CHINA.

Opunake Times, Volume VIII, Issue 372, 5 April 1898, Page 2

CHINA.

The war scare raised in connection with the Russian encroachments in China bids fair to pass away without any probability now of the groat nations flying at one another’s throats. As we surmised some time back Russia has continued on the even tenor of her way and taken what she wanted in northern China, and the British jingoes are furious with Lord Salisbury for his apparent apathy. Probably if the jingoes knew as much as Lord Salisbury they would not be quite so eager for precipitating a war which would in all probability inflict more harm on themselves than on their enemies. Britain is admit-

tedly the undoubted mistress of the seas, but she is also the owner of the majority of the tonnage used in the commerce of the world. The total tonnage of vessels of over 100 tons, according to Lloyds Register, is 25,607,431 tons, and of these the United Kingdom and the Colonies owns 13,482,876 tons. It will therefore be seen that her position as mistress of the seas is as guardian more than as aggressor. Take Russia for instance, her "Total tonnage used in commerce is only 550,000 tons, and should a war arise between Britain and Russia, Britain undoubtedly has the naval power to destroy millions of tons of commercial shipping, but the millions of tons are not there to destroy. She might, and probably would, succeed in destroying a large portion of the Russian navy if they were unwise enough to come out aud fight, but even that would only be inflicting a monetary loss, as Russia’s uavyat present is mostly ornamental, not having any commerce worth speaking of requiring naval protection. Russia is and must remain a land power for a long time yet, and Britain’s naval strength is of no avail in stopping her aggression in that direction. The trans-Asiatic railway Russia has now under construction, will be more valuable to her for pushing her schemes ot territorial aggrandisement than three such navies as Britain possesses. In taking possession of Port Arthur aud Talienwan she condescendingly informs the world that she will throw them open, and extend the utmost hospitality to ships of every friendly nation, thereby implying that they are looked upon as absolutely hers. She does not mention what kind of hospitalty she is prepared to extend to ships of other than friendly nations, but we suppose to read between the lines we may take it that the 170 guns she is mounting there are for that purpose.