| Show THE WAR IN ASIA according to all reports the he causes that led to the declaration of war between japan and china are many aadi their existence accounts for the failure of the friendly powers to prevent an outbreak between the mongolians Mongo lians the actual dessus basus belli was the rebel hon in corea coral japan claimed that the king of that country was wae unable to tg protect japanese interests and citizens and proceeded to look after her own effin affairs in that neighboring domain while china asserted aerated her exclusive right to help the corean king to maintain order in his bla kingdom this claim goes according to chinese tradition as ae far back as the twelfth century before christ and is ia founded on the fact that at that remote time some come chinese fugitive of high rank found a friendly asylum on the peninsula after which time the chinese emperors for such seems to have been their peculiar notions of what constitutes rights lights of possession have claimed the country as an an integral part of the flowery kingdom japans claims do not go as tar far back as the seand they are founded on successful invasions the right of gunpowder as mr spurgeon used to say and although the japs were afterwards virtually driven out of the country they never considered the title to it forfeited cores corea seems to be a case of alsace lorraine in asia but this fact alone would hardly have bave determined the mika mikado doof of japan to lot let sli p the dogs of war it is in claimed that be was almost forced to do some thing in order to divert the attention ol of his bis own subjects from the internal administration to in order to prevent rebellion the baet is bat the millions inhabiting the japanese islands Island have shave sot not been able to follow the rapid strides ol 01 civilization that have been taken among them agrest A great number view the decay of the old institutions and the progress of foreign customs with dissatisfaction there to is fanaticism nouga enough left in japan to 90 kindle a flame of hatred against those who grant to christian religious religions privileges which they think ms are quo aue only to their heir own the war was therefore declared it is thoughts thought io in order to save the new planted civilization from the tem tempests peate of rebellion the mikado rightly judging ng that if he were successful u I 1 he would so 0 endear himself to the masses of the people that internal disturbances would be impossible for a time to come the last napoleon made the same name calculation when he be staked all he had left on a war with germany he tailed failed miserably the japanese napoleon may win it is but naturals natural as the world goes that a contest COMMA between the two asiatic should follow in the wake of the progress of civilization japan has done everything a power could do to nit lilt the nation to a position Z of supremacy in her part pan of the world and her success has ban been phenomenal but among kingdoms as 48 between individuate individuals intellectual superiority alone is useful only so far as it can CAD place piece its possessor in a position to to command respect by its neighbors end and all the world the progress of western civilization in 10 japan therefore carried with it the necessity of testing at some time whether china or japan should be the first power in asia if this war then is looked upon as a kultar kampl a wrestling match between modern western civilization and a of ages post past and rune ron it will be interesting to follow its progress and watch its termination Dation the result will be of worldwide world wide importance it has turned out shat hat russia as the surmised when the first AM war rumors began tolly to fly le is particularly intent on the struggle she has boa suddenly eDlY discovered that she has ban some interests teruto in in corea core of which no BO one was aware formerly and it Is a clear caw case that whether china or japan carries the final victory dussias Rus Ruse sias JaSo purpose has been served she bhe will obtain an too toe free portas port as a terminus to the siberian railroad unless indeed great britain should aboul d discover that she too has baa vital i interests la in cores corea and prevent the bear from preparing a lair on those coasts considering hussla dussias Rus sias s latest official elal declarations it is evident that japan has from the first been secretly encouraged by diplomats from st petersburg As an to the probable outcome of the war nothing can as yet be said with certainty at first sight night it looks as if the chinese with their vast numbers could surely force their enemies to defeat but there are many things to consider the chinese are not united millions of them consider the reigning dynasty usurp ers and would not hesitate to seize RD an opportunity of rising in rebellion the viceroy is also hated in the country he la 10 by many considered a fraud who has enriched himself by oppression in chinese imagination li hung chang once a poor maup man now possession possesses two small mail mountains one of gold and one of silver and all this thin fabulous wealth the result of robbery he to is therefore by many regarded as a tyrant and his downfall would be bailed baided with joy then it is well known that the he chinese ships although first class in many respects are arm ored with english compound armor considered inferior to common steel the naval officers are as a rule appointed without regard to ability many of the incumbents being wholly ignorant of naval duties they are known in the country for their insolence to the tradesmen sad other people on shore shorland and it is asserted that kocir defeat is looked upon with satisfaction by the lower classes of the people be sides aides the soldiers themselves with all their superstition are not always reliable so bo that all things con considered the odds would seem to be in favor of the japanese those these have taken advantage oi of chips chlpka s rather unprepared condition and thrown their force against her with great success so far however unless china offers to conclude peace on jarand terms the war is likely to be a lung long one and to be filled with incidents of carnage on land and sea such as an are heard of only in the ware wan of savages savage |
