The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-17

no GIARD AMERICAN TRADE II
ri SSIA AND JAPAN FIGHT.
General Naval board Prepares Plan Of
Campaign With Approval OF the PresI.
dent-wsrships WIN lie stationed At

dent-warships WIN he stationed at
treaty Ports. Mukden and An.tung
WASHINGTON. Oct. 16.-The most mpor-
tant plans Of campaign prepared by the
General Board Of the navy since its orgs nj
zation are being perfected with reference
to the prospect Of war between Russia and
Japan over Manchuria and Corea Not
only do they provide for the conduct Of the
American feet on the Asiatio station in the
event of such conflict. but 60 to the ex-
treme OF contemplating the contingency
that the United States. on account Of its
material interests in Manchuria. may be
drawn into hostilities in the Far East.
In the preparation Of these plans the
President and the State Department have
been consulted and the conclusions Of the
General Board have the approval Of the
Administration. 1t is evident from what
has been determined that the President and
his adv isers are willing to 60 to extremes
In maintaining the right to trade freely
with Manchuria, secured under the new
commercial treaty between the United
States and China.
1t has been AZ id in Washington dispatches
TO The Sun that even il Russia annexed
Manchuria. this Government would insist
upon receiving the trade privileges which
China has conferred upon the United States
BY the Shanghai treaty. II was said els
that the Government would decline to
acquiesce in an attempt by Russia, il she
annexed Manchuria, to discriminate in
favor OF her own trade interests there to
the detriment Of those Of the United States.
These statements may now be repeated
with emphasis. That no halfway meas
ures are contemplated is evident from the
plans which the General Board will send to
Rear Admiral Robley d. Evans, the Com
mander-in Chief Of the American naval
force on the Asiatic station.
While it would not be proper to disclose
the details Of the campaign to be followed
by the American feet in the event of war
involving the United States, no such con-
sheraton applies to the programme which
Admiral Evans is to carry out II Russia and
Japan only are drawn into hostilities. Upon
the outbreak OF conflict between these
two nations Admiral Evans is to proceed
with his feet to Mukden and An-tung,
both Manchurian ports. and remain there
pending developments.
The selection OF Mul1den and An-tung
and the warrant for their virtual occu-
patton may be easily understood when it
10 known that the Shanghai treaty between
the United States and China provides for
opening these ports to American, and, in
fact, to all foreign trade. The date OF the
opening Is dependent upon the amount Of
time the United States Senate will take
IN ~ IN,
Il Ia ratified there will be further delay,
measured only by the time necessary to per-
feet the exchange Of Publications. This
formslity concluded. the treaty will at once
become effective and the ports be thrown
open to foreign trade.
So long and earnestly has the United
States Government fought for the appk-
On tion Of the open door to Manohuria.
that 1t will not stand idly by when the
fruits Of its labor are in danger of being
swept away 1t maintains that unless the
American Senate should reject the treaty,
and until II takes such action China is
under a moral obligation to open Man
churia to American trade. any inter-
ference with the arrangements which
China and the United States have made
must be regarded as an act Of unfriendli-
ness toward the United States. The Gov
ernment is therefore prepared to safe
guard the interests which il will acquire
through the ratification of the Shanghai
treaty, and the Instructions to he sent to
Pear Admiral Evans indicate how thor
oughly in earnest it is.
An-tung ia port on the Yalu River be-
tween Manchuria and Corea, and will I'M
doubtedly become an important strateg!cal
point if Russia and Japan go to war
There is no thought of having Admiral
Evans assert authority over this place or
Mukden, or interfere in any way with itsuse
by either Of the prospective combatants
His presence there would be mere matter
Of precaution, intended also as a warning
that the United States Government would
he prepared to assert the rights obtained
under the Shanghai treaty If such a course
became necessary.
No threat or menace toward any partic-
ular power, or assertion OF sympathy or
moral support for any combatant. If war
should come over questions which do not
directly involve American interests. is TO
be nstrued from the presence Of American
wsrships at Mukden and An-tung
Admiral Evans has in his command the
battleships Kentucky. Wisconsin and
Oregon, the monitors Monterey and Mon
adnock, the protected cruisers Albany,
Cincinnati, New Orleans and Raleigh. the
gunboats Annapolis. Helena, Vicksburg
and Wilmington, the former Spanish gun
boats Don Juan de Austria and lsla de
Cuba and lot OF smaller armed craft.
mostly vessels captured or purchased from
Spain
In addition TO these the cruiser Balti-
more, the gunboat Petrol and the torpedo
boat destroyers cambridge, Barry, Chaun-
c"y Dale and Decatur are under orders
TO go to the Asatic station. Rear Admiral
Evans has under him two squadron
commanders Rear Admirals Philip Ii.
cooper and Yates Stirling
RUSSIA AND JAPAN BUY COAL.
LONDON, Oct I8-Therc ia a somewhat
abnormal demand for coal AT Cardih by
Russia and Japan. the orders agRregating
more han so 900 tons for delivery at Vlad-
lvostock, Port Arthur, Yokohama and
Nasasaki Japan has chartered scve raj
vessels for Immediate despatch.
The Daily Mail, which IL responsible for
me greater part Of the alarming news from
NE Far East, persists in declaring that me
m'ua'lon continues critical. IL says mat
Japan has formulated certain demands,
from which IL will not rpcede, and every
ming now depends on whether Russia
VIII grant them
A. la,