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 dispatch from Picking says: 'eThe pros
poets Of the British loan are not bright
The British and japanese ministers are act
ing in concert in the matter The loan will
be-, If arranged, at per cent and will
be issued at par. Colonel Varnnoff will pro-
ceed to the camp of General Nichs, at
Lutia''