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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND burden. Another thing is they are infinitely | far as Sir, ERNEST SATOW is concerned, we more reliable as to health, and generally much more easily replaced in times of war, should any "fail, than are animals, who in addition swell the convoy itself very largely by the proveuder it is necessary to carry for them. The lack of horses for draught as well as for cavalry was considered the weak point in the Japa nese arrangements; but they had a good substitute for the one, and very soon made up the deficiency in the other. Anyway, whatever their defects were supposed to be, there is the testimony of the best military authorities that their arrangements for commissariat and for mobilisation were per- fect. The events showed how well they were able to work them and what an enormous advantage their superior mobilisa. tion gave them. The lesson which is thus taught is one which it is to be hoped will not be overlooked; though reform in mili- tary matters seems often as slow as changes in other directions-as for example the Law ---are proverbially. Of course the whole of the advantage which they had was not due exclusively to mobilisation. They were able to land troops at a large number of points ready to be called into action when required and to join with the other forces at the proper time. But in this their rapid marching also played its part. All this was of course supplemented by an amount of élan and determination which has seldom been equalled; and which was never thought possible in a people looked upon as Easterns, and expected to have a certain amount of dash, but to be likely to show themselves lacking in stay. They hardly ever seemed to count the cost of any operation which they had determined to carry out; but all this would have been of little avail but for their powers of rapid movement under cir cumstances which seemed greatly against it. This has been the most noticeable feature in this war; and there is much in it which affords a lesson that will probably not be overlooked by the military attachés aud other critics who have watched the progress
of events.
RAILWAY ENTERPRISE IN CHINA.
(Daily Press, 3rd November.) The supreme importance of the question of British railway enterprise in China is sufficient excuse for returning to the subject again and again. Until our Home Govern- ment can be brought to a full realization of its duties in respect of the concessions obtained by our nationals, it is obviously required of us, and of all who have at heart our national and commercial interests in Chins, which are more closely tied than some people seem to remember, that we should diligently endeavour to emphasise the fact that it is owing to the Government's lack of overt sympathy that these concessions are still undeveloped. The statement that of the two thousand eight hundred miles of railway conceded to our enterprise, ouly five hundred and seventy miles have been made, is alarmingly suggestive. Lees than a hundred miles of railway a year is not the progress we have a right to expect; aud it is certainly not a record creditable to our business reputation, in a land where re-
putation counts for much. It should not be necessary to reiterate the statement of the intimate relationship existing in China between policy and commerce. Our Cham- *bers of Commerce, and our China Associa tions, have proclaimed this fundamental truth in season and out of season; and so
F
[November 5, 1904.
USELESS SLAUGHTER.
do not think there has ever been the slightest tendency to question or belittle it. If an object lesson were needed, it would be
(Daily Press, 4th November.) found in the efficacy of the Russian plea for humanity generally for a cessation of the We have already voiced the desire of her persistent refusal to comply with her dreadful slaughter incidental to the current obligation to evacuate Manchuria. The war; and could wish that there were better safety and protection of the great Russian foundation for the stories of intervention railway was an argument that gave pause and possible consequent reace that are to the most virulent Russophobe. It did going the rounds of the Press at Home. seem unreasonable, even to those who re- cognised Russia's ulterior design, that the field and on paper, the more we are forced But the longer the war wages, both in the fruit of her notable enterprise should be in any degree endangered.
to perceive that the combatants are, as Such illus- STEPHEN CRANE, might express it. trations, however, are not needed.
'seeing recognition, of railways in China under are keen enough, no doubt; but it is not The red." The actual fighters on both sides foreign control as powerful political weapons difficult to imagine them as weiry also--- has been unanimous, tacit or expressed. with spirit willing and flesh weak. It is, The rejoicings in 1898 over our success in however, the "mute inglorious heroes" "the battle of concessions
of are made ludi- Tokyo and S. Petersburg who, as Mr. crous if those concessions be uot used. At DOOLEY put it in connection with another present we are in the position of parties war, are "not sở →→ who have gone through the marriage who by their utterances are causing us to mute wayther," and service, received the congratulations, and despair of any issue more sensible than the parted at the church door. Other nations conclusion of the famous fight of the cats of have not been guilty of that eccentricity. They have started housekeeping, and justi- the beginning by those fain to egg on Japan Kilkenny The utmost that was hopel in fied the congratulations of their friends. Tt to fight was some sort of finish akin to the is not as if our Government were being stalemate of the chess-player; and no one embarrassed by applications for subsidies. A little more determination, such as they attendant upon Japanese arms, that the
expects now, after the wonderful successe showed in 1899, when official note was taken. Japanese can drive Russia out of the East, of the Tsung-l-yamen's promise to the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corpora- Moscow. That is no more likely than that or impose terms as a conqueror arrived in tion, that China would not alienate any of the retreating Russians will ever be able to the northern railway lines to any foreign dictate terms on the threshold of Tokyo, Power, is all that is asked. that quiet and
Even The responsibility to a fruitless coutin iance unostentatious official of the carnage is like to rest more on St action had excellent results as is well Petersburg thau on Tokyo. It is true that known; and what we should like to see the chauvinists of Japan are under all sorts is more official spirit of the kind that in. of delisions as to the pickle that Russia is spired that holding up of the hands com- in, and these fancies, fostered by a flattering mercial in January, 1899. It saved the Press, tend more to an increase of truculency railway from remaining in Russian hands than to a sensing of the uselessness and after the Boxer affair of 1900, and so un- hopelessness of attempting a war à outrance. doubtedly contributed to the continued They believe that Russia's war-chest is independence of Peking. Since then, how displenished, that her harvests have failed. ever, Sir ERNEST SATOw has done little. and that her financial credit is broken. to confirm Lord LANSDOWNE's assurance. Undoubtedly the war is taxing Russi !! that be returned to his duties last year with resources to some extent. The wonderful- "a definite policy on the railway question." stories of her bullion reserves to which we It seems certain that private British enter- have been treated do not alter the very prise is only waiting for some assurance of evident fact that roubles are growing Governmental support, and when its work scarce, that trade is at a standstill, and would so patently conduce to our political the poorer advantage in the country, where we are at
people suffering great dis- tress. Much has also been made in Japan, present as obviously being disadvantaged, and elsewhere, of Russia's domestic troubles, it seems very hard that that, official en. couragement should not be definitely forth are not sufficient to stop the war.
which undoubtedly exist; but all these things coming. So far as that goes, it would not
When be so much out of place to ask for pecuniary
the TSAR announces his determination to support. There are excellent precedents, bad enough; but not because the promise is see the thing through, it is mad enough and in the famous achievements of Lord too great for performance. BEACONSFIELD in the case of the Suez, taxpayer will feel the piuch later, but in the Canal, and in the railway successes of the meantime Russia can find the means to Soudan and Uganda. It is that mysterious continue the struggle indefinitely.
1 and obstructive entity which we call the usual in such circumstances, Russia also Treasury that seems to require stirring up. No popularly appointed politician seems to
has been indulging in that form of self- be responsible for its boary, hidebound saying about wishes being father to thoughts. deceit which is familiarly expressed in the traditions; i appears to be a gang of per. All kinds of stories of Japanese rebellions, manent officials swathed in red-tape, who and impoverishments, have been circulated are, supposing there were a Governmeut in Russia, and greedily swallowed, yet Japan capable of realising that there is such a is far less likely to cry "hold, enough,". country as China, with some important than Russia. Indeed, while humanitarians British interests demanding attention, still give Japan credit for willinguess to make not amenable to any outside influence. As peace at any stage on terms which are we have said, however, our concessionaries believed by most people to be reasonable expect.ro subsidies, not even guarantees. and right, it would be idle to expect that All that is immediately necessary is some of that real, diplomatic, moral support
what might be vulgarly designated the which has proved so effective in the cases of other nations. With that certain, it is not doubted that British capital would be plenteously available for the opening up of Chinese markets to our manufactures.
trade and
*
The Russiau
As is
top dog" should show itself particularly anxious to cease worrying. Yet this, to The enlightened, peace-loving, arbitration- some extent, has actually been the case. inclined, rescript-writing friend of Mr. STEAD is the one who has continued to pray to the God of Battles, and to talk of fight-