The art of naval warfare is not confined to armored vessels, huge guns, and destructive ammunition. The common element of coal and peaceful commercial tact sometimes figures conspicuously. Only a short time ago a dark war cloud hovered over the coast of China, when it appeared as if Great Britain was to be left out of the deal which Russia and Germany was endeavoring to make in Chinese territory and commerce. Somehow the excitement suddenly ceased, and now the following explanation appears in the Tribune of this city:— “The inside history of why the threatened trouble died out so suddenly in Chinese water has just come out. It appears that Great Britain, acting in concert with Japan, obtained control of all the coal at the various Asiatic ports, the result being that the fleets of Russia and Germany were helpless. An idea of the straits they were in is shown by the fact that in order to get her ships away from Port Arthur, Russia had to apply to England for the loan of enough coal to get up steam.”