New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-11
AUSTRALIANS PERIL.
~ CANNOT SPARE TROOPS FOR THE
TRANSVAAL
os-1rE POWERS IN THE PACIFIC AND A
LARGE ALIEN POPULATION MAKE
SERIOUS PROBLEMS FOR THE
ISLAND CONTINENT

SERIOUS PROBLEMS FOR THE
ISLAND CONTINENT.
e.,rsv Oct II (SpeciaD.-The war fever In
...ra,,a has reached an acute stage. and there
=, ..ercev a bush township where there are not
,su strapp,ng young fellows eager TO volun-
Tor service with the British troops In the
eor,h African colonies. Fascinated by the
-,.oour OF war they overlook the fact that with
-, so-ne knowledge Of military discipline they
,rovId simply become food for powder. The
.,.,rsl,an premers. to their credit be It said.
80 kent their heads cool. and notwithstanding
,,s loud talk Of the military commentaries
,-o,,ed from adding fuel to the flames. They
,srs excellent reasons for their cautious policy
n, late wears the military vote in each of the
australian colonies has been largely reduced
,,o,, motives Of economy. and consequently the
.nc,encv Of the defence forces has become 10
..r,. extent impaired. The cost OF sending Aus
,-epan troops 10 the Cape Will more than coun-
.o-halance the savings effected during the last
Ave wears. and the military position OF the
,,on,as will remain In its present unsatisfactory
oond,tNn unless the coonsts are prepared to
hear an increased burden Of taxation.
vo, few Of the leading Australians consider
.,s, the interests of the British Empire would
=, better served were the cOlonists 70 concen-
.ra,s their energies on the work Of colonial de-
,snce They have several thousand miles OF
oos slime to protect. and with the scanty forces
q, their command could do little in the way OF
rsnsling hostile attack unless they had the
assistance Of ships from the imperial navy.
Yndsr such circumstances the idea OF sending
the flower Of the colonial volunteer rife corps TO
South Africa seems preposterous. OF course II
tho British Empire were in danger. the case
uo,ld be different but II is the Beers. rather
than the British who are likely 10 go under
rNFRIENDLY POWERS IN THE PACIFIC.
And IL must be remembered that with the
snpearance Of Russia in the Pacific and the rise
NJ Japan as one OF the great Powers Of the
world the state OF isolation In which Australia
has existed since the earliest days OF settlement
has disappeared. Japan has never forgiven the
restrictions imposed by the colonial parliaments
on japanese immigration. which she regards
as ignominious and insulting. and later on
she NAV have something 10 say in the matter
The Chinese authorities are equally discon-
tented. but in the present condition Of their
forces can DO little more than shrug their
shoulders.
The germs OF serious difficulty between Aus
trala. Japan and China are 70 be found in the
anomalous state Of affairs In the greater portion
Of the northern part Of the island continent
the back door Of Australia" as It is not inaptly
designated. where the bulk OF the population Is
Of Asiatic origin, a strange medley of Malays,
Hindoos Chinese Japanese and Poynesians.
Sooner or later the wave Of European settlement
will reach these districts, and then the trouble
will begin Already the whole Of the northern
Queensland pearl fishing industry is In the hands
OF Japanese and Malays, and Thursday Island
is becoming generally known as Little japan
or the Asiatic residents in Australia the Japan
csc are by far the best. In the southern colonies
they make excellent citizens. and readily assiIn-
Hate with European manners and customs But
their presence Is disliked by the Australian la Dor
party. which is beginning 10 have hand IN
framing the laws Of the various colonies and
which insists that Australia shall remain the
home OF the white man. Many OF the Chinese
are men Of high character. but on the gold
fields where the Chinese population is most
dense their room is more welcome than their
company Moreover. the rule Of the Chinese
secret societies is supreme and practically over
rides the laws Of each colony.
OF CLASH IN THE EAST.
With the accomplishment Of Australian fed
cation an attempt will be made TO bring the
shoe OF the Asiatic population under Federal
s,n,rol. and 20 prevent the landing OF more
Aliens on the northern coast Should Japan or
Ohina object 10 further restrictions being I'M
posed on immigrants from their shores there
may be a serious quarrel ana for thls reason, II
no other II IS cOntended that the Australian
defence force should be strengthened rather
than weakened Northern Australia, II Is IN
sisted should form the bases OF the de1ences Oh
Hong Kong and Singapore as Outposts OF the
British Empire. Moreover II is pointed OUT the
frantic eagerness Of the colOnists TO take par
In the South African struggle. Following the
readiness with which they dispatched con'ih-
gent 10 the SOudan facts which cannot DE
overlooked by the great Powers OF the Moiiu
and in the case OF a rupture with Great bIIId
Australia would form one OF the leading pOlnts
n attack bv q hostile Power. OF course. the
moral effect OF the readiness with when the
Australians rally around the flag or the iholhel
country has its value. and indirectly iorIIs
source OF additional strength 10 the Britlsh Eih-
pre; but II is al the cost OF consiueraTle
Il defensive power on the part OF the colonlsts
Hence the readiness with which the great
rass Of Australians have received the susses
ton OF a triple alliance between Isue!a.eu
Australia Great Britain and the Cnteo ota'ee
By many such a result Is regarded as one OF
ce nossjhrities Of the near future. 1t is not IN
Europe or in Africa that the next great strue
gle will take place but in Eastern waters. Where
The white man and the yellow man coni'On'
each other , -,
The situation in the Transvaal is OF MINOR IN
prance compared with that when Is nov
slowly but surely being created In the Fast
Such 10 the deliberate opinion OF no. a."
thoughtful colOnists who. while reiiia "
tensely loval 70 the British flag ana ready i.
pour ont blood and money should the hecessit,
70. 30 doing arise stoutly hold that the DUTY vi
Australia is 10 spend every coin enc can spar ia
strengthening her own defences ana Oy illCi co.
ing her powers of self-rehahCe ie9. -. no.
unualy increasing strain on tne vas. ~ ~
Ninitable resources OF the Hotnei Oo'
r.r,o,, ~oHnrTTEE TO MEET.