Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-03
cHINA's FUTURE DARK.
Rev. Martin Takes Gloomy View Of the
Eastern Situation,

Victoria, B. c., April 3.--Among the
passengers who arrived on the EN-
press of Japan today from China was
Rev. W. A. p. Martin, former princi-
! pal of the Imperial Chinese college al
Pekin and one of the we'll known men
who were in Pelkin at the time of the
siege by the Chinese Boxers. In ar
interview DR. Martin said he had beer
informed that a telegram was await
ing him at Vancouver from Viceroy
Chang Chih Tung, who is one of Chi
mas most progressive men, asking him
to accept the principalship of the Chi
nese univ ersity at WI Chang, on the
Yangtse Kiang river. Dr. Martin has
not yet made up his mind whether he
will accept the post. He says tina,
since the siege of Pekin there have
been many changes in China.
China has completed a treaty with
the foreign powers and all is quiet
now" he said. but how long it will
remain placid country none can say
Some years hence think there will be
further trouble. The recent treaty be-
tween Britain and Japan guarantees
peace for time, but l don't feel sc
confident Of the state of China some
years hence, for there is a feeling tend
| ing to the disintergration of the coun-
| try among some of the powers. Ger
tain powers, prominent among which
| are Britain. Japan and the United
States, are for the maintenance of the
integrity of China, but Russia, France
and others are for the slicing up OF
the kingdom.
Regarding the Manchurian question,
l may say that Russia did not get the
special concession favored by the treaty
made by Ii Hung Chang shortly before
his death. Russia worked hard, how
ever, to secure privileges from Ii Hung
Chang, who was too old and enfeebled
tc have had the task of treating with
Russia. Even to the hour before his
death, when the Chinese statesman was
all but unconscious, Russia was work
ing with him to have him place his sig
nature to the treaty by which Russia
would have secured all it wanted In
Manchuria. Pressure was brought te
bear upon China by certain powers
prominent among which were Britain
and Japan, and Russia was forced te
yield the point and has promised to
Withdraw her troops from MaIlcHufid
as soon as possible
.Will the troops be withdrawn"
mo; l don't think they WILL Russia
will make the excuse that the troops
are necessary for the protection Of het
railways In that province, and in my
opinion Russia will ultimately have
some possession Of Manchuria and
Mongolia The latter province has moi
yet been brought into question, but
Russia is going to build a railway line
across Mongolia from border to horde,
from the nearest point Of the boundary
to Pekin. Mongolia is not however, as
rich and desirable district as Man
churia, which is rich in mining and ag-
ricultural resources. The Russian
forces in Manchuria at present number
| %, 200, according to statistics gathered
by Japanese papers. There are 49,seC
infantry, 10000 cavalry, $4,000 artillery
2.4Oo engineers and 1000 railway corps
To these may be added the Ainur army
said to consist of 10000 of all arms, sc
that the total Russian forces available
in these regions OF Asia is $4,000. The
strongest garrisons are at Moukden
Kiren and Ching King"