58
NEUTRALITY.
+
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
|
|
roof the cats persist in fighting and cater- | wauling. He is angry, he objects, but he is helpless. If Russia does make any attempt to secure a naval base on the Chinese coast, from which to prosecute the war, the obvious duty of the other Powers lies in the direction of intervention. Other- wise, more distrust will be bred in Japan, whose opinion undoubtedly is of some mo- meut, if we desire to see peace in our time.
BRITISH NAVAL REORGANI- SATION,
[January 28, 1905, more
effective warship can discharge these duties, just as well, and be ready for more serious duties at the same time.
Those peace duties have their own importance, but to retain a lot of obsolete boats solely for them savours strongly of the philosophy of the man who cut two holes in his door, a little one for the kittens to enter by, and a larger one for the cat. The entente cordials with France has permitted the Navy Board to mollify the nervous Home ratepayer by con centrating the naval force in the Channel, at the expense of the Mediterranean fleet. The most important feature of all is indubi- tably the arrangement for perfetting hasty mobilisation, so that commanders-in-chief may always count upon the ships in reserve as fighting units. It is admitted by experts, or would be were they frank, that hitherto our reserve ships have been, in case of war, almost as negligible_as_Russia's Baltic The Home Fleet (now trawler-destroyers.
"the
styled Channel Fleet) is to be permanently increased in strength, the present eight battle- ships, two armoured cruisers, and a number of protected cruisers of small importance, giving place to twelve battleships and six
The latter are armoured cruisers. laddies to fecht," and the change is counted as meaning almost a doubling of our naval strength in the North Sea. Teutophobes will see in this something confirmatory of their recent seares, but we are quite sure A practical that it is nothing of the sort. sea fighter like Sir JOHN FISHER would probably have advised its necessity if there had been no German navy at all. The present Channel Flet then becomes the Atlantic Fleet, with its base at Gibraltar, and is ready to reinforce either the new Mediterranean or the Channel Fleet
(Daily Press, 23rd January.) If all the talk of a Yellow Peril were to be as though never uttered, if we were all agreed that it is nonsense to fear future aggression by a united Asia, we should still have to be facing a very real peril that has not been sufficiently talked of. The thing to be feared is, not what the Asiatics may do to the European, but what they will think of him. In the name of prestige, much has been sacrificed; but events incidental to the war between Japan and Russia, viewed in the mass, impartially, give rise to the
(Daily Press 24th January) question: Are the European nations be. Admiral Sir JOHN FISHER, the new First having in such a way as to maintain the Sea Lord, has proved his capacity. The prestige that really matters, the honourable new scheme of naval organization, a short reputation and character for fair dealing synopsis of which we have published, is that is more important than the most con- evidence of the truth of Sir JOHN's state- vincing demonstration of might or strength ment that the Admiralty Board is "united, | or prowess? Japan is still maintaining the determined, and progressive." There appears semblance of friendship for her ally, but, to be as much common sense as strategic remembering that all these polite Asiatics foresight about the re-arrangement. The are diplomats by nature, what unsuspected Times objects to the "mischievous tendency distrust, and even dislike, may there not be
to attribute the act on of the lurking behind their smiles, as they think Admiralty
to the personal influence of the way our nationals have helped to and initiative of this or that member of the coal the latest recruits to the Russian naval Board." Is this not a little foolish on the force? What must they be thinking of the part of our revered contemporary? Surely neutrality professions of France, who some one man has to moot a reform before a harbours the Baltic fleet for weeks at Board, or corporation, can carry it? If Madagascar, and who, it is now Parliament decides upon tariff reform, may openly suggested, connived, through her we not credit, or discredit, as our views officials at Saigon, at the smuggling of the incline, Mr. CHAMBERLAIN's responsibility? ammunition from the interned cruiser Diana There can be nothing mischievous in thus to the Tungchow which subsequently turned bestowing honour where honour is due, and up in Hongkong with the undelivered stuff. to Admiral FISHER most Britons will like It is unbelievable that such a thing as the to ascribe the discovery that warships, last mentioned could happen, and as a being intended for war, are better prepared matter of fact it needs confirmation; but and arranged for war. It bears out our
This, our. readers know how many strange contention, that Sir JOHN should have so Fleet, as occasion might require. rumours have come from that quarter, and bepraised the Admiralty Board, for what experimented in at the regular man- adagial philosophy teaches that where there more natural than that a man should think œuvres, should bring about very speedily is smoke there is fire. The rumour as it highly of the sense of a company that
a cohesion and general understanding
best our reaches us may be as apparent yet as approves and adopts his own ideas? It is the nebulous as a comet's tail, but, as in the only those who disagree with and oppose officers have often lamented. The Mediter- case of the caudally furnished asteroid, there us that we dub stupid. The Times leader ranean takes only eight b.ttleships under is a nucleus somewhere. From the point of in which we noticed the sentence quoted the new scheme, and fills its ranks with view of international law, the French might has other evidences of careless thought or more cruisers. The withdrawal of the small just as fitly invite the coming Armada t negligent writing. To quote only one in- foreign squadrons releases a lot of trained make Saigon its base as to have sheltered it stauce, our great compeer first refers to the men who will help to man more efficient so long at Malagascar. Some "benevolent reforms as "drastic," and then indulges in ships, and be enabled to devote themselves neutrality" might have been looked for a laboured argument to show that they to a study of war-time requirements. Plans from England and France toward their were in the nature of evolution, not re-affecting the China squadron are not fully respective allies, but the actual circum-volution. Such obvious indications of developed, and probably nothing important stances on both sides can have gone no way fallibility encourage us to insist that to will be done in their case until peace is toward establishing in the Japanese mind Sir JOHN FISHER, and to him principally, restored in the Far East. The survival of that faith in the political honesty of the the thanks of the nation, and of such mem the Japanese Fleet, after a formidable foreigner that was lost in 1895. They made bers of it as take particular interest in the struggle, should argue, supposing our no outery then that is not the Japanese bulwarks of Old England, are due. Out alliance to hold firm, less need for the ser way, but this war is admittedly partly here, where Sir JOHN's exploits at the vices of this squadron in the future, and animated by the spirit of revenge for the capture of Canton and the Peiho Forts, and we doubt not that the future will see particular Russian action of that date. later in the China war of 1859-60, are still
a considerable reduction, the pick of them The turo of Germany, who was also a party, remembered, we feel some sort of warmer going to augment the other forces. The may come. Statements to that effect have personal interest in his doings since his wisdom of such a step is a master that no appeared sporadically in the Press. Hosti-promotion to the high and responsible one can estimate with certainty. Numerous lity toward England seems impossible under office he now holds. Of the features objectors, especially the Yellow Peril people, present arrangements, but it is difficult to of the naval re-organisation recently an- would give tongue ; but the party of economy think that the patched up confidence of nounced, the withdrawal of obsolete vessels at Home has as much to say as the ad- Japan ia ber ally can have been strengthened is also of quite local interest, removing as herents of the strong naval policy. Before by the tardy interference of our Govern- it does what we might call, were we un abandoning the subject, we would like to ment with the doings at Cardiff. Wherever fortunately not Irish, some naval "land point out, as a sample of true common-sense, the Tungchow's cargo came from, its intend- marks" from Chinese rivers and coasts. the item in the general instructions which ed destination was patent, and its arrest In a short time, whenever we gaze upon permits flag officers to act sometimes on and storage at Hongkong was effected none
their own initiative, instead of always re-
too soon.
shall know that we are gazing upon a craft ferring everything to the Almiralty. If fit and ready for fighting, and not a portable this had always ben so, many regretiable residence for naval tea-parties. The vessels things would not have happened. There withdrawn are in numerous instances quite would, perhaps, have been no incidents such seaworthy, but would stand a very poor as those recent events in the Red Sea, which chance in actual fighting. For economical must have made BERESFORD grind his reasons, therefore, it is desirable to conse❘ teeth, and NELSON 1ura in his grave. expending money on craft that are useless for any purpose other than firing salutes and what Lord SELBORNE has called the " peace duties of Imperial police." Aut por, four fatal.
:
As for China, no one seems to consider that her opinion counts for anything more than Corea's does. The Russian aspersions on her observance of neutrality are trans- parently a modern repetition of the excuse of the wolf in the fable, the wolf that ate the unoffending lamb, China's good faith, happening to coincide with her self interest, cannot be doubted. Her attitude is pro bably that of the householder upon whose
the war vessel that flies the Union Jack, we
·
lack of which
naval
The present year's plague cases now number saven, last week having added three. Three cases of enteric are reported, and six of small-
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.