102
THE ADVANCE ON PEKING.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
(Daily Press, 7th August.) As will be seen by our telegram published in another column, it is not expected that the advance on Peking will prove an easy walk-tion to take up, but they have had obvious over, or even that it will be as readily ac-
excuses for it on both sides; for they could complished as was the march of Sir HOPE no doubt assure the Throne (or Prince GRANT and Baron PALIKAO in the last TUAN ?) that they had been keeping the Chinese War. Although Tientsin City has foreign devils in check-and perhaps (who been stormed and captured, and the Chinese knows ?) fooling them with concocted tele- troops beaten back with heavy losses, they grams concerning many matters, notably have returned, like the flies, in apparently the situation in Peking; and, on the other undiminished numbers and again surround hand, they could, with apparent sincerity, the City and settlements. They muster in tell the Foreign Consuls that they had strong force outside, and they will no doubt been obliged to use great tact and make determined efforts to resist the advance moderation in order to restrain the turbulent of the Allied Army. It is to be hoped that and anti-foreign elements within their the Allies have not made the mistake of jurisdiction. What could be more plausible, underestimating the foe. It must not be especially joined to the irreproachable de- forgotten that the latter have the whole
meanour they have hitherto preserved? But country for their base, and that whatever
we hope, none the less, that too much trust losses they sustain can be made good im- will not be reposed in these high dignitaries. mediately, whereas the Allies will grow Up to a point they mean well by us, no weaker as they advance, and after every doubt, because they recognise the mad folly engagement will be more and more hamper- of the Peking Government in rushing blindly ed with the care of the wounded. The into a war with the whole Western world. Chinese have unlimited resources in men, Events may happen, however, that may and, thanks to the eagerness with which shake their decision to stand neutral. They their wants in this direction have been sup-may be drawn into the conflict against their plied by European makers, they possess an ample stock of the most approved modern 'arms. Their weakness will be first in want of discipline, secondly in want of care in handling their weapons, and, thirdly, in the unintelligent use thereof. But as a set off to these drawbacks and the paucity of skilled leaders, must be placed their ex- treme mobility and the utter indifference shown by their Government to the an- nihilation of whole battalions. In China above all other countries, human life is held cheaply, and a victory would be lightly bought that cost almost any number of peasants. The difficulties of the march to the capital are therefore not exaggerated when they are described as serious. To overcome them successfully without too great a sacrifice of life, will task our own resources and the ability of our commanders to the utmost. It is sincerely to be hoped that they will neither be drawn into traps such as the Boers laid for us nor commence the march with too small a force.
There is some little danger, moreover, of the British and foreign authorities over-estimating the influence of the Chinese officials in the southern provinces and reckon- ing too much on their friendly feeling and good offices. So far the Yangtze Viceroys have shown an apparently friendly and sen- sible demeanour. They have been obviously correct, and very probably they are in reality sincerely anxious to avert a quarrel with the Treaty Powers and equally as desirous of maintaining peace in their provinces. But it will not do to trust too far to this apparent goodwill and evident desire to avoid a quarrel. The time may come when these officials will no longer be able to main- tain the correct and neutral attitude they have hitherto presented. It is reported. and this doubtless from a Chinese source, that the Viceroys CHANG CHIH-TUNG, LIU KUNG-YI, and LI HUNG-CHANG and the Taotai SHENG are even now expecting to receive an Imperial Decree degrading them and remov- ing them from office. If is also said that two ministers of the Tsung-li Yamen known to have foreign predilections have been de- capitated. If this be true, it is certainly alarming; if it is not correct, it is put into currency with a most sinister design. The true policy of the Treaty Powers is to trust no Chinese officials until they have been so far proved that they are at open and irre- concileable variance with the Peking authori-
[August 11, 1900,
the matter of natural inference
When
ties, whoever the latter may now be. there had been delay So far the Southern Viceroys have had a | armour-plating, and the comparatively easy part to play. They have, it would be that we were likely to be hampered is true, been sitting on the fence, which is from this cause in future. Against this un- not ordinarily an easy or comfortable posi-supported statement of the First Lord there is, fortunately, the fact that the three prin- cipal steel-making firms in Sheffield have been recently enormously extending their works, and the Chairman of one, at least, has openly stated that his firm is fully able to meet any possible strain that may be im- posed on it. The great firm of ARMSTRONG, WHITWORTH and Co. says that it is at the moment in a position to undertake the building of three full-sized battle-ships and three first-class cruisers, while the almost equally famous firm of HUMPHRYS, TEN- NANT and Co. are prepared to build the machinery, Nor has the nation at large evinced any disposition to withhold sup plies on even a more lavish scale than at present; so that there must be some other reason sought for the apparent delay than has as yet appeared on the surface. last year at the Peace Congress, held at the initiative of the Tsar of Russia, a proposi- tion was made that the great military Powers should combine in some scheme of general disarmament, none opposed the idea more strongly than Russia herself, and judgment, and even against their inclina- there was no reason to distrust her good- tions. As for LI HUNG-CHANG and his apt faith in the affair. Since that, as if in con- pupil and protegé SHENG Taotai, they are firmation of the view of the Russian Go- not to be trusted for an hour. They will vernment, there has not only been a war in serve the Imperial Government, no matter Africa which might have become serious had of whom it consists, if they can do so safely. Great Britain not been prepared to meet it They will endeavour to accomplish this by effectively, but here in China. a position first attempting to win the confidence of hitherto unprecedented in the history of the some of the Powers and then, by covert pro-world has arisen, with the curious and unex- mises, seeking to destroy the accord that pected result that those very military pre- exists and bring about a hopeless breach parations which each Power only last year among them. It is not improbable that the was condemning in her neighbour have now authors of this war calculated upon the been utilised in the common interest of all. apparent estrangement existing between Of all the Powers no one has, however, more Great Britain and some of the Continental rapidly come to the front than Great Britain, Powers to prevent any united action, or at and this in the face of the fact that she was any rate to enable them eventually to cause by no means the most favourably situated a breach among the principal Powers. as far as distance was concerned, but mainly However this may be, it is morally certain from the circumstance that her large and that this is the role which it was intended widely distributed navy enabled her to strike the veteran LI HUNG-CHANG should play, at the earliest moment. Even in the gen- and which he will no doubt gladly accept eral interest of civilisation, it has, un- should opportunity offer. As for SHENG, he doubtedly, been an advantage that a Power has already been made eminently useful. having no ulterior desires of aggrandisement As Director-General of the Telegraph Ad- at the expense of China should have been ministration, he has given such news or able to give a direction to the current of rumours to the world as has served the pur- events which all, when their own private pose of the Peking Government, as is proved aims are eliminated, must acknowledge was by the fact that never yet has he permitted for the common good. In the affair of the a direct message from one of the Foreign war with the late republics in South Africa Ministers now supposed to be interned in the naval power of Great Britain was no less the Imperial City to his Government or of utility to the world at large, inasmuch as his chief subordinate in the Consular service. it prevented a flame which might very well Mystery still encompasses Peking like a
have eventuated in a general conflagration In fact up cloud, and this will only be dissipated, we from gaining undue headway. fear, when the relieving army forces its to a certain extent these large preparations way into the capital.
are a sort of insurance of peace, as they ren- der too dangerous to the peace of the world the first breach of decorum on the part of, an unthinking nation, which might other- wise involve in a useless contest the rest of (Daily Press, 10th August.) the world. At all periods the possession of There seems little doubt that in Contin-
a powerful fleet by England has acted thus ental circles persistent efforts are being in a manner as a peace insurance. For made to induce Great Britain to come to merely offensive purposes a fleet is of com- some arrangement to reduce the rate of paratively little account, unless perchance building of vessels for the navy; and some it should come to be supplemented by an people have gone so far as to assert that the overwhelming army. Fortunately for the check in the building programme last year peace of the world no country as yet has had a mysterious connection with certain in-held the predominance both by sea and land, fluences known to have been brought to bear and it is notorious
exception to the rule. on the Prime Minister. Without going this modern times is not England in these length it is noteworthy that certain of the The rule is perhaps too deep-seated for its allegations made with reference to this par- fundamental reason to be at once evident on tial delay are contested by men who have the surface, but whatever it is, it certainly every means of forming a just conclusion. is displayed in the natural inability to con The Admiralty, for instance, gave it out that duct an extensive military campaign with-
BRITAIN'S ARRESTED NAVAL DEVELOPMENT.
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