New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-31
MAKING READY FOR
WAR in FAR EAS'
British Abandon Rive
Boats, While Germans
Look for Attack.

Hsnkow, July 30.-The British gun.
the British China squadron, were de-
serted by an Admiralty order to-day.
The crews removed the brcechblocks
from the guns, took away all the arms
and ammunition possible, and threw
the remainder into the YangT sc -kiang.
The three vessels were tied TO the
docks, and only carctakers were left
in charge of them. The crews depart
ed tonight for Shanghai, and later
probably will go to Hong Kong.
It is understood that the British Adj
miralty similarly is dismantling all the
small British gunboats in Chinese wa
tcrs, sending their crews 20 Hong Kong
and Wei-hci-wei, in order to defend
these important possessions against
possible German attack.
1t was also stated that the British
bluejackets who to-day abandoned TIE
gunboats here are TO be utilized 20
strengthen the crews of the British
warshlps on the China station, where
the British feet is decidedly superior
to the German. The small vessels wcrc
of little value except against chinese
river pirates.
Picking. July 3O.-The regiment o.
German troops stationed at Ilen-tsl1
as railway guards made perpetrators
to -day to proceed to Tsing-Tsu, which,
it is understood, will be attacked from
the sea by the British fleet immedi-
ately on the declaration of war.
The protection of foreigners througr-
out China in case Of necessity VIII
therefore largely depend on the Amer
lean and japanese fleets and the Tor
eign troops at the treaty ports.
Washington, July 3O.--Thc possloll-
ity that Japan might become involved
in a general war should her ally. Eng
land. be drawn into the threatened vot-
tex in europe was discussed TO-DAY
in diplomatic circles here. The cN-
is.ing tr.aty Of alliance between GrHds
Britain and Japan. signed IN 1909. aud
renewed in 1911, provides that the TWO
countries shall support each other IN
the event Of an attack or aggressils
action against either in Eastern Asia
or India by another power.
From time to time there have been
rumors of secret clauses greatly O.
tending the scope of the convention
and making it apply TO hostillties cor
Quoted outside of the Far East, but
the existence of any such extra pre-
visions is unknown to the State De-
partment or TO the japanese Embassy
here.
Therefore the possibility of Japan;
being drawn into any war that might
involve Great Britain with Germany
or Austria, or Italy. IL believed here
to hinge entirely upon naval develop
ments in the Far East. In those waters
are many vessels of European powers
engaged in looking after the interests
Of tfeir citizens resident in China,
Corea and Japan. Just as the first
blow in the naval war between the
United States and Spain IN 1898 was
unexpectedly struck in the far away
Philippines, it is suggested the first
clash between European powers might
occur in the China Sea. And in
case the British fleet there should frd
itself engaged in hostiities with tic
German and Austrian and Italian YES
sells, many De!leVe japan would ne
called upon to aid her ally.
Aside from Japan's navy. the inter
national Far Eastern feet is made up
largely of cruisers. Many of the yes
sells. however, are more powerful than
any of the American warships that fol-
loved Dewey's pennant into Manila Bay
sixteen years ago. Great Britain, in
Guiding her East Indian squadron, has
two battleships. two large cruisers. four
light cruisers and thirV-livc smaller
craft. including gunboAs, destroyerS,
torpedo boats and submarines.
Germany has two armorcd cruisers,
four light cruisers, seven gunboats and
two dcStroyers.
Russia has four light cruisers, eight
small gunboats. thirty destroyers and
thirteen submarines, the latter said 10
be in poor condition.