The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-06
RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

The cable dispatches recently brought
the news that Ii Hung Chang had been
promoted" TO the viceroyalty of Kwang
Tung Canton, and that the Japanese
minister at Pekin had been appointed an
adviser of the Chinese government and
given the button of a high mandarin, and
had gone to Toxic for instructions. To
the average Occidental mind these state
ments convey but little information and
no suggestion of the deep political pur-
poses behind them which are apparent
to students of the situation in the Far
East A writer on the subject for the
Baltimore sun sees in the changes noted
striking evidence of the ascendancy of
japanese influences in China, waning of
Russian influences, and a general trend
of events likely to eliminate in war be-
tween Russia and Japan at almost any
time.
Ii Hung Chang has been the strong
friend and ally of Russia, and most of
the concessions from China secured of late
years by the Car have come through his
influence. He has had the ear and the
confidence of the Empress Dowager, and
the two of them have ordered the affairs
of the empire according to their pleas
ure, largely. Now the powerful Prince Ii
has been ordered away from the capital,
to take an office which is the least i'm
portant he has held since the Tai-Ping re-
bellion. And practically 10 take Lis place
as a close personal adviser of the head of
the government comes the japanese min
a.
Numerically opposite to the interests of
Russia, which Ii has to a greater or less
extent been representing. If the Trans
Siberian Railroad We're completed the
Suns correspondent says, Russia would
regard this affront as a casus belli against
China. or Japan, or both. And it is pos
sible that il is Japan's purpose to draw
China as her ally into the war with Rus
STA that is believed TO be impending.
In a nutshell, according to the expert
quoted, Russia is as ready to fight as she
can be in a year or such a matter, but
she does not desire to fight now; Japan
on the other hand. is anxious TO fight
now, but is not quite ready. A year or
a little more hence The great Russian
Railroad will be completed. 1t will be
highway over which hundreds of thou
sands of the Cars troops can be quickly
placed in the territory which Japan coy
cts and which she must have for her ma
tonal expansion. Japan therefore does
not wish to walt year for the fighting
to begin, She is running her powder mills
day and night In manufacturing smokeless
powder. her navy is in splendid shape,
armed with modern high-power guns and
manned by excellent seamen; her army is
being constantly strengthened and drilec,
and It's equipment is equal to that Of any
army in Europe. She would like a few
months delay, however for the purpose
of putting into commission the war vessels
that are under construction for her in
foreign countries, and which are now re-
ceviug their finishing touches with
these ships in service, the japanese navy
would be equally as effective as that of
Russia available for service against il, II
not indeed a little better. 1t is believed.
therefore, that Japan is playing for Just
time enough to get her new ships while
Russia is playing for time enough t. com