The San Francisco call., 1904-02-29

Author OF -Asiatic Russia" Etc).
Copyright 1904. by Joseph b. Bowles).
tNOTE-Four years ago Professor Wright
Travelled the whole length of Manchurla from
Port Arthur 20 Harbin. khabaroNsk, kladl-
Hastol and o1estchersk and had interviews
with Baron Rosen. Admiral AleNieh Coloneis
ncnt in The afairs II the East. de undoubt-
edly knows more about the conditions there
than any other American. with the possible
exception of Senator BeVeridge.l
The war now raging. between Russia
and Japan is sure TO mark one of the
most important epochs in human his
tory. 1t is not the work Of politicians
or national leaders alone, but is the re-
suit OF a combination Of far-reaching,
irresistible causes which have been
slowly but surely preparing for the re-
suit. IL is the conflict OF three great
and expanding nations. In Manchuria
the national expansion Of Russia, with
its 100000 Of people, increasing at
the rate Of 1000. 900 annually, meets
China, with its 300,O0000 and its indefi-
mite power Of multiplication. The prob
lcm presented is the old one in mechan-
les Of an irresistible meeting an i'm
movable. But in this case there is an
other expanding force Of immense and
unknown power Wedging itself between
the two. Japan means both to resist
Russia and 10 rule China. She, too, has
a rapidly increasing population, half
million souls being added annually 10
her bread winners in a country already
overstOcked with people. The states
men Of Japan are compelled to do some
thing with the hope of enlarging her
borders. Altogether il is a case in
which the sympathy Of the well-in-
formed viii be pretty evenly divided
between the three cOmbatants.
RUSSIA'S EARLY MOVEMENTS.
But as Russia has the appearance Of
being an intruder and is SO pretty gen
orally represented it is important TO
take a brief glance at the history Of her
movements in order correctly 10 judge
OF the truth of this impression and 70
determine what rights, # any, she
really has on the Pacific Coast.
This is not the first contest that Rus
sia has had in Manchuria. As far back
as 1913 Russian explorers and pioneers
began a movement into the valley Of
the Amur River, and by the same right
Of conquest by which the western ma
tiOns of Europe claimed to be the own
ers Of America the Russians claimed
the valley Of this great river upon both
sides. The country was then. as 1t is
now. except where Russian settlers
have moved in, practically a wilderness,
occupfed bV semi baT TbarOuS and saw
age tribes. II was. indeed, claimed TO
. be under the jurisdiction OF China, and
Chinese soldiers were sent up TO con-
tend for its mastery and possession.
With varying results war was Waged
for fOrty-siN years. when the ChlneSe
arms prevailed. and in 1853 a final ad-
justment between the nations was
made through the celebrated treaty Of
Nertchinsk. BY this treaty all the land
upOn the north Of the Amur River
proper. extending UP TO the middle or
the sea Of OkhOtsk, was recognized as
belonging TO China. This Is a fact TO De
Temem bered by those who say that the
Russians have never been willing 10
haul down their flag where once IL has
been raised.
For the next 10 years the provisions
Of the treaty Of Nertchinsk were faith
fully observed by the Russians. No
Russian boats went down the Amur
River and the vast territory occupied
by its basin was wholly left to the in
fuence of China. Then, as an uneX-
pected result Of the Crimean war,
new chapter in history was begun upon
the Pacific Coast. Anticipating that
the French and English would attack
the Russian settlements upon the Pa
ciic Coast MuraVieff, the Governor OF
Eastern Siberia, took measures of de-
fense which resulted in most important
changes in the political geography Of
the whole region. At that time the
Russian stronghold upon the Pacific
coast was at PetTODavloVsk in KAN
chatka. where a fine harbOr was forti-
fed and occupied by a garrison Of sol
diers and a Russian fOtilla. For the
reinforcement cf this garrison. Mura-
Vieff formed the plan Of organizing
few regiments Of soldiers in the prov
ince Of Transbaikalia. in the head
waters Of the Amur, and Of transport
ing them down the Amur River and
thence to Kamchatka. This he did in
the summer Of 1854. The soldiers part
~ consisted of eXiles on whom freedom
had been bestowed. A large number Of
barges were built in the headwaters
OF the Amur and the first steamboat
that ever foated upon the stream was
launched. The permission Of China 10
make the transit through her territory
wac asked. The necessities We're such,
however. that Muravieff did not wait
for the answer. but presumed upon its
being favorable and started out upon
his expedition on the 14th Of May
FRENCH-ENGLISH RFPULSE.
His plans were successful. The far
of fortress Of Petropavlovsk was rein
forced in season 10 repulse a vigorous
attack by the French and English
troops. So disastrous was their defeat
IN fact. that the English admiral COM
mitted suicide from mere chagrin. But
Muravieff did not fail 10 see that Eng
land and France would renew the at