THE WAR AND POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS.
By Editor
THE reports from the scene of the war in the Orient are conflicting generally as regards details and quite often as regards most important events. This is due partly to the inability of the correspondents to get at the news and partly to the fact that neither of the parties desires the other party to know just what the conditions are. Many of the reports which are supposed to be all but official are found to be misleading. It is known that the Japanese are concentrating a large army in Korea, and reports state that considerable numbers have been landed in Manchuria. Russia is reported to be ready to withdraw her forces from near the coast, taking the principal part of them back several hundred miles to new headquarters at Harbin, leaving a garrison to defend Port Arthur, which she would expect to be besieged. Russia plans to make no general forward move until she has amassed a ponderous force. Her intention then is to move on slowly, driving the Japanese out of Manchuria and Korea, and annexing this province and kingdom. While Russian scouts are crossing and recrossing the Yalu River into Korea, she is making no aggressive move whatever, whereas the Japanese are rapidly concentrating toward the Yalu. Russia is suffering much inconvenience through the insufficiency of her railroad facilities. It is impossible to transport provisions as rapidly as they are needed, or troops as rapidly as desired. Manchuria brigands are reported to be attacking the railroad. It is likely that many of these are Japanese in disguise. The army in Manchuria is also greatly handicapped by the hostility of the inhabitants. The Russians have lost another cruiser, the Boyarin, by striking a mine (or being struck by a Japanese torpedo). She had on board 196 officers and men, all of whom are reported lost. China has an army on the Manchurian frontier, whose general reports to the government that he finds it well-nigh impossible to restrain his troops from attacking the Russians, who are guarding the railroad. Some of the Chinese officials are urging the government to become the allies of the Japanese and assist them in driving the Russians out of Manchuria. Two prominent Russian generals have been ordered to prepare for the invasion of India, in case England becomes openly hostile or injures Russian interests in Thibet or Persia. The present war is stirring the nations as no other war has done. The friendship between England and Japan and between Russia, France, and Germany is an element of great danger; while the disposition of the Turks to invade Bulgaria seems specially designed just now to provoke a European war. All the European nations are looking to their defenses. Sweden is strengthening her fortifications. Spain is mobilizing her army, fearing the attempt of one of the powers to wrest from her some of her ports. The smaller nations fear that, while the great powers are involved with one another, some power or powers may think it a good time to absorb them. Canada is preparing to defend her eastern and western coasts against possible attack. There is quite a general movement of warships to eastern waters. War vessels of the United States have left Philippine ports for Chinese ports, and it is feared that there may be trouble between the Americans and Germans in certain ports of China where the Germans consider that they have exclusive rights. There are factions throughout all Russia that are opposed to the government, and it is thought that these may foment a revolution at home. There probably never was a time when the elements that could bring on a universal war were better arranged for that purpose. China has given warning to both Japan and Russia that, altho she has declared her intention of neutrality, she will not remain idle if either of the belligerent powers in any way interferes with the graves of the ancestors of the Chinese emperor. China’s communication states that she has troops in Moukden and at other points in Manchuria, and that orders have been given to these troops to vindicate the honor of China, and meet force with force, in case any injury is done to the imperial tombs or to China herself. The contents of the note and its firm, almost defiant, tone has created a profound impression. It indicates that China will not be an entirely negligible quantity in the present war; and that, in case of Russia’s defeat, she may assert her rights again in Manchuria. It is known that Japan will respect China’s demand, but the answer of Russia is awaited with considerable interest. The war in the East does not prevent Russia making life more miserable for the Jews in her realm. A St. Petersburg correspondent of the Jewish Chronicle (London) states that the commission now sitting in St. Petersburg, charged with the revision of the laws in force against the Jews, proposes to recommend that in ten provinces of Poland where, hitherto, Jews have enjoyed unrestricted rights, these rights shall now be restricted in every respect to conform to the regulations obtaining in other parts of the realm. Jewish merchants and professional men will be deprived of the right to employ Jewish clerks as assistants. It is believed that this will result in a large exodus of Jewish merchants and professional men, who must have Jewish assistants to carry on their business. The reception of John Alexander Dowie at Sydney, N. S. W., is declared by him to have been the worst treatment yet received. His meetings at the town hall were forced to suspend, altho admission had been by ticket only, and a large force of police and a large number of Dowie’s disciples were present to preserve order. A furious mob gathered around his hotel, and he, fearing to return, spent the night in his carriage, according to reports from Sydney. Melbourne promises to treat Mr. Dowie worse than did Sydney. A Russian gunboat remains at Shanghai, China, in spite of the fact that China has declared her neutrality and requested the vessel to put to sea. This is a virtual violation of China’s declared neutrality by the Russian Government. A small Russian squadron is reported still lying at the French port of Jibuti, deeming it dangerous to proceed to Chinese waters, and not wishing to return to his home port. This also is looked upon as a violation of the laws of nations. Swedish workmen are being driven out of Finland by order of the Russian Government. Notice has been served on all such persons in Finland that they must leave on twenty-four hours’ notice before February 26. It is stated that no excuses for delay will be accepted. Workmen in many instances are being forced to abandon their property. This move on the part of Russia is stirring a strong anti-Russian feeling throughout Sweden. The Federal Grand Jury has issued its indictments against the leaders in the conspiracy to defraud the government by securing large areas of land. The principals have been arrested, and it is intended that they be taken to Washington, D. C., for trial. A legal battle will be waged by the arrested men against extradition to Washington. The bill making an appropriation of $200,000 to ex-Queen Liliuokalani, of Hawaii, for losses sustained by her through the overthrow of the monarchy, was lost on a tie vote in the Senate on February 15, even after an amendment had been accepted, reducing the amount to $125,000. Senator Blackburn will move to reconsider. In a collision between freight trains at Jackson, Utah, on February 19, an explosion of dynamite occurred which resulted in the death of 28 persons, 8 Americans, and 20 Greek laborers. The explosion destroyed the cars, the tracks, and the station building, and broke windows in houses 55 miles from the scene of the disaster. Great excitement reigned in the Chicago wheat exchange on February 20, where the price of wheat was forced up to $1.07 per bushel for May deliveries. The advance was irresistible, and millions of bushels were sold, while, as the report states, pandemonium reigned. Considerable time is being taken up in the Senate at Washington over the question of the ratification of the canal treaty with Panama. From the opposition there is heard much censuring of the course taken by the national government in the Panama affair. Fourteen persons were killed and twenty injured by an explosion of gas in a celluloid factory in Paris on February 20.