The Washington times., 1908-03-22
JAPS WILL FIGHT
CELESTIAL EMPIRE.
BRITISH BELIEF
Rich Prizes Offered by
Victory Over Mongo-
liam Neighbor.
TatSu Maru Affair In
tended as Excuse for
Starting War.

LONDON. March 21.-England Is get
ting surer and surer that China and
Japan are bound to night.
There are reasons for anticipating
trouble between the Mikado and Uncle
sam, but there are better ones for
counting on a clash between Nippon
and the Chinese.
The chance for gain is greater and
the risks are less. From the United
States-even assuming a japanese vic
tory-the Mikado could expect to wrest
nothing but the Philippines and perhaps
the Hawaiian group. If he whipped the
Chinese the possibilities Of territorial
expansion would be almost limitless.
American Prizes Poor.
The Philippines and the Hawaiian Is
lands would not be such important &C
uuisitions. after all. The latter are too
small to count for much. The former
are rich IN possibilities, but undeveloped
and endlessly troublesome TO rule and
police
To be sure, the FilipiROs are more
like Japanese than they are Ike Amer
leans, and maybe the Mikado could get
on better with them than Uncle Sam
does. FormOsans are like japanese,
too, and Japan is fairly pouring money
and men into Formosa, and yet can't
keep 1t licked
China. on the other hand, once beaten
probably would stay beaten for good
Japan might have to cut il up with the
powers. Indeed, it is whispered that
the Mikado and the Gar already have
some such understanding between
themselves. Still. Japan might reason
ably count on the lions snare
Japan Seeking Quarrel.
No Englishman acquainted with ORR
entail conditions doubts that japan has
been trying 20 pick a quarrel with China
for months. 1t has been domineering and
arrogant in Korea and ManchuriG. II
has acted unreasonably in connection
with the proposed paralleling OF the
NancEurian railroad IL has made IN
reasonable and still unsettled territorial
demands. It has seemed to be doing
everything it could, in fact. TO pro-
woke an explosion.
British government officials do not
try hard to conceal their belief that
Nippon meant TO fight over the Tatsu
Maru affair. All the diplomats thought
the MikadO was not only wrong, but
knew he was wrong. He made demands
with which he probably did not expect
the Chinese TO comply, and backed
them I'D with an ultimatum and a naval
demonstration.
The general opinion in Downing street
Is that there would have been a fight
II England had not ridiculed the idea.
The elder statesmen had a notion, too,
that their preteXt was a little too fiimsy.
Japan Lost Prestige.
1t was rather awkward for the Jap
snese. They had gene so far that they
had hard work 10 stop, and IN the end
they came out of the controversy
with some loss Of diplomatic prestige.
China was Inundated, 10 be sure,
and Japan got back the Tatsu Maru,
some indemnity, and an apology, but
its ultimatum had been treated with
scorn, it had to admit that Japanese
had been smuggling arms to Chinese
rebels and outlaws. and finally it &as
compelled to agree to stop the abuses.
L may not do it. however.
Japar's game is to hurry matters
along all it can. China's Is to spar for
time. Nippon can beat the Chinese now.
II has plenty Of first-class lighting men
and a strong navy. All 1t Iacko Is
money. BY rushing the campaign It
could reduce expenses to minimum,
however. grab "a big section Of China,
and then have cash Ito burn"
China's army is much better than
when it first fought Japan, but nothing
10 brag of. and it has practically no
navy at ali. It plainly looks for trouble.
and is bullaing up its military force,
as il can.
If Japan gives it time enough il NAV
be harder to beat In fact, II NAV he
so hard that Il can't be beaten at all.