Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-07-11
JAPAN'S STRENGTH IN ASIA.
1t Is Great and Growing and Is Favorable
to This Nations Interest.

1t Is Great and Growing and Is Favorable
to This Nations Interest.
Cleveland Leader.
The stirring events reported from
China in the last few weeks have not
only shown that the Japanese victories
in the war which broke down the pres
tige of the Chinese Empire, were won
over a foe capable of making trou-
BILE for 6rst-rate European troops but
that Japan has been for some time the
strongest power in eastern Asia, at
least under the conditions which would
exist in the first months of war with
any possible foe. In a double sense
the military position of the japanese
has been strengthened and their credit
as fighting people has been raised in
the estimation of the great powers of
Europe.
The efforts put forth by all the ma
tions which have taken part in the
campaign for the restoration of order
and safety for foreigners in the vicini.
ty of Pekin, have shown that Japan
had by far. the greatest number of
soldiers in reach of the scene of the
trouble. The only other power that
had been supposed to stand on any
thing like even terms with the Japan
ese, in readiness for heavy work, on
land, is Russia, and the object lessons
of the present month have shown that
Russia could not get into the field half
so many men, on short notice, in
Eastern Asia, as were at the disposal
of the Mikado's generals.
On The sea the Japanese made so
good showing that it is fair to pre-
sumo that with their advantages of
shipyards, including dockyards, re-
cruits for crews, coaling depots, and
heavily fortified bases of operations,
they are stronger than England and
much more than equal to Russia,
That means, of course, for the first
weeks of a war. When time enough
elapsed to let the strongest naval pow
ers of the west get their strength into
Chinese or Japanese waters, the navy
of Japan would be overmatched by
that of Great Britain, France, Russia,
or the United States, and even by the
German feet, but time would be re.
quired to place the Japanese at such
disadvantage. For some weeks they
would be too strong, in their own wa
ters, for any single European power.
This conclusion presumes that the
soldiers and seamen of Japan would
prove equal to the fighting men of the
foremost nations of Europe, when
numbers were about alike on both
sides. 1t seems fair inference from
records made in battles with the Chi
nese and from all the signs of equality
which can be observed in time of peace.
The Chinese have good reasons to be-
lieve that the japanese are as formid-
able as any white troops.
In the broadest international sense
this increased prestige of Japan is ia
vorable to the interests of the United
States in eastern Asia. The Japanese
are our friends. They have long felt
peculiarly cordial toward the Ameri-
can republic. They do not fear
schemes of spoilation in dealing with
the United States. Besides they are
a maritime power, as compared with
Russia in Asia. Their interests are
akin to those of the United States and
Great Britain. They hope for free &C.
cess to Chinese markets and for the
encouragement of maritime commerce.
They fear the effect of Russian aggres-
sion in China, just as American and
British suspicious are aroused by the
encroachments of the Cars govern
ment upon Chinese territory and Chi
nese rights.
The stronger Japan's navy becomes,
therefore, the less trouble this coun-
try and Great Britain will be likely to
experience in preserving all treaty
rights and all accustomed freedom of
action in Chinese territory. For the
purposes of diplomacy and statesman
ship in Eastern Asia, Japan is about
equivalent to an Anglo-Saxon power
in that portion of the world. The i'm
portance of this fact may be demou-
strated, in the most impressive man
ner, at almost any time.