The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-07
The New Menace to Great Britain.

The New Menace to Grcnt Britain.
Lord Roberts has hoisted the Union
Jack Oh the Government buildings at Pre-
toria, but the situation in South Africa is
not as satisfactory from the British point
Of view as il might be. This is not be-
cause, with his present force, the old
marshal could not clean up further resist
ance in a short time. 1t is because Eng
land has all her military eggs in one
basket, and many of them may be impera-
lively needed in another place, and incon-
veniently soon.
Apparently there is yet a good deal of
fight left in the Beers. They are still
successfully opposing General Buffers ad-
vance at I.aing's Mex and Steyn with a
strong body of burghers is making some
Roadway in the Harrismith district Of the
Orange River Colony. 1t is reported that
several large commands have moved west
to oppose the movement of Hunter and
Baden-Powell from that direction. Alto
gether. 1t looks as if Lord Roberts might
yet require all his available forces to COM
plete his task, and then not be able to fin
ish for weeks to come.
This is serious for the British Govern
ment The Chinese question has assumed
the form of a devouring dragon, with very
probably a Russian inside. II is significant
that semi-official papers il Berlin, are
quite free in expressing their doubts Of Rus
sian good faith in China. Generally,
throughout Western Europe there are
growing evidences of an ugly impression
that Russia may have fomented the BOX
ers' outbreak to create a situation favor
able to designs upon Northern China. This
idea necessarily involves the further one
in some quarters that Russia may have
provided for certain eventualities through
an agreement with France and that the
evident uneasiness of the British ruling
class recently, has been due TO information
concerning the movements Of the dual al
lance behind the scenes.
Conditions are further complicated by
what looks like a fear in Paris that the
military Initiative of the Car in China is
not quite sure to be in French as well as
Muscovite interests. But this appearance
may be for foreign effect, and not neces-
sarily representative of governmental sem
timents. The main point of interest is
that Russia gives every indication of readi-
ness 10 take advantage of the situation as
IT stands. and should she do so. the proba-
bilities are that trouble will ensue. Eng
land is in no position TO obstruct Rus
sian occupation of Pekin and the province
and Gulf of Pc Chi Ii; for the St. Peters,
burg Government could easily send force
Of two hundred thousand men TO the
Chinese capital. from Manchuria and Shin
King before a moiety of that number of
other foreign troops could be landed, even
from Japan. II is not to be admitted, in
the light of present Information, that Eng
land and Germany would assent to the be-
ginning Of Chinese partition under such
auspices, without fight But England is
sadly Handicapped just now. Were she to
push matters, II is highly probable that
the Russians would attack the Indian from
tier. and that France might undertake in
reference in Egypt and the Soudan. 1t is
even conceived to be a possibility that |
France might attempt to force the Eng
lish Channel and to invade the United |
Kingdom before Roberts and his army
could get home from South Africa.
The reader will naturally ask: Where /!
does Germany stand in relation TO this
threatened international ENHANCEMENT?
The public of America must wait for the
answer to that question. As far as surface
indications go, and as far as interest and
policy may be deduced from antecedsnt cir
circumstances and condition the Kaiser
has the reason to maintain the general
status quo in China, that the United
States, England, and Japan have. But his
views are bounded largely by national and
Ieighborhood questions and necessities in
Europe. Morocco, Egypt, and Turkey are
all nuclei of possible difficulty to Germany.
The first named may quickly become the
cause of international conflict equally with |
China Egypt is open to attack, though |
not readily from the west while England |
holds tbs naval power OF the Mediter- |
ranean Turkey Is & moot question, and, |
with her efficient army of half million |
men, is not to be despised for war pur- |
poses. The problem is badly mixed and |
hard to solve. But the danger which |
hangs over Great Britain is real one. A |
sudden and simultaneous attack upon her |
Indian Empire and upon her home coasts,
coincident with a movement against her
in Egypt, would be serious indeed, were
such things TO happen while her army was
absent and fully occupied in the Orange
River Colony and the Transvaal.
Possibilities of the kind We mention rem
der the attitude and interests of Germany
relatively to the situation at large Of
Importance. Germany might
prevent France from attempting an in
yasion of England, and hence might pre-
cent an attack upon Egypt by way of the
But, considering the d.
versity OF things and points to protect,
the comparative strength OF Germany and
England as against Russia and France
might be hard to decide. Austria, Italy,
and Turkey might, between them, carry
the weight that would turn the scale The
FIRST named is a doubtful quantity, which
might appear on the side Of Russia or of
Germany, as has happened more than
once In European history. Austria, in |
deed, would bear watching on account of
kan peninsula. As for Italy, II is perhaps
safe to say that she would make common
cause with England and Germany. and
Turkey appears to be very much under
he influence Of Emperor Wilhelm II for
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