Rock Island Argus., 1900-06-15
THE CHINESE QUESTION
lanes Creelman Tells of the Sit
uation In the Empire.
NAP OF WORLD NAY BE CHANGED

sia VIII Seize Asia-ERect of Chino
Japanese War.
1t is no secret that the six great pow
ers Of Europe have been steadily pre-
pairing themselves for the breaking up
Of the Chinese empire. Japan and the
United States have also made ready
for the collapse of the Mantchoo dynas-
ty. The whole world will feel the
shock Of the colossal events which are
impending in Asia, and the spray of
missionary blood which has set fleets
and troops in motion toward Tien-tsin
is but the first signal of struggle that
Will probably involve every important
nation, says James Creelman in the
New York Journal. This assemblage
of warships in the gulf Of Pe-chi-h is
not an accident. 1t is part of plan
matured long ago. 1t is the frst step
toward the partition of China and her
400, 100000 inhabitants among the great
powers. Every important statesman
in Europe has predicted that the politi-
cal roof of Asia would crash in this
year or next year and that the first out
break against Christian missionaries
would set the processes of dissolution
in motion.
The thing that is about to happen
will change the map Of the world. 1t
may overturn more than one kingdom.
During my stay in China last year
learned enough 20 know that civilized
Europe had officially decreed the death
of the empire. And when 1 reached
Europe / found that the American en-
bassadors IN the great capitals had
been instructed by Secretary Hay to
secure from the governments to which
they were accredited definite pledges
that in the event of the breaking up of
China the "open door" policy would
hold In all new territory acquired by
them. 1t was well understood that this
agreement between the powers of the
world, secured through the efforts OF
the United States, was made necessary
by unmistakabIe evidence that China
was powerless to resist the all engulf-
ing movements of Russia.
The fall of Poland gave the czar n
window looking out on Europe. Then
began the Russian movement toward
Constantinople. The Black sea was to
be the base Of a great Russian fleet
This movement was checked by Eng
land, and tie triple alliance formed un-
der the presidency of the German en-
peror has ever since resisted the efforts
of Pan-Slavism to force n military out
let to the Mediterranean. Russia turn
ed her face from impregnable Europe
to the far east. Her engineers planned
the Siberian railway. steam highway
5000 miles long. This was to give
Russia the outlet in the Pacific that
had been denied 10 her in Europe. Then
came the Ch'no-Japa panCse war. japan
drove the Chinese army out Of Korea,
and an army corps under Field Mar
shall Yama GarG occupied the hermit
peninsula. Japan crossed the Yellow
sea and invaded Manchuria. Twenty
three thousand japanese soldiers under
Field Marshal Oyama conquered an
empire Of 400,OO0,00O. 1t IS true that the
Japanese did not go beyond Port Ar
thur, Wei-hai-wei and Tien-chwang,
but there is no doubt that Oyama's
compact little invading force could
have marched from one end of the Chi
nese empire to the other without meet
ing effective opposition. 1 accompa-
MED the field marshal and saw every
dence of the military impotency OF
China.
The treaty of Shimonoseki gave a
province OF Manchuria, including the
powerfully fortified harSors of Port
Arthur and Taiien Wan, TO Japan. Rus
sla, backed by France and Germany,
forced Japan to waive these territorial
rights on the Chinese mainland. Then
Russia moved swiftly. BY supporting
the emperor of Korea against the rough
domination of the japanese the cars
influence became supreme in Korea,
which adjoins Manchuria and will fur
nish a seaport termination for the ST.
berian railway, naval base free from
ice in winter weather. Russia guaran-
teed and partly furnished the money
for the heavy war indemnity exacted
by Japan and thus acquired n hold on
China. Presently the world was aston
ished by the news that China mad
ceded or leased for 90 years-virtually
q sale-Talien Wan and Port Arthur,
with its great drydOck for battleships.
The meaning OF the Siberian railway
dawned on the mind of Europe. Rus
sian diplomacy was tireless. resistless.
China yielded to Russia the right to
build n railway from the main Siberian
line down through Manchuria to Port
Arthur. And now Russia poured thou
sands of her soldiers under the thin
pretense that they were railway police
into Manchuria. Today Manchuria is
in effect q Russian province. Inside OF
a year or IS months the great Siberian
railway. which runs across the top OF
Asia. with spurs touching Persia.
northern India and China. will be com
pleted- Russia has something like 20.-
900 600 men capable OF bearing arms.
She can send 100000 soldiers along
the line of the Siberian railway, 1000
miles asvay from the guns Of British
warships. She can concentrate troops
and warships in Port Arthur and Tall
en- Wan. within close striking distance
OF Peking and Tien-tsin. Unless the