The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-26
JAPAN STILL MAKING
PREPARATIONS FOR WAR
Extraordinary Meeting of the Cab
met at Which Steps Were
Taken to Raise Money.
WAR SINEWS NEEDED
Lack of Funds the Main Thing
That Prevents Japan Open
ing HoStilities.

LONDON, Dec 25.-Rumors of impending
war in the far East continue to be the basis
of dispatches from Toxic, Tien-Tsin, Shang-
hal and Peking but the consensus of opinion
among diplomats here is that Japan will
not fight Russia. Preparations. however.
continue, and Japan does not propose to be
caught mapping If driven into war. AT an
extraordinary meeting of the japanese Cab
met to-day ii is reported that IL was decided
TO issue an emergency ordinance authoriz-
ing the guarantee of the principal and in
terest of an issue of 10,O 900 yen debentures
on the Seoul-Fusan Railway, which is ex-
pected to be finished before the end of next
year. The Tien-Tsin correspondent of the
Standard revives the report, which was de-
MED few days ago, to the effect that
secret treaty has been signed between Rus
STA and Korea whereby Russia obtains the
control of the Korean army through Rus
sian instructors. The correspondent de-
elares this will greatly increase the tension
In the far East. Other dispatches, all un-
confirmed indicates the trouble with Russia
is still regarded as critical
CANNOT AFFORD TO FIGHT.
The Daily Mail, however. publishes
the following article which, 1t is
stated, is from the pen of an
inspired author who stands close to
the government and who outlines England'5
! disapproval of war between Russia and
Japan and who points out Russia must
eventually win in the end.
Two questions have agitated the minds
of those who, for the last eight weeks,
have turned an apprehensive eye the
war-cloud in the far East. That Russia's
game was a waiting game. we knew. The
| deliberate offensive would not come from
her If she could postpone IL. But why has
Japan held back? And would the interven-
ton Of China, as a belligerent power,
| should war arise, drag the allies of Russia
| and Japan-that is to say, the French and
| ourseves-into a conflict?
Let us dismiss this second question be-
fore We come to the first. China, as
| belligerent power. does not exist. and. in all
| likelihood, should war arise, the adherents
of the Empress-who owes her security sole
| ly to Russian influence and is, whether she
like it or no, puppet in the hands of Rus
| sia-the adherents of the Empress would
march with the Russian troops, while the
progressive Chinese would be found Tight
| ing on the side of Japan. The two Chinese
parties would thus neutralize one another,
and, therefore, both France and England
would be given every facility for inter-
preting the terms of their respective al
| liances as they thought best. The English
and the French, in a word, will not be
committed to active participation in war
should China run amuck.
But the first question is the more impor-
| tant Why does Japan hold off? The island
kingdom, ready in ships and men. at the
| present moment enjoying distinct super
iority in weight and numbers that Will pass
| from her in the spring, will not fight unless
forced to do by Russia s action in Korea
| The reason for this apparent neglect of an
| eminently favorable opportunity is that
| Japan would be bankrupt in three months
even after she had fought an entirely VIC
| toriOus war.
case of victory or of defeat. Her press may
| be clamoring for an immediate attack, but
| her statesmen. with admirable foresight, are
using all their influence, not only to avert
war, but to give Russia every opportunity
| of smoothing over the difficulties between
the two nations without loss of prestige.
| The Emperor and his advisers. the men be-
| hind the curtain, as they are called, the
council of veterans that really rule Japan,
| In spite of nominal Parliament and con-
stitution, indefatigably trying to build
| this golden bridge for Russia.
POCKETED THEIR FEELINGS.
1.-THE Marquis Ito, Marshal Yamagata, Ad-
miral Ito and the other advisers of the EN-
peror, despite a pride and ardor hardly
conceivable to a European, have pocketed
afford to fight unless for her life. The neu-
| trality of Korea must be assured, but other
| wise Russia do she pleases. Russia,
who so far has been hardly able to digest
| Manchuria will, they are convinced, leave
| Korea alone If pressed-at any rate, for the
| present.
LAS for the future, the japanese believe,
with good reason, that not only Russia, but
L
| At present they are poor. but every year
| sees the increase of their commerce, the
| spread of their manufactures. and last but
| not least the Strengthening of their infiu-
ence in China. The progressive Chinaman-
| and he is to be counted by the hundred
| thousand-no longer hates Japan. The war
| Japanese are welcomed as teachers and
| leaders who have profited by the teachings
| of European science without sacrificing
either their strength Of purpose or national
| individuality
| Readers of the japanese press extracts
| that are cabled over to England will be
mistaken If they regard these outbursts as
| people. Public opinion in Japan is gov
erned by the Emperor and the Emperor
has compounded silence The people. there
the prospects of war; The Emperor is with
| them a semi-sacred parsonage and. at his
or even woman. AT present he asks for
| silence and for patience and outside the
| small group of fntellectuals' affected by
| the newspapers, the question of war or
| peace is not discussed. Nor are the news
| pa pers we'll informed. In Japan modern
| journalism is in its infancy and the thun-
ders of the Jill and other organs are but
| a reply TO the noise made by the journal
| lists of st. Petersburg and Moscow.
| Japan. therefore. requiring every pen
| ny of her capital for the development OF
| her budding trade, her industries and a
| progressive armament, will not fight unless
| the Russians actually menace Korea and
| hang like drawn sword above her head
NOT AFRAID OF DEATH
THAT the japanese are not afraid OF
| death and would even welcome IL, IL by
dying they could add one iota to the glory
of their fatherland, is witnessed to by the
fact that after the Japanese withdrawal
from China in 1896, when Japan suddenly
found that Russia, France and Germany
had resolved to rob her of the territories
gained by her destruction of the Chinese
fleets and armies. the japanese obeyed their
| Emperor in silence. their troops were re-
called and no one spoke in condemnation
| of this forced retreat: but no fewer than
200 Japanese committed suicide and the
number includes several women who pre-
| ferred death to national dishonor.
| 'She has nothing 10 gain by success
| full war and everything to lose. Her states
| men had hoped that Great Britain. re-