Show THE CHINESE PUZZLE the sudden disturbances disturbance a in eastern asia perhaps owe their origin largely to the fact that the trans siberian railroad is about to be completed the gigantic undertaking is ia so n nearly early finished that in an emergency the remaining ralls rails could be laid in three months according to the estimate of experts what this railroad means to the russian empire has probably not yet been fully realized but it la is easy to see that it will give the northern giant an immense advantage over the rest of europe and it Is therefore quite conceivable that the ambitious rulers of the old world at last should venture some bold move for the purpose of check mating their antagonist the road opens up to settlement at 91 least a million square miles of fertile land situated in a latitude with climatic conditions favorable to agriculture it also passes through districts rich in minerals of every kind and forms a connecting link between the great basins watered by the rivers obi Ye Yen neel epel amour and lena still more it places the extreme orient within ten days reach of st petersburg that is to say in that brief space of time the czar can send halt half a million soldiers to china in case of war and for peaceful purposes chinese and japanese are placed in easy communication with european russia the importance of these advantages to the empire are easily understood the road will secure for it in asia a similar position as that held in europe whatever russia now layar lay hold of in that part of the world she will retain naval demonstrations by her rivals after the opening of the railroad will have but little effect it follows that if germany or england think it necessary for the balance of power or for commercial purposes ta secure some part of the chinese empire they must also see the nece necessity of moving without delay postponement would mean the loss of the only opportunity to accomplish their purpose whether there is going to be a war or not about china depends perhaps upon japan but that country it if she does not overestimate the willingness of great britain to take an immense risk in an oriental war will naturally hesitate to take the first step russia certainly needs peace for the furtherance of her plans and there are signs that england will have something to do in africa in close proximity to egypt |