THE NATIONS ARE PREPARING.
THE marvelous success of the Japanese army and navy in the war against Russia has set the military outlooks of the various nations studying and planning more anxiously than ever to devise ways and means for making their armies more efficient and rendering their fleets and fortifications more secure against attack and more impregnable in attack. The latest naval battle, in which so large a portion of the Russian fleet was destroyed has brought to the attention of this government the fact that the Philippines are wholly unprotected, having no fortifications, and there being only a few warships of this country stationed at Manila. Even the obsolete guns of the Spanish fortifications have been removed and scattered among the larger cities of the United States. But the government has now become aroused to the unprotected condition of the Philippines, and a large sum will be spent in erecting fortifications there and providing the defenses with modern weapons of war. Another battleship also will be added to the squadron at Manila "to maintain the dignity of the United States and to more closely approach the naval strength of Japan." The German Government has issued an order to fortify Kiaochou Bay, Germany's Chinese port. For a long time Germany has been contemplating the fortification of this, its only naval base in far eastern waters; but the means for so doing had not been in hand. Japan's victory there has by some mysterious magic caused the means to be speedily forthcoming, and now the fortifications with the necessary high-power guns will be provided as rapidly as the work can be accomplished. These activities in the far East have naturally aroused France, who has extensive interests in the far East, and she will soon begin the defenses of the coast-line of her eastern provinces. Whether England is planning to strengthen her Chinese base of Weihaiwei is not pointed out, but it is altogether probable that she will do so. Each additional fortification or war vessel or high-power gun of one nation calls for an equal increase by the other powers, and so they continue to "prepare war."