The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-27
Chinese Interference.

3 - AC ICllS1o11 40 unUlOhCH III IllS
orient, but Japan is reported as be-
ing very tired of waiting on Russia's
leisure and as likely to force Russia's
hand by a peremptory demand for a
disclosure of her real position.
The delay of Russia is simply to
gain time. The first reserves Of the
cZar's army have been ordered to hold
themselves in readiness, and that
means the mobilization of 100000
of troops in addition to the 100000
available on the peace footing. 1t is
conjectured that Russia has no: less
than 100000 men in Manchuria now,
with $4,000 more en- route, but no one
can vouch for these figures. Russia
may have learned wisdom by her
blunders in 1877, when she invaded
Turkey with 100000 men and found
it necessary to increase that force to
554, 900 men in both armies of at,
tack, in Asia and Europe. Russia
had seen Prussia, a kingdom greatly
inferior to herself in size and popula-
stion, mobilize an army of 100000
men and invade France and crush
that power in few months, by quick,
decisive and intelligent strategic
movements. But she lacked the genius
of military organization possessed by
Prussia. Her military prestige was
based chiefly upon the destruction of
the army of Napoleon in 1912. The
severity Of her climate helped Russia
out on that occasion, and the invasion
Of that country by Napoleon was the
act of a mailman. Russia is proceed
ing cautiously in her present step in
expansion. She has reached a point
in her eastward march where she is
brought in contact with more intelli-
gent people than they of central Asia,
Irkutsk and the trans-Baikal regions.
She has to face modernized Japan and
a slowly-awakening China and the
western powers who have substantial
interests in the farther orient. IF she
strikes, she must strike hard and with
military organization of the very best.
1t is doubtful if she has shat. In Eu-
rope, the military experts affirm that
Russia cannot maintain war with an
antagonist of any formidable strength
longer than three years.
The statement from Picking that
China is arranging to reorganize her
army and is increasing taxation and
cutting down other expenses for mill
tary purposes, and with the view of
assisting Japan as against Russia, will
not, as stated in the dispatches, make
it necessary for Great Britain, under
her treaty with Japan, to participate
in the struggle. The treaty requires
that, If either power engages in war
with another power, the other con-
tracing, party will maintain strict
neutrality and will do it's best to pre-
vent other. powers from joining in
hostilities against it's ally, and, If any
other power joins in hostility with
that ally, the other contracting party
will come to it's assistance and will
conduct war In common and make
peace in mutual agreement with it. If
China chooses to. help Japan and fight
Russia the treaty makes no demand
Ok SltllSI ally " pISVSut SuCu 1dC-
ton. If China were to. Join Russia
in attacking Japan, Great Britain, I'M
der the treaty, would be obliged to
restrain China. The probability is
that, if China pursues this reported
military policy, 1t will be to her own
undeing unless the powers proceed
to protect their own interests from the
results of a possible defeat of China
by Russia. The so-called Banner Army
Of China is composed of alien
Manchus, descend ants of the Manchus
who enteredt Picking and captured
China in 1914, whose dynasty is now
on the Chinese throne The Green
Standard army is composed Of Chi
nese, who do police duty. The forces
are divided among the provinces, but
are under the supreme control of the
governor general Of each province,
and, it is. only by pleading and much
coaxing that the officers can be in
duced to move their armies beyond the
borders of the province where they
are located. The government, recog-
nizing the lack of patriotism and ma
ltional spirit in China. is bribing the