The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-01
Little Doubt that the Situation i'm the
pan Is Preparing for War.
BRITAIN MUCH INTERESTED
IN RUSSIAss EX-
TRAORDINARY NAVAL ACTIVITY.
DeIagoa Bay Award Unsatisfactory
and Regarded as n Blow to Fu-
ture Arbitration Proposals.

Copyright, 1900, by the Associated Press.)
LONDON. March 31.-Russian activity
has been the international factor of the
week, and diplomatic functionaries at
tached to the court of ST. James are ask
ing themselves What does ii all mean and
where will it end?" The Russian ambas-
sador smiles blandly and assures his dear
friends that it means nothing, absolutely
nothing but, just the same, speculation
is acute. There are many men of fair
standing and a tolerable knowledge of in
ternational undercurrents who are willing
TO say that war between Russia and japan
has now come within measurable distance.
OF these Henry Norman, who has just re-
turned from a trip to Russia. is one. But
view is taken by the British Foreign Office,
which, during the recent troublous times.
has sized up the international situation
with wonderful correctness.
The next few weeks may. perhaps. bring
up q tremendous war scare, but the salient
fact remains that Japan is not ready for
hostilities. Alarming kilograms from the
far East may increase and multiply, and
Korea may seem to be on the verge of an
nexation to Russia, but the calm of Down
ing street is not likely to be disturbed.
Korean matters have been arranged by
treaty, and Lord Salisbury does not believe
that Russia intends to break the treaties.
though her relations with Japan may be-
come strained to serious point. IL all this
rumpus in the far East had been postponed
for another year there is scarcely any
doubt that war would be a serious prob
hut win init 70
knowledge of Japan's far-reaching naval
projects and her recent state OF incomplete
ness do not hesitate to say that Japan is
not going to risk anything until her plans
are matured.
Japanese naval maneuvers in the coming
fall are TO be carried out on an unprece-
dented scale. and will partake more of the
nature of demonstration than that of peace
full evolutions. Forty or more war vessels
expected TO be present in japanese
waters. The moral effect Of such an ag-
gregation upon far Eastern questions is
causing no little comment.
RUSSIAN NAVAL ACTIVITY.
AS far as Great Britain is concerned.
Russias military, rather than naval, ac-
tivity is chiefly interesting though the
press Is not yet allowed TO take up its cue
in this matter. The Foreign Office. while
only family interested in Korea, being
practically sure that no serious trouble
will result there, is devoting careful inves-
tigation to the warlike preparations oc-
curing in South Russia.
There seems no longer to be any doubt
that Turkey for her tardiness to meet the
Russian demands regarding railway con-
cessions is being menaced by her northern
neighbor; and many signs point to the fact
that Russia intends to settle herself in the
northeast of Asia Minor. unless Turkey
gives in Already a quarter of million
of Russian troops are maintained on those
borders, while the Black sea squadron is
ready for business at a moments notice.
To what extent British moral assistance
can be given TO Turkey i'm withstanding the
Russian demands is question which at
the present moment is occupying Lord
Salsburys attention to an even greater ex-
tent than the South African war. In view
of the troubles of Great Britain in South
Africa, it is more than probable that Tur-
KEY will meet the demands and that the
Russian troops will be withdrawn.
The scare anent Russian troops concen-
trating in Afghanistan apparently arose
from this movement in the direction of
Turkey in Asia Minor and Afghanistan has
passed into the category of peaceful unin-
teresting spheres.
With all these reports, to say nothing of
continued rumors of Bulgaria's desire TO
throw off Turkeys suzerainty and become
a vassal of the Car, it is evident that,
while Russia is observing to the letter her
promise to England not to interfere in
South Africa, she is not idle in taking ad-
vantage of opportunities in every quarter
Of the globe. For the peace of the world it
is reassuring to remember that the fixed
policy of Russia for years has been TO take
matters almost to the point of hostilities
and then to settle automatically, the only
exception 10 this in modern times being in
the Crimea. when the tone of the peace
party in England led her to believe that the
country would not interfere.
THE DELAGOA BAY AWARD.
AS a nation and as individuals Great
Britain is very wroth over the Delagoa Bay
Railway award. The average opinion is
that this is merely the latest instance
where the country has got the worst end
by trusting to arbitration. All the high
flown prophecies that an Anglo-German
secret African agreement would become
operative through the decision have fallen
fiat, because the damages against Portu-
gal are so smah that she is amply able 10
pay them herself without giving either
party to the secret agreement their oppor-
tunity of bidding for Deiaeba bay That
this would occur was definitely stated some
days ago in these dispatches. but right up
to the last several of the most influential
organs seemed to be almost sure that Por-
tugal would be obliged to sell Delagoa bay