The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-04-18
JAPS READY FOR WAR
1t Is Felt That Nothing Can
Avert a Final Clash
AND QUICKEST IS BEST
Japan's Naval Strength Far in
Excess of Russia's.

| Correspondence Of the Associated Press }
Yokohama, March S1.-If the quick and
steady dispatch of kilograms from Korea
means aught Of a really serious nature.
the inference would be that Japan and
Russia are on the verge Of war Out
wardly, however. there IS absolute calm
and the tone Of the press is but slightly
| bellicose. The prevalent opinion of the
| foreign community here seems TO be that
as the conflict is inevitable. the sooner il
occurs the better 1t will be for Japan.
The latter, with her great fleet, far SUI
perior to that Of her enemy in these wa
tiers. would make short work Of Russia s
naval force and command the situation.
for time at least, with all the advant-
age which an added prestige would con-
fer But as in all such crises. in view Of
what modern war Is known to entail
there is extreme reluctance on the Part
Of either government to take the decisive
step.
If it were not for the deep-seated dis
trust of Russian methods of aggrandize-
ment, Of which she has furnished so
many ODJtCI ltSSOIiS u ldlt, id pan WOE4u
be strongly inclined to put up with the
Assurances" given that there IS 10th
ing IN the demands upon Korea inimical
to japanese interests" But the japanese
have been and are keen students of Rus
sian history and they know what her
gaining a foothold means. They know
that a foothold in Korea means the Ill
innate passing OF the peninsula under
Russian sway. and this nation is a urit
for fighting to the death against that en-
enactment. Other powers may ask
Korea for concessions and leases ad lib
itum. but Russia has too often shown
her hand and her plain intent for Japan
10 trust to any Of her assurances. 1t
may, Therefore, easily be that the question
will be put to the arbitrament Of war at
any moment All that Russia demands
now is a concession of territory near Ma
sampo, or. as an alternative. the island
Of Kotoku. Either would be a standing
menace to Japan, and one of the tough
est Of diplomatic fights is now on at
Seoul Russia is making some attempts
in the way of a naval demonstration, as
she did at the close Of the Japan-China
war, but 1t IS sorry show compared
with the magnificent fleet which Japan
has most opportunely assembled Cor the
spring maneuvers. It IS deemed by many
to be significant that the whereabouts
and movements of this fleet OF sixty yes
sells are yelled in the greatest secrecy.
That they will be within easy striking
distance of the scene Of war" may be
surmised
The report Of the Yokohama chamber
of commerce. just published, is notable
inasmuch as 1t calls attention In very
forcible way to the causes Of the decline
Of japanese trade, attributing II largely
to the dishonesty Of the native business
methods, and uttering a warning note
against entailing a further loss Of the
nations credit If they are persisted In.
In native business circles there is no
ticeable a strong mania for the formation
Of trusts. For a nation which has here
tofore done business on the smallest. and
on an almost purely individual, basis
this movement If carried out, means
nothing less than an economic revolu-
ton of enormous significance