March 12, 1904.]
secrecy and Pressmen are incompatible. One or the other must be sacrificed, and the Japanese are wisely determined that their national existence shall not be imperilled for the sake of British newspaper-readers or any other. The mere fact of letting one correspondent go for ward would meau having to let all go; and if London papers, even without a line of informs tion about troops, simply said, “Our special correspondent was last heard of at Bingbang this would be immediately noted by eager Rassians, who could infer that the correspon dents would not be there if there was nothing to see. Moreover, if i ressmen were allowal ou
17
the scene, some one of them would surely be unable to resist the temptation to smuggle kis 4 news away despite all precautions and re- gardless of consequences; for there are such deeds done sometimes. Already two or three - men have been plainly warned to leave the Far East entirely, because they were found dangerous in this way. A newspaper triumph might
c nceivably wreck an empire.
So, one begins to be afraid of saying even what is allowed to be seen. Day by day I see trainloads of soldiers leaving Tokyo in full campaign order, with all impedimenta for active service; for my own information I cau count, pretty fairly, how many men fill a compartment of the train, how many there are per train, how many trains, and so on; and I would greatly like to tell you the figure which is in my mind, representing the troops that have passed down Japan's main trunk railway from the headquar- ters to the shipping place. I would like to tell you, but not to tell the Russians,
Some idea of the gigantic struggle that is to come may be gathered from the indications in the Tsar's published statements. He is reported to have declared that the Russian people must not look for early success, as it was intended to deal a tremendous blow with all the weight of the empire's forces, which would take months to prepare; meantime the Russian defence centres at Harbin, far in the interior. If the Tsar means what he is quoted as saying, he means to take up a position where Japan cannot attack so easily as from the sea, yet where he would constantly menace the Japanese if they confined their attention to the seaboard. This, then, would be a war with armies running into the hundreds of thousands, not mere tens of thousands as when Japan beat another suppos.d "Colossus," ten years ago. The war may range over thousands of miles of the wildest country, it may reach Titanic dimensions, like those of Bajazet and Timur the Tartar, Genghis, and Kublai Khan. At any rate, I think there is no harm in saying that Japan appears to be ready for some such
enormous effort.
¦
There were in ordinary times 34 trains per day carrying passengers from Tokyo to Yokohama and farther west. Now there are ten; the difference represents not necessarily a precise number of troop-trains, but so much ordinary traffic stopped to allow for military re- quirements. And the troop-trains are so fre- quent that the country people, at any rate the village children and many adults, seem to pass all their time now alongside the railway, cheer- ing the soldiers as they are børne past from time to time. All along the line, about every half-mile, there are gay decorations on a some- what elaborate scale, for simple peasantry; festoons of flags and lanterns, lighted up at night with occasional fireworks, devices in ever- greens, model warships, and so on. And at night numerous bonfires are kindled, and the country-folk wait round these until late into the wintry nights, shouting loyally as the trains go by. At the stations, and in the streets of big towns, the enthusiasm takes more imposing form; whole streets arched, festooned, gaily decked and illuminated after dark, while cheering crowds can sometimes be heard at midnight, a mile or two across the town.
All this brave show is touching, when one knows that such demonstrations in Japan are purely dutiful and by instruction, never spon- taneous. These people are willing, eager, to show their devotion, but they never do such things of themselves, Paternalism 80 far, with these dutiful people, that they never say “Hurrah” until the policeman, or the village headman, or some per- son in authority, signifies that this is the correct moment. They hang out banners joyfully,
goes
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE report.
when told by the authorities. In such matters they invariably wait to be told. There is little the enthusiasm is real and thorough, even or no spontaneity, as we understand it.
Yet
thongh so docile and d'sciplined. A Japanese will be proud and happy to die for his Emperor, yet would never dare to cheer him when passing' in the street, for such a thing has never yet been sanctioned.
At Shinbashi station I saw two women, per haps mother and daughter, crying, and a small boy with them. He also cried, till he noticed a foreigner, and then he just stared gravely. He came forward a slap or two, so I asked " What makes you cry, little man?" He managed to understand my Ja, auese, and said, "Father Mother and sister, all crying." "Not a bit-disagreeable
gone to war.
ather cry too? (old beast!"""
་་
war, which
now, the more I see history simply repeating The more I see of the country and people itself. The world has generally imagined that the war of ten years ago between Japan and China was a farce, that the Chinese "did uot fight, and that the Japanes, had a walk- over, proving nothing as to their capabilities. The world at large does not think very careful. I ly. My view of that through from beginning to end, was that the went Chinese made by no means a poor fight; they did even better than I think some natious of Europe would do, and the Japanese won, not by a walk over, but by sheer hard fighting and skil ful tactics. They tackled an opponent just, ten times their size, an opponent that had been long dreaded by the rest of the world. Now, Rus. sia is no bigger than China. It fills more space ou the map, but that is a disadvantage. I cannot help thinking it is the same old story of the torpedo and the whale; bulk counts for nothing against fire and force. The Chinese were defeated because of defects which the Russians also possess in very marked degree: officers steepad in peculation and corruption. more given to pursuits of pleasure and dissipa. tion than to earnest work; meu more clods, underpaid, brutalised, brave enough, but
too dull-willed to be of use. I have not seen all the regiments of Russia, but I marched to Peking in 190) with something like 20,0 10 Russians, of the same sort that will face the Japanese, and I could not help thinking they were like so many thousand sheep or bullocks. Armies of millions are valueless if made of material inferior to their opponents. From what I have seen of Russiaus and Japanese and Chinese in action, I think the points of essential difference between the war of 1994 and that of 1894 will prove sur- prisingly, small.
THE WAR.
201
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.]
London, 7th Mar., 10.55 8.m. An states that seven Japanese war vessels official despatch to S. Petersburg bombarded Vladivostock for the space of damage was done. one hour on Sunday at long range. No
{
TIENTSIN, 8th Mar., 10.50 a.m. The rase of the deportation of Mr. Joha Cowen, Editor of the Chini Times, mono- polises interest in this port. The China Times states that the sentence was pissel without Mr. Cowen being given a trial, with no evidence adduced, and no defence allowed.
have telegraphed their congratulations to The war correspondents in Manchuria Mr. Cowen for the stand he has made, on
behalf of the freedom of the Press.
London, 8th Mar., 10.55 a.m. re-shelling of Vladivostock
The Japanese squadron resumed its on Monday. suffering any damage. The effect of the It is reported that they drew off without bombardment ou the Russian port is not
known.
KOBE, 10th Mir., 4.50 p.m.
morning of the 6th inst. (Sunday) the Admiral Kamimura reports that on the Japanese fleet bombarded Vladivostock, minutes. The Russian forts made no firing being continued for a period of forty
response.
It is also reported that another Japanese squadron bombarded Talienwan on Tues- day night. Operations lasted until next morning.
experience, but the time is not stated
Port Arthur has also undergone a similar
KOBE, 10th Mar., 8.50 p.m. Auother brush between the scouts of the Russian and Japanese forces has occurred at Pak-chyon, north of Pingyang. The Japanese, who fought against olds, lost one man killed. The Russians ultimately re- tired northwards.
CONTRABAND OF WAR.
The Acting Colonial Secretary notified us on the 9th inst. that the following telegrim from the Secre ary of State for the Colonies bad been received :-
London, 8th March. "Russian declaration as to contraband states as follows:-En général tous les objets destinés i la guerre, sur mer ou sur la terre, de même que le riz, les vivres, et les chevaux, bêtes de sommes, et autres pouvant servir dans un but de guerre et si elles sont transportés pour le compte ou destination de l'ennemi.
44
Ons difference is in the number of foraiga Pressmen and military attachés, In those days there were very few, ouly three or four of each; now there are shoals of them, dozens and scores of them. Japan treats them only too well; in this tedious "wait between the acts," the whole swarm passes its time dining and wining, attending lavish banquets ffered by enthusiastic Japanese on one pretext or another, with geisha-dances, acrobats and jugglers, and all kinds of entertainment. Some of the foreign guests dino not wisely but too well at these festive gatherings, and make extraordinary exhibitions of themselves before their astonished Oriental hosts. "C'est magnifique, mais ce n'est pas la guerre!' In every village and Le Courrier Saigonnais gives the text of the mountain glen, there are daily enacted thrilling joiut protest signed at Chemaipo on the 8 h and touching scenes, worthy the cleverest penult. by Captains Lewis Bayly, of H.M.S. Talbot, or brush. But in Tokyo the daily complaint is
'No news; we must wait."
The Editor of the Ghina Times at Tientsiu
whose deportation is impending for publishing certain articles on alleged Russian cruelties, is the brother of Mr T. Cowen, formerly of Hongkong, with whom his identity has been confused in telegrams on the subject appearing, until about three years ago, held a position on in some of our contemporaries. Mr. John Cowen,
during the Boxer troubles. He decided to the London Times, and came out to China
remain and to start the paper which has recently given such dire offence to the Russian community at Tientsin and Peking. The paper is now owned by a limited liability manager. Mr. T. Cowen is with the Japanese company, Mr. Cowen being Editor and general army as the correspondent of the London Daily Chronicle.
Japan regards provisions as contraband of war when destined for the enemy's army or navy, or in cases where, being goods arrived at enemy's territory, there is reason to believe they are intended for use of his army or navy."
THE JOINT PROTEST AT CHE 31 ULPO.
Borea, of the Italian cruiser Elba, and Sennès, of the French cruiser Pus:al, agðu÷t the action of the Japanese Admiral Urin at Chemulpo on that day. Translated, it reads as follows :-
Russian
three neutral warships, British, French, and "We the andersigned, in command of the Italian, in acknowledging the recipt of your letter of the 8th February, with respect t your intention of attacking the warships now in this harbour at 4 o'clock in in the afternoon of this day, the 8th February, following declaration: have the honour to call your attention to the
ledged rules of International Law, the harbour "We consider that, according to the acknow-
of Chemalpo being a neutral harbour, no country has the right to attack the ships of another which contravenes this law is entirely responsible country lying in this harbour; and the Power
for all injury to life or property of persons in
such a harbour.
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