The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-02-27
CHINA IS
Buying ARMS
Prof. Fryer Makes
Very Startling
Statement.

BERKELEY, February 16.--ProfeSSor
John Fryer, head of the department Of
Oriental languages of the State Uni
versity. this morning announced that
in perusing a copy of Chinese news
paper which had just come to him he
learned startling news of the prepara-
tions the empire is making for the con-
fict believed to be impending. He in
formed the university students that
this paper states that the Chinese Gov
eminent has ordered a million small
arms and 100 cannon from manufacture
ers in Germany in preparation for the
threatened war with foreign powers.
Professor Fryer spent thirty years in
China. He is intimately acquainted
with Chinese officials of high rank and
himself holds the rank of mandarin of
the third class, conferred by the Chi
nese Government. He has been deco
rated with the Order of the Dragon,
the highest honor for a foreigner from
the Chinese Government.
The present trouble in China, accord
ing to Professor Fryer, is undoubtedly
the most serious that the nations have
had to deal with since relations with
the Chinese kingdom were established.
Discussing the conditions and the pros
poets of war in the Orient, Professor
Fryer says:
The present unrest in China is to
be regarded as the cumulative wrath
of the Chinese against all Western
powers. The uprising that is threat
ened is not a local matter to be put
down by a handful of marines and a
cruiser or two. 1t is an expression
of Chinese national feeling, an asser-
ton of Chinese regard for the nations
dignity, affronted as it has been many
times by the powers during the last de-
cade.
The boycott may be regarded as but
incidental to the larger movement of
general antipathy against all foreign
ers. The boycott has supplied a spark
to kindle the general rage against the
Foreigners
When asked his opinion of the stand
the Empress Dowager of China may be
expected to take at this crisis, Pro-
fessor Fryer said:
The Empress Dowager is a very
clever woman, smart enough to trim
her sails to every wind. If she believes
that a war with foreign powers would
endanger her status as Empress she
would of course oppose any war. If, on
the other hand, by supporting, secretly,
a revolutionary movement among her
own people she might strengthen her
dynasty. that would be her natural
course. / do not think, however that
under any circumstances will she be
able to act effectively against armed
invasion, even if she desired to do so.
Minister Conger is said to have ex-
are playing part in the present COM
plications. and that this, rather than
aversion to foreigners, is at the root of
the trouble. l do not think that
dynastic complications are to be re-
garded as so potent. The Manchu dy-
nasty is, in way, dynasty of ruling
The two parties in China |
oppose this dynasty. One such party |
would sweep away the Manchus, who
have ruled China for $50 years. a sec
ond party seeks reform by the re- |
organization of government on |
modern lines and is willing to secure |
such reform through the Manchus or |
any other Chinese form of royalty.
Yuan Shi Kai, ViceroY of Chill |
province, the power behind the throne |
China. is really the master of the situa-
ton and he is perhaps the one man who |
can stem the tide of the revolution that |
seems to be coming. What his attitude |
is, [ do not know. His attitude will |
have much to do with determining the |
trend that events will take in China"