158
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[February 27, 1904.
THE WAR BETWEEN JAPAN AND terms likely to be acceptable to Japan, they | sioned warship of a State in a state of war,
RUSSIA.
(Daily Press, 24th February.) True to their unfortunate habit of being able to see but one side of a question, the Russian Government in Europe has been trying to make capital out of the fact that the Japanese attack on Port Arthur was commenced prior to the official declaration There is, on the other hand, every
had no right to be in Shanghai, and was actually firing up with the intention of leaving on the tide. The first knowledge that the public had that war had broken out was given by the Mandjour, who in the forenoon suddenly raised three Russian en- signs at her mast-heads. This of course is the usual indication of war having been declared, and under ordinary circumstances would have been looked upon as simply a notification of that being the case. In the instance of the Mandjour, making use of the hospitality of a friendly, though neutral port, it seemed to the foreign residents an instance of extreme ill taste, it being known that the ship would have extreme difficulty in reaching safely the nearest Russian port, Port Arthur; and her raising the bunting was taken merely as a renewed instance of the eagerness with which Russians have stuck to their now discredited game of bluff. Not
had been hurrying reinforcements to the Far East. It was not pretended by the other side that they were committing any breach of international practice by so doing; the relations between the two countries have at any time within the last six months been of such a hostile nature that it has been fully recognised by both that hostilities might at any time break out on four-and- twenty hours' notice. At the beginning of the month we find Russia carefully placing of war.
her ships where they would be ready to act reason to believe that the Russians were
on the inoment. Russin made little secret contemplating such a step as in 1853 they that one of her first steps would be to take took in the destruction of the Turkish fleet possession of Chemulpo; and we find her on in the harbour of Sinope. It is true that the announcement by Japan that all relations towards the latter end of October in that had ceased with two ships at this advan- year the Tsar NICHOLAS I. issued a pro- tageous position. Japan, according to all clamation in which he announced that rules of naval warfare, could plainly not Russia was challenged to the fight: "Nothing. afford to leave them, without some effort at therefore, remains but in confident reliance dislodging them, and a regular naval battle upon God, to have recourse to arms, in
seems to have been fought, wherein Japan word or a rumour of war having actually order to compel the Ottoman Government
was an easy victor, easier probably than broken out had at the time reached Shang- to respect treaties," &c. Such a proclama- she expected. The Japanese Admiral then, hai; indeed, the attack of the warships at tion might fairly be looked upon as a acting on the safe rule of his profession, Port Arthur had only occurred that morn declaration of war, and it doubtless would always to follow up an advantage, boldly ing. The Russians in fact were prepared, have been accepted for such but for the made sail for Port Arthur. He was pro had not the Japanese by a few hours fore- subsequent action of Russia. A few days bably quite unaware at the time that the stalled them, to make an attack on the ! after, on the 31st October, Count NESSEL principal officers of the Russian fleet were Japanese coast. The further actions of the RODE sent a circular to the Russian repre- at that moment enjoying the delights of an gunboat are indicative of the respect likely sentatives at the various European courts
entertainment at the Opera House. Admiral to be paid to international rules by the informing them that, "notwithstanding the ALEXIEFF, the Viceroy, seems to have con-
Russians. On the morning of the 8th the declaration of war, and as long as his sidered it no part of his duty to fight, and Mandjour was all ready to leave on the turn master's dignity and his interests would possibly the officers, finding the cat away, of the tide, but vague rumours of Japanese permit, Russia would abstain from taking thought it a fine opportunity for a lark. activity having come in in the course the offensive, and content herself with hold- At all events the Japanese seem to have of the day, hy the evening her com ing her position in the Principalities until found Port Arthur not at home; and before mander thought fit to change his she had succeeded in obtaining the satisfac-morning three of the finest ships in port mind. No one would have been disposed tion she required." Believing in the distinct found themselves utterly disabled. It is to be too hard on him under the pledge thus given, the French and English true many of these things happened through circumstances, and had he taken down his fleets, though they had on the 22nd Novem- what is ordinarily called luck, but if an pennant in compliment to the port on whose ber come up to Constantinople, refused, army so far trusts in divine favour as to hospitality he was unwillingly trespassing, though prayed by the Turkish Admiral, to omit precautions ordinarily taken in garrison the incident might have passed without take any steps towards entering the Black in peace time it is hardly becoming to throw notice. Such, however, we hear from latest Sea. For some days the Russian fleet had the blame of a mess on Providence. Heaven, information, was not the course that recom- been cruising on and off Sinope taking note as NAPOLEON remarked under somewhat mended itself. The Mandjour still remained of the position of the Turkish ships, and
flying her penuant as a man-of-war in a the Turkish Admiral had rightly interpreted
neutral port. How this curious and this as portending an attack. The allied
abnormal position is to end has apparently commanders, preferring to believe in the
not yet been decided by the powers that be. good faith of the Russian Government, pooh-poohed the Turkish Admiral's fears, The resultis history. On the 30th November the Russian Admiral, finding the coast clear, attacked and utterly destroyed the Turkish fleet as it lay in the harbour.
similar circumstances, is generally on the side of the biggest battalions. Certainly he does not favour big feasts in war-time,
as BELSHAZZAR found to his cost.
NEUTRALITY QUESTIONS.
So much for Japan's actions on the event- ful 8th of February. It is now worth while to look at Russia's. During the early days of the mouth, when Russia was, according to the stateinents she would wish
(Daily Press, 23rd February.) believed of her innocent intentions, at per- The questions as to neutrality and the Now, we are not altogether without fect peace with Japan, she sent up a large rights and duties of neutrals which have reason for believing that some such coup section of her fleet into the Sea of Japan. arisen during the present brief duration of was planned in the present case by the On the innocent dodge, what would it have war between Japan and Russia are very Russian fleet, and only the superior readi- been doing? Vladivostock, the only port numerous; in fact, more numerous by far ness of the Japanese naval commander pre- possessed by Russia, is at this season entirely than in the corresponding period of any vented it being put in practice. On the shut off from Japanese waters; it is plain, other war in history. A few of the cases. 5th instant Mr. KURINO informed the therefore, it could not have been for merely are specially noteworthy. China has pro- Russian Government in S. Petersburg defensive purposes. The indications there- claimed neutrality, for one, yet there is no that, Russia having delayed for 22 days in fore are that it was to be in readiness to chance of the neutrality of Manchuria being replying to Japan's last Note, and having in make an assault on some part of Japan as respected. Already the Russians are treat- the meanwhile been hurrying on her pre- soon as the first news of war arrived. Asing Newchwang as if it were on the same parations for war, the latter Power refused we have said before, there is nothing con- to any longer protract negotiations. The trary to international usage in this; so to next day the Russian Minister at Tokyo was manœuvre as to be in a position to strike the formally given notice that diplomatic re- first blow is held to be one of the most lations between the two Powers bad ceased, admirable points of good strategy. That the and Japan reserved to herself the right of Russians were outmanoeuvred is what must acting without further notification. On the happen to one or other in war, and reflects 5th instant we find the Tsar NICHOLAS II, no moral obliquity on either side. But in apparent imitation of his great grand- other evidences are not wanting to show that father on the eve of the slaughter at Sinope, the Russians were perfectly well aware of going through the farce of commending his the position on the 9th instant, when it is cause to God; on both sides, in fact, every attempted to plead that there was no state of thing was done to proclaim to the world war. We have heard a good deal of the ex- that the two countries were actually traordinary conduct of a Russian gunboat, at war, and the commencement of the Mandjour, in Shanghai waters. The actual hostilities would begin as soon Mandjour, it seems, on the morning of the as either side felt itself in a position to 9th instant, before any news of commenced begin. Now what had the Russians actually hostilities could arrive, was lying in the har- been doing? Under pretence of submittingbour. As a neutral port she, as a commis-
footing as Port Arthur. Thus, though Russia has not yet claimed the whole of Manchuria, it is certain that the entire pro- rince will be tacitly accounted by both com- batants and by the watching Powers as a legitimato battle-ground. Corea again has proclaimed neutrality. But the Japanese at Chemulpo on the 9th instant refused to recognise this neutrality, and ordered the Faryag and Koreets out of the harbour, in spite, it seems, of the protests of the British, French, and Italiau (but not of the United States) commanders in the port. Japan has since occupied Chemulpo and Seoul in great force. Corea, like Manchuria, will evidently be recognised as part of the theatre of war. This is definitely stated, ndeed, in a Berlin telegram of the 16th, instant. Then, again, we get the question of