The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-30

Vast War Threatened by the Present
Sltuation--United States is Involved.
baltimore sun,

III AA4ek
OF a large part of the world is now
eentering around the ancient empire
OF China. Should IL be played TO a con-
| clusion-and there Is imminent danger
| hat this Will be done-not only the
great powers OF Europe but even the
| United States may pass through a war
whose horrors would make those OF the
South African struggle AppesT IGsigni-
ficant-
As has happened before. diplomacy
and not blood may quiet the situation
temporarily. But no mere temporary
settlement. IL Is now feared. can long
avert a gigantic conflict FOR the pos
session of China and perhaps b whole
continent Of Asia.
Tbs f~ar-reaching developments OF the
struggle may extend TO Europe itself
even, indeed. to America should
Russia. France England. Germany and
America come to a clash In China. they
might not be able TO confine the war to
the immediate prize OF battle Europe
would probably become a scene Of on
fict. for would not n blow struck at
n Of these nations a. home count for
more thar the loss OF a colonyP Should
the United States get on the losing
side, its own shores might be threaten
ed by hostile fleets OF sperior force n
the Biographies would have 10 under
go a general o~verhauling.
PROBABLE ALIGNMENT OF POW
+! ERS.
Once maddened with the hunger for
land and blood. there is no telling
where the world powers will be sstiat-
ed. From the present outlook these
powers will be ranged as follows:
On one side, Russia and franz
On the other side. England and ia
pan, with. perhaps. Germany or the
United States. or both.
Tho nrfSfE 3,n0 hAA~ .~zza-s.ARA 49,
the South African war. Russia. with
England occupied in Africa. has seized
the opportunity TO carry out long
cherished schemes which otherwise
might nave been years In eliminating.
She has acquired control OF Persia.
which gives her a base from which to
menace India and also an outlet on the
Persian gulf and Indian ocean. The
| Turkish sultan has been forced to- give
the car railroad concessions In Asia
Minor which are believed To amount
TO a practical monopoly of control in
northern Asia Minor; last and most
important of all. Russia has acquired
practical control Of the Chinese gov
eminent, even. perhaps. as has been
more than limited, 10 the point Of max
ing a hard and fast alliance between
st. Petersburg and Pekin.
GREAT FLEETS MASSED.
The situation has alarmed England.
IoI liz Is SIIciy luISdlcIlcu ny II
Russian moves. Plans for a joint ma
val demonstration have been the result.
This demonstration, Ii appears, is ac-
tually in progress. for great fleets OF
English, japanese. German and Amer
lean warships are now on the Chinese
coast. Russian and French fleets are
concentrated there too. ready. like the
others, to act at once.
The United States, under the policy
being experimental with by President
Mckinley and Secretary Hay. has a
threefold interest in China.
First. The Philippine possessions
give her an interest" in that part OF
the world which. according to the ac-
cepted rules of Old World diplomacy.
she must watch and protect.
Second. The recent negotiations OF
Secretary HAY for the open door"
mad the United States a participant
In the Chinese question.
Third. Minister Conger. at Pekin. has
reported by cable to Washington that
American missionaries are In danger.
England, feeling doubtful or her own
ability TO thwart the cars schemes
in China while she is conquering the
Beers, is believed to be seeking by all
means in her power to induce the Unit
ed States to help her. The impression
has gone forth in the European capt.
tails that the government at Washing
ton is practically allied with England
to the extent Of aiding her at least
while the South African war is in prog
ress. In this sense the naval gather
ing on the shores of China, according
to the belief in some quarters, practi-
cally amounts to a demonstration by
England, the United States and Japan
against Russia TO keep the last named
country busy while England finishes
with the Beers.
The American warships now in Chi
nese and Japanese waters are the Ore
gon, Monadnock. Newark, New Or
leans and Wheeling, with perhaps 9TH
ers. These are all modern ships Of
great fighting power.
The American missionaries who
Minister Conger reports are in danger
are near the terminus OF the railroad
that it building west from Kiao Chou.
While they are in the Chinese province
of S~hantung. Germany claims control
there, and it is a question whether
Germany or China Is responsible for
their safety.
Under these conditions IL has been
suggested the United States may TAX
the bull by the horns and send her own
troops from the Philippines TO protect
the missionaries. There have been
conferences OF this subject between
Secretary Hay and DIR. von Holieben,
the German ambassador at Washing
ton. but the result is not known.
RUSSIA AND HER RAILROAD.
A clash at sea, should it unfortu-
nately come, would naturally be fol-
lowed by a clash on land. 1t is not be-
lieved that sea power can now decide
the Chinese question This was at one
time possible. But R~ussia's wonderful
Siberian railroad has changed the sit
uation to a large extent. making her
Independent of the sea.
a glance at the map viii show this
railroad. like a great hand. reaching
out to grasp all Asia. 1t is now COM
pleted except for a comparatively
short section north Of Port Arthur.
Enormous masses OF representations
If need be-can be sent over the rail-
road from st. Petersburg to Pekn. 1t
is said that Russia has all the way
from 5000 to 150, 900 troops In Manchu-
} ria (northern China now. How can
they be checked? This is the problem
which England seeks TO solve.
FORTIFIED NAVAL BASES.
: Russia. England, Germany and