The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-25

.,.'."'. I1'1'1 ,s9 N no way is the awak-
-: $500 ening life on the west
- ern shores of the Pa
~: cific more distinctly
Va shown than in the
;:; 80; preparation of har-
ssrslll Il,s,slls bors, the building of
port cities, the con-
struction of docking facilities and the
removal of trade restrictions, thus al
lowing more and more freedom of en-
try to the vessels of foreign nations.
This is especially true of the ports OF
Japan and Korea and those in China
that are under the ever increasing
spheres of influence of the European
powers. In Korea the change has been
effected through the fundamentally of
Japan as Korea is practically under
Japanese control.
The primary cause of this renewed
activity is deeper down than appears
on a mere superficial view. 1t is moth
ing less than the arousing of the orient
after a long slumber. The tide of life
which swept across the American con-
tinent did not stop at its shores, but
the impulse moved on across the Pa
cific. Coincident with this progress
westward was another movement of
activity eastward from Europe, pass
ing from Great Britain through India
on the south and from Russia through
Siberia on the north. These two i'm
pulses met on the eastern coasts of
Asia, resulting in the new life manifest
in Japan, eastern China, Korea and
southeastern Siberia. AS result of
this movement, and in turn becoming
a secondary cause to accelerate it,
came the struggle for supremacy be-
tween Russia and Japan. This strug-
gle, which has been going on for years,
must in the very nature of the case
continue to an issue, and this must be
so, whatever the mere incidental devel-
opments attendant upon that contest.
For this reason these ports in the
far east become points of interest not
only as evidences of oriental progress,
nor yet for their mere Importance as
gates to the commerce of America and
Europe, but even more for their stra-
tegical value in the conflict between
the mikado and the car for supremacy
in the east.
The harbors of greatest Importance
in such a play for position are those
about the Yellow sea, Korea bay and
the gulf of Pechili, to which must be
added, of course, the purely Japanese
and Russian ports. There is really
but one exclusively Russian port to be
divostok. Nor because of the difficulty
of reaching them and the splendid navy
and strong coast defenses of Japan
need the eastern Japanese coast ports
be considered. Yokohama, both the
chief harbor and metropolis of the
kingdom, which by its position protects
Tokyo, the capital. is not only shielded
by this location on the eastern coast,
but is in a landlocked bay that could
easily be rendered impossible of en-
trance in time of war.
Second only to Yokohama, and in
some regards not second to that, is
Nagasalxi. Here are located the great
shipyards where a large portion of ia
pans well equipped and modern YES
sells are built. The decking facilities
are first class, there being two docks of
granite. The harbor is said to resemble
on a smaller scale that of New York,
except that it is more beautiful 1t is
by richly colored hills and mountains.
The architecture of the city is in har-
mony with the picturesque natural en-
vironment.
Nagasaki is the fastest coaling sta
ton in the world. This enhances its
value as a naval base and, taken with
its shipyards and its position on the
western coast. renders it easily the
most important port in the kingdom in
time of war. While not in such an