:
March 7, 1904.)
was generally recognise that the Japanese would offer a very determined and formida. ble defence, it was unlikely that in the long run their resources would stand the wear and tear of a prolonged war.
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175
COREA'S AGREEMENT WITH
JAPAN.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. (Da ly Press, 3rd March.)
The enormous distance of both fortresses | than it suffers, every skirmish, however The steps which Russia is taking at the from their bases of supply, and the imper- slight the immediate result, will be a Japa- present moment with regard to what may fect means bts have of obtaining reinforce- nese gain, and will ease the difficulty of n be called the wider range of the war-the ments are, however, their great source of shore campaign. Altogether, even at this points, that is, where it affects other nations weakness. As long as the holder of each early stage of operations, there is evidence than herse'f and Japan-
-are being closely remained in command of the sea, these that the Japauese are working on a definite watched by all concèrued. Two telegrams disadvantages were, of course, limited, and and well-planned scheme of operations; in which we publish to-day throw a good deal looking at the two as merely points d'appui which, moreover, there is a perfect under- of light on Russia's policy. In the first for further advance, both were admirably s'unding between Army and Navy. As the place, all British subjects have been expel-selected. As it was the general opinion, ports in the more northerly part of the led from Vladivostock, says our Tientsin not only in Russia itself, but throughout Fea of Japan are still closed with ice, the correspondent. Vladivostock can hardly be Europe, that Russia would continue to bave Japanese have been taking advantage of the considered a desirable place for a neutral to the advantage at sea, it was considered that enforced inactivity in the field to hurry on live in at the present moment, and British an early attack on Japan would mark the their preparations at home, and this is subjects are not loth to lewe, we imagine.opening of the campaign; and though it doubtless the reason of the wonderful The word expelled," however, has an
reticence that is marked their operations unpleasant ring, and particulars of the
hitherto. The nation is working as one trea:ment accorded to Mr. SCHWABE and
man, and secrets of state arc secrets to each the other British residents will be auxiously
individual from Emperor to shoe-black. awaited. Numerous acts of violence by
However plain may be the general objective, Russians against other people in various It speaks volumes for the military tactics succes is never likely to be endangered by parts of the North have been reported- of the Japanese that within twenty-four premature disclosures. notably the assault on Mr. MILLER, Unitel hours after the first shot was fired all these States Consul at Newcliwang -and it is confident forecasts were falsified; and, so far plain that the temper of the Russian soldiery from the war on their side being defensive, a' least is not to be trusted. The other print
within the first two days the venue was to which we wish to draw attention is the entirely changed, and the Japanese had not (Daily Press, 1st March.) attitude which Russia is taking up with only the choice of beginning, but had About the end of the third week of January regard to the question of contraband of war, actually force I the enemy to fight on the de-last-the news was first published to the She has declared coal, rice, and fool-stuffs fensive in a war, too, where all the danger world on the 23rd of that month-Corea to be contraband. The ques ion of coal is and damage lay with the defence. For the proclaimed that, in event of war between the most important. Russian warships in moment, at least, Japan is mistress of the Japan and Russia, she would remain the Gult of Saiz have already made several ea, and is thus in the position in which neutral. It was announced very shortly seiz .res of steers carrying coal, and Russia hoped to find herself, of being able after this that Russia did not approve of though all, up to the case of the Griel, re- uumo ested to land her forces at any part the declaration; yet, almost at the same posted by REUTER, seem to have been of the Curcan or Manchurian coasts she time, it was reported that it was due to the released, yet the fact of the vessels' seizure might select. This seems to be the true ex- machinations of a secret association of and detention must do much harm to trade.planatio of the apparently quixotic action It is noteworthy that by declaring, in the of the Japanese fleet before Port Arthur present war, that coal will be considered byou the 22nd and 23rd ultimo. It is plainly her contraband, Russia is making a w an object with the Japanese military departu e. Hitherto she has refused to lo authorities to compel the Russian generals so, and indeed in 1884, at the time of the to keep as large a force as possible at Port West African Conference, aunounced that Arthur to be ready for any eventuality that she would categorically refuso her consent may occur, this meaning that Port Arthur, to any articles in any treaty, convention, of being at the extremity of their long line of instrume.t whatever which would imply communication, to supply a garrison there such recognition of coal as contraband. absorbs the whole capacity of the line, aud The peculiarly awkward position in which any breach in the continuity would compel she finds herself in the war with the break-up or surrender of the entire Japan has caused Russia to inake force. We can only surmise, in the absence entire change of frout on the coal queniu. of any definite information, which the Jupa. Whether simultaneously they effected a It appears that she intends to use such of nese wisely keep to themselves, the object landing in any other part of Corea is un- her feet as remain‹ in the Gulf of Suez to of the last demonstration at Port Arthur. known. It seems more than probable that stop all supplies of coal coming out to Japan As the Japanese are at the moment misters they did so at Fusan at least, in order to from British home ports. The coal-cany- of the sea, it seems quixotic to seek to block keep control of the unfinished Fusan-Seoul ing vessels have, of course, the option of
the entrance against themselves; of course railway line; and the large number of tran- coming out to Japan via the Cape, thereby the explanation may be that the flet is re- spris known to have been collected at losing considerable time, but avoiding the quired in the Sea of Japan, and they do not Nagasaki and elsewhere have not yet been risk of meeting Russian warships unless wish in the case of the absence of the ships accounted for. All means of telegraphic there be any such in the Atlantic at that the Russiau flotilla should be able to communication (except Russinn land lines present. It renal s to be seen how iut rfere with their operations in the Yalu to Europe) having been in Japanese Russia's seizure of coal-carrying vessels gult. The Japanese have apparently been hands for some time, it is easy to under- will be received in Great Britain. It is Lunding a large force at Chemulpo. It is stand why we should have heard no- inevitable that difficulties shall arise over apparently their intention, as soon as the thing of what has beer happening in the question of contraband of war in entrance to the harbour is free of ice, to Southern and Easteru Corea. Anyhow, it is every war. We learnt that to our cost u occupy in force Broughton's lay. These certain that the Corean capital has beзn South Africa.
two armies will be prepare to act in sup-in Japan's possession for nearly twent por of one another, whether an advance is days, that she has been pouring troops in, to be made into the Suugari valley by Wiju while her fleet has securely tied up the or Mauerh-shan. More probably nither Russian squadron at Port Arthur, and that of these will be the definite object of the her forces have been steadily advaucing on campaign, which will more probably be Ping-yang, in Phyeng-an, the north-western- Vladivostock itself; and this will most like. must province of Corea, Now it appears, ly be attacked from Castries Bay, so as to by our Kobe telegram which we publish threatea Niuguta. Harbin, the vital point to-day, that on the 23rd February Corea of Russian activity in the Far East, is of signed a treaty of allianes with Japan, ap- course the eventual goal, and towards the parently, as our correspondent says, ranging a successful army would have'thus thresher with Japan as a belligerent and render- lines of approach; one by Wiju and Mouk- deu; one by Maoerh-shan au Kiriu; and the third by Hwenci'an and Ninguta. To carry out, or even initiate, so ambitious a schieme requires, of course, absolute com- mand of the sea, and this would explain the reiterated attacks on Port Arthur. So long as the Japanese fleet can inflict more damage
21
an
THE COMING LAND CAMPAIGN.
(Daily Press 4th March) By degrees the probable course of the summer's campaign is beginning to develop in Corea. Admuably chosen as the or- tresses at Port Arthur and Vladivostock are for an enterprising enemy with command of the sea, and always capable of acting on the offensive, they are both more or less of a trap when the holder has to act on the de- fensive. In the first plai e, they are cach at the extremity of Russia's alvance, and supplies can only be obtained from the rear, and from distant sources; and in the second, both are so placed as to be subject to bʊin- bardment, without being able to inflict any very serious injury in returu'on the enemy.
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Belgians, French, and Russians in com- munication with some of the higher Corean officials that the Seoul Government had taken te step. On the 8th February the Russian warship Korectz, coming out of Chemulpo harbour, fired what is alleged to have been the first shot in the war at a Japanese squadron then approaching Chemulpo. On the next day the Japanese vessels destroyed the Korectz and Varyay, and proceeded to land troops at Chemulpo. Refusing to recognise the neu rality of Corea, the Japanese proceedel to occupy Seoul, which was in their hands about the 11th ultimo.
ing invalid her previous declaration of neutrality. Perhaps the precise siguificance of this alliance is not greit. Seoul and the Corean Court being in Japanese custody, Corea could but fall in with Japan's wishes. For Corea all that the agreement with Japan means is that Corea will give up the hopeless task of attempting to maintain
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