CHINA AND THE WAR

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 102, 27 October 1914, Page 2

CHINA AND THE WAR

ALLEGATIONS OF EVIL GERMAN INFLUENCE GERMAN GOOSE AND JAPANESE GANDER. The Pekin correspondent of the North China Daily News writes as follows :— The action of the Chinese Government in announcing to the various Legations on 3rd September that it cannot hold itself responsible for the obligations of strict neutrality at such points within Lung-kow, Lai-chow, and the neighbourhood of Kiao-chau Bay as are absolutely necessary for the passage and use of belligerent troops operating in connection with the defence and attack of Tsing-tao, occasions relief in foreign circles in particular and Chinese circles in general. Among the representatives of belligerent nations it was expected that China would follow the precedent she created at the' time of the RussoJapanese war, when she made the territory east of the Liao free for the movement of troops, and that she Ikis done so removes the possibility of any illadvised resistance being offered to Japanese forcesin their operations. Some Chinese describing themselves as patriots have advocated armed opposition, of the Japanese, but their endeavour to arouse public sentiment along these .lines fortunately failed to materialise. They wete inspired, however, not by patriotio motives so much as by German influence, and their patriotism it limited, no doubt, by pecuniary considerations. MYOPIC GERMANS' EVIL INFLUENCE. Certain myopic Germans ha-ve been employing every means available to influence the Chinese Government and people against Britain, France, Eussia, Belgium, and Japan. Anonymous articles of a scurrilous nature have been launched against the British in particular, and evidence of German inspiration can be detected in various Chinese papers. It is true that some members of the present Cabinet are pro-German* and a wide circle of officers in the army make no effort to conceal that they hope to see German arms triumph. This is due to a large extent to the fact that many high military officers have received their training in Germany, and upon this foundation German agents have endeavoured to create a belief in tho Chinese mind that the Teuton arm is strong enough to smite a world of foes hip and thigh, and save China from an alleged menace in the shape of a scheming coterie known as the allied nations. No objection can be taken, of course, to a people developing in their own mind, a point of view with regard to the war, but when deliberate effort is being made by the subjects of one of the belligerents to foster by calumny a spirit of hatred in the Chinese against subjects of other belligerents, it is time that attention was called to it in the sharpest terms. The Germans engaged in this reprehensible enterprise cut sticks wherewith they themselves may be beaten, and German Legation and Consular officials in China are shortsighted if they do not counsel then? nationals to restrain themselves in this direction. If anti-foragnism develops in China at this juncture the genesis of it vuill be found in the campaign now being carried on by Germans in various parts of the country. " MADNESS " OF A MEETING. An attempt was made a few days ago to call a meeting , of . Chi.nefie , near Kettler Monument, to pass resolutions urging the Government to fight Japan, but happily the madness was coniiJied. to the agitators. Behind this reckless movement was, it is said, German influence; and that statement is to be credited when the bitterness being exhibited on account of the entry of the Japanese forces into the conflict is remembered. Pro-German though some of the Cabinet may be, they are not yet entirely bereft of their senses, and the "advice" to assail Japanese invaders has, so far ; ac they are concerned, fallen, upon 1 deaf j ears. Instead, tho Government has widened the area wherein operations may be undertaken, and by doing so has now incurred the wrath of the Germans, The Chinese are charged in certain German quarters with conniving at their own downfall by submitting to tho pressure of Britain and Japan to permit acts in violence of neutrality. JAPAN'S ACTION. This afternoon (4th September) the German Charge d' Affaires announced to the Foreign Office that a protest would be lodged against the declaration of yesterday. During the evening he took the steps necessary to record tho disapproval of Germany. What the Chinese will reply, if they do reply, is obvious. The (Germans have made the fullest use of China's railways aaid means of transportation since the outbreak of the war to convey men and munitions and food to Tsingtau, rvnd they are stated to have "pressed" Chinese coolies into their service at Tsingtau in the making of defences. The recital of these facts constitutes sufficient answer to the German official protest against China's acceptance of the inevitable in permitting tho troops of Japan to land at certain plsicee ; and, in addition, the retort is availa-ble that Germany invited the trouble she is about to find herself in by fortifying Tsingtau and garrisoning it with all available reserves immediately upon the declaration of war. What is sauce for the German goose is likewise sauce for the Japanese gander. The leisurely manner in which the besieging force is going about its business is worrying the Germans considerably, particularly thotie unhappy wighte within the death trap. They have a considerable length of sodden country to traverse before they will settle down to an investment, and the opinion held here ie that they will take- their time about developing the land campaign. Artillery duels will be the order of many days after the Japanese have their siege guns in position, .jnd the hope is that the garrison will capitulate before desperate bloodshed is called for. CHINESE IDEA OF THE DEFENCE OF TSINGTAU. While the Germans imagine that their action in defending Tsingtau will insptie the Chinese with high, respect for them, it is having an effect upon the Chinese mind quite tho reverse.' High officials have spoken to me in tones of utmost astonishment of the folly of the Germans in throwing away lives, when German men will be so badly needed in the future. The Chinese look upon the action of Tsingtau as one of gross stupidity on tho part of Germany, and leave discussion of the- subject with a shrug of the shoulders, which indicates that, in th oj r opinion, the Germans have lost their reason. "Why," said an official to me the other day. "did the Kaiser; not say to the Germans in the East, stick to your business and be good live Germans, rather than pass a sentence of death upon them? What have they done, these merchants, to be ordered to pen themselves in Tsingtau tt> be shot at and killed for no good purpose?" And tin's is the general sentiment throughout the cii,\ ; and no doubt throughout the country, for the German action finds no sympathy in the minds of the Chinese. Their process of thought i» suck thai what the Occidental regards as the acme of heroism is accepted by tlitm «« Ui&.yia&v6aß6fljc§--.oj foohaMegs.