The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-12-23
New International Alianments.

W." t'hNtoIdt Si'TIItlS
Philadelphia Ledger: Ii Is AN old and
,rite saying that every war. no matter
how slight. changes the map of the world,
and IL might he added as n corollary that
every International conflict brings about Il
new alignment OF relations and friendships
among the powers OF even greater moment
than the modification of frontier lines.
Such a transformation is taking place to-
day. mainly as II result Of the terrible war
being wnscd by Japanese and Muscovitcs
to determine their spheres of influence In
the far east, bur that change is by no
means confined to Asia. Its influences are
already visible IN Europe, and before the
statesmen OF the world can finally take
account of the results of the war those
influences may affect the new world as
we'll as the Old.
wrought many notifications in the value
and Significance of European alliances.
Since the Anglo-Frcnch understanding has
been ripcncd and strengthened, and Ger
many's relations With Russia have grown
more intimate, the real import of Frances
alliance With Russia has been materially
altered. The bond which Il few wears
ago was greeted with Il dclirium of joy
by France, then isolated through the dric-
bund and friction with England. COM
mands today Il different loyalty from
Frcnchmen. IA loyalty IN which questions
of prudence and high finance figure large
lN. Moreover. Germany's sympathy and
Friendship for Russia and The cause of
nutocyacy, and the strained relations of
Italy and Austria, have given Il new aspect
to the triple alliance, u defensive compact
planned originally as Il check 10 Russian
aggression.
In the meantime. with these changes 60
ing OH III Europe, The war in Asia is
bringing closer the possibility of ever
\ -,,pr, ,,crtnnt ioi,c ,cpl inst Y,nptC 1pao jc
voicing disappointment at the course OF
her British ally i'll making possible, or al
least facilitating through commercial
cupidity. the rapid progress of the Russian
naval rcinforcenents. Japan's commanI
of the sca-her ability TO protect the line
OF transports through which alone she can.
feed and maintain her armies in Man
churia-is absolutely essential to her. and
/ this tremendous stake may be put to the
.ssuc of Il single battle at sea. If Admira
Togo's squadron. his men Worn by the
strain of ten months of active service al
sea. fails to annihilate Itojestvcnsky's bat.
tleships and cruisers. Japan will not b,
without Justification for the charge tina
; Great Britain has basely betrayed her
Then. in the new disposition of forces ii
the tar east, who can hlirne the Japancs,
If they consent to Russians policy and re.
serve the prize of commercial supremacy
in eastern Asia to the two powers tina
nave Jlstll lIt Il ice Cl DIbOu dllu treasure.
lcnglishmcn are only just beginning to
realize that the vital crisis of the war is a
hand. and that Russia's triumph at Sc;
would mean not only overwhelming dis
nstcr to Japan's land forces and the ter
: mina,ion Of the conflict. with Russia a:
The dictator of the terms, but irreparabl.
injury to British commercial interests;
America is equally concerned In the main
%tenancc OF the open door," but Grea
Britain has to decided-and that very sooi
the larger question. whether. having per
united her colliely owners to furnish
Welsh coal in enormous quantities to Rus
STA, and having allowed the Baltic squad
ron to coal in the neutral port at the Med
~iterranean end Of the Suez canal. she shall
now stand by and see her ally crushed b.
that same Baltic squadron. 1t is not
situation in which patriotic linglishmel
can take pride. nor is the prospect for thu
avoidance of fresh international compli
cations a reassurinS one: but the fact lie
mains that new alliances. backed wit
the power to enforce them, may very sool
change the whole complexion Of affairs il
The far east. and affect the commercial
j, and political intercourse of all the grea
+, lowers.