Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-29
Attitude Of Germany Regard
ing Eastern Situation.
TO RUSSIA
IN CASE JAPANESE ARMS SHOULD
PREVAIL.
Otherwise the Government Would Re.
main Neutral in Case of War
Gossip Of London.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star
LONDON, January ID, 1904.
1 am informed on good authority that a
full and closely reasoned statement of the
views of the German government upon the
far eastern crisis has reached the British
foreign office, and that, while it is evident
from this that until the conclusion of hos
tlities between Japan and Russia, should
such occur, Germany would remain as far as
possible, neutral, no secret is made of the
fact that, In certain eventualities, and in
the event particularly of great triumph
OF japanese arms, the German government
would take steps for the safeguarding of
its interests in China. The character of the
statement, indeed is interpreted in official
quarters, l am told, as meaning that Ber-
lin is still good deal under the influence
OF the fear of the yellow peril" upon
winch the kaiser himself has SO often
dwelt, and that Germany would aid Russia,
as she aided her after the Japanese war
with emma, in preventing Japan from as
sorting any strong influence or establishing
herself on the Asian mainland. 1t is
nevertheless, evident, from private official
communications, as we'll as from the state
ment to which l have referred, that Ger
many recognizes that, conflict or no con-
flct, Japan has interests in Korea which
cannot possibly be ignored.
Recruiting the Indian Army.
Much preparatory work is said to be go
ing on quietly at the headquarters, of the
army of occupation In India, by way of
making ready for possible eventualities in
the farther east. A considerable force
would be embarked at Calcutta within
forty-eight hours notice, and the regiments
are being brought up to their effective
strength by drafts from the home battal-
ions. Some of these will not leave until
next month, but they will arrive in ample
time TO take up garrison work, in the
event or the seasoned troops now in India
being required for duty in Pacific waters
1T is clearly understood that, with respect
to any formal defensive demonstration that
may be made, either at Tientsn or at Seoul,
Great Britain is to ha-represented by her
full proportionate contingent of guards
The premium ofSinsAfance against the
risk of war whichsis now being charged
upon shipments by the Japan line from the
united Kingdom has reached one-half per
cent for Indian ocean ports but is not SEN
Sibly higher for the China seas, and, as
eventualities could not develop for three or
four weeks after the departure of the ves-
sells from this side, the circumstance proves
the persistent optimism Of the underwriting
world. y @aH
Program Of the Home Squadron.
I am In a position to give some informa-
ton regarding the British home fleet, which
sailed from Portland on Friday of last
week, after being most expeditiously pre-
pared for sea, and the destination of which
was kept secret. There was nothing I'M
usual in the assembling of the squadron,
which under the revised Iregula tons makes
periodical cruises, and but for the state
of affairs in the far east no notice would
have been taken of the dispatch observed
in getting Admiral Wilson's ships away. A
friend of mine who Is in the know" says
that they have gone to the north of SPAIN
an excellent spot from which to carry on
the process of clicking the crews into
shape" as he put it in naval parlance.
This is necessary because the squadron
carries a large proportion of coast guard
men, whose living on shore takes them out
Of the continuous service routine.
There is no doubt that in the event of
hostilities between Japan and Russia the
channel fleet would go to the Medterra-
mean and the home fleet do the work of
Lord Charles Bereford's squadron in En-
glish waters. There would be much need
for Britain to have an imposing force in
the Mediterranean. Russia might try the
game of sending her Black sea fleet through
the Dardanelles, and England could not in
existing circumstances and having regard
to her relations with Japan, allow such a
breach of treaty.
Criticism of Sculptor Rodin.
HE exasperates the academy, astonishes
his generation and exctes the enthusiasm
of young artists" Thus an eminent French
critic has described that master sculptor
Auguste Rodin, who was yesterday present
as it's president at the exhibition of the
tional Society of Painters, Sculptors
and Gravers. in which office he has sue
ceeded Whistler. He has received what has
aptly been called the supreme honor of re-
election by the Royal Academy, the hang
ing committee of that august body having
refused to admit two pieces of sculpture
few years ago. And he has had experience
Of rejection in France. as well as of criti-
cism at the hands of writer's whose artistic
taste his original methods offend.
The affair of the BalZac statue, for in
stance when the Societe des Gems de Let
tres refused to accept statue of Balzac,
the execution of which they had confided
to Rodin, is sufficiently well known Rodin
chiseled into marble his conception of the
author of La Coincide Humane and the
result. an upright figure. swathed in the
folds of a long cloak. the head thrown
back, and expressing in its face intense dis
dain was greeted on the one hand as a
worthy to rank with the work
of Phidias and on the other an uncouth
and entirely unintelligible achievement, in
teresting only as indicative of the fact that
Rodin had failed to master the elementary
principles of drawing.
II was characteristic of Rodin that he
refused to Justify himself before the
public He simply took the statue back
to his studio and went on with his work,
Indifferent to what the world
might say of his BalZac or any other pro-
duction of his brain and chisel. For Ro-
din, successful and popular as he has be-
come is not at all the type of artist who
courts recognition from the public, or
whose name one sees In the list of guests
at society functions. He leads, instead.
very retired existence at his Partisan
abode in the Rue de IUniverste or at his
villa on the heights eof Meudon. seeing
few people except intimate friends, buy
ers and visitors tof the last he is not too
fond) whom his fame has attracted from
every country on-iefther side of the At
lantic These. however, peter understand
the man when they fsee his work at the
which contains his lie PEN
seur,' a woman's mead the pensive eyes
CHANGING downward, fixed on a rough
pedestal of marble. and the celebrated
lie Baiser" two nude figures locked in
each others arms fhe latter for COM
bination of strength and tenderness, has
surely never been surpassed
Society in MorerAccessible Quarters.
Certainly the International Society has
now made its appearance in earnest If