Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-12-23

M WV M ttt~Sl VI
Philadelphia Ledger. 1t Is an old and
how slight. changes the map of the world,
and II might be added as q corollary that
every International conflict brings about a
new alignment of relations and friendships
mons the powers of even greater moment
than the modification of frontier lines.
! Such a transformation is taking place to-
day, mainly as a result of the terrible war
being wagcd by Japanese and Muscovites
to determine their spheres of influence In
the far east, but that change Is by no
means confined TO Asia. Its influences are
already visible In. Europe, and before the
statesmen OF the weird can finally take
account of the results of the war those
Influences may affect the new world as
well as the old,
Events covering less than a year have
wrought many notifications in the value
and Significance OF European alliances.
! Since the Anglo-French understanding has
been ripened and strengthened, ard Ger
many's relations with Russia have grown
more intimate, the real import of frances
alliance with Russia has been materially.
altered. The bono which q few years
ago was greeted with a delirium of JOY
by France. then isolated through the drie-
bund and friction with England, com
mands today 4 different loyalty from
4 - NAfs& q ~ TN - W ANNA
OF prudence and high finance figure large
~. Moreover, Germany's sympathy and
Friendship for Russia and the cause Of
antocracy. and the strained relations Of
Italy and Austria, have given a new aspect
10 the triple alliance, a defensive compact
planned originally as a check 10 Russian,
aggression.
In the meantime. with these changes go
ing on IN Europe, the war in Asia Isl
bringing closer the possibility of eyers
more p~ortentious readjustments. Japan Isl
Voicing disappointment at the course OF
her British ally in making possible. or az
least facilitating through commercial.
cupidity, the rapid progress OF the Russian.
naval reinforcements. Japan's commanJ
OF the sea-her ability 20 protect the line
of transports through which alone she calJ
feed and maintain her armies in Mans
churia-is absolutely essential to her, and
this tremendous stake may be put to the'
.ssue of a single battle ut sea. IL Admiral
Togo's squadron, his men worn by the
strain of ten months of active service at,
sea, fails TO annihilate R~ojeStVenSky'S bats
tleships and cruisers, Japan will not be,
without justification for the charge that
Great Britain has basely betrayed her,
Then, in the new disposition Of forces in,
the far east, who can blame the Japanese
IL they consent to Russia's policy and rer'
serve the prize of commercial supremacy.
in eastern Asia to the two powers that
have paid the price of blood and treasure?
Englishmen are only Just beginning TO
realize that the vital cr.cis of the war is at
hand, and that Russia's triumph at sea
would mean not only overwhelming dis
aster 20 Japan's land forces and the ter
mination of the conflict, with Russia as,
the dictator of the terms, but irreparable.
injury to British commercial interests.
America is equally concerned In the main
~ tenance OF the open door, but Great
Britain has TO decided-and that very soon.
the larger question. whether, having per-
raitted her colliery owners to furnish
Welsh coal In enormous quantities to Rus
STA. and having allowed the Baltic squad
ron to Goa i'll the neutral port at the Med
~iterranean end Of the Suez canal, she shall.
now stand by and see her ally crushed by
that same Baltic squadron. 1t is not a
situation IN which patriotic Englishmen
can take pride, nor is the prospect for the
avoidance of fresh international compli-
cations a reassuring one: but the fact re-
mains that new alliances, backed with
the power to enforce them, may very soon
change the whole complexion OF affairs in
the far east. and affect the commercial
and political intercourse OF all the great
powers.