PATER'S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2686, 6 September 1905, Page 84

PATER'S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

— The Universal Surprise.— •

Readers of the Witness last week were, I suppose, astonished when they read the terms of peace between Russia and Japan. It is a case of the victors vanquished and the vanquished supreme. I did not think that Japan would get all she wanted; but, at the same time, it seemed to me that Russia was in so utterly hopeless a state as to be forced into any terms the Japanese might impose upon Kbr. Put th© position this way : Supposing Russia had refused to concede a single jot ; supposing that she still persisted in saying that she would not evacuate Manchuria or Mongoih, what more could Japan do? Get back to Harbin? Take Vladivostock '{ What then? Granted that she has command of the sea, the importance of which has been -so clearly shown in t-he war just concluded, and in our Boer war — could she touch the heart of Russia? TVe have colonies and commerce and gx".?at citied easily affected by the viscissitudes of war ; what about Russia's cities, colonies, and commerce? She is self-contained ond impenetrable. Supposing the eastern baJf of Siberia were to fall into Japan's hands, to what extent would that influence the commerce or politics of Russia in Europe? It has been said that Japanese battleships could proceed to the Baltic ; I doubt it. But, supposing they got there, again, what good pur-pose would be served? St. Petersburg is unapproachable ; besides, I doubt very much whether the European nations would allow a demonstration by an Asiatic Power in European waters. Russia knows her strength, and has known how to use it.

What about Japan? I am jiretty sure that the struggle has been a very much more severe one than x?e have imagined. We are pro-Japanese and have an offensive and defensive alliance with her, so the news sent over the -wires was despatched to suit- our palates. The _co?t of the war has been immense, especially from a Japanese standpoint. Takingmoney and its purchasing power, as we understand it, the self-denial of the Japanese has been almost beyond belief, for the battleships, etc., hiring of European transports, paying for English coal nave all had to be paid for in Western terms of value. The Armstrongs charged the Japanese a million or more for a firstclass battleship, and do not charge England more when the wages are perhaps 10 times as high. This fact must he borne ia mindj, Jajianesg earnings h.ava

not ncaily the same purchasing power outside of Japan as in Japan, consequently a hundred millions of their money spent in Europe would mean no more to us than perhaps twenty millions in our own country. Of course the converse stands true, too.

There is one factor I haven't noticed. I really think it would have been better for mankind if the war had been continued a while longer. Vladivostok might have beon taken, and perhaps another bloody bat:le fought. Baghalien might then 'ha^o been ceded entirely, and even an indemnity given also, because Japan's greatest ally, not England, but internal disorder, would have forced the Czar to capitulate. As it is, I am afraid that, in the long run, there will be more lives lost than if Russia were to experience another crushing defeat or two now. Then there would be a chance of the reform party getting some share of popular government ; as it is, I am afraid that reformers will be crushed out of existence and the advance of civilisation thrown back for a generation. Russid, no doubt, wi]l also bend all her energies to the reconstruction of a navy, and to consolidating her position in Asia prior to making another step forward. Perhaps another factor oaght to be considered when we assume that Japan ha 3 been too generous. Is she generous because the new treaty between her and ourselves is such that she need not fear Russian aggression for some years to come? Did we bring pressure tt bear, anticipating trouble for ourselves in Europe, and wanting Japan's navy to assist us? — Saghalien. — A reference to the map will show that in one respect— that of area— by dividing Saghalien with the 50lh parallel Russiagets the advantage ; but, on the othei hand, Russia's portion is the more northerly, and, therefore, the bleaker in climate. Up to about 100 yeina-s ago Sagbalien belonged tic China, when Japan claimed it. Ths Japanese then considered themselves the misters of the southern part ; but in 1875, when a dispute arose with Russia, they ceded the whole island to Russia m reLurn for the Kurile Island®. They roundi out, however, that they had made a badi bargain. The next paragraph is a condensation of an encyclopedia article on Saghnlien. It will be noticed that tigers are mentioned ; but the latitude seems to me to be too high for tigers, for we generally associate them with tropical or subtropical regions. The Amos sre quite different in, type from either the Chinese cr tihe Japanese. Yesso, the most northerly of the Japan Islands, is inhabited mainly by this race. Japanese and Chinese have very little hair on their faces, but the Amos have an abundance of long black whiskers and long lank black hair on their heads. Siberia, is about 670 miles long and from, 20 to 150 miles wide, with an area of about 24,550 square miles.. Owing to tha vicinity of ice-floes off the east coast, and: to the dense forests, chiefly of coniferous trees, which clotibe the mountains (5000 ft) that run from end to end of the island 1 , the rainfall is heavy and mists very prevalent, so that the climate is on -the whole extremely raw and cold. The rivers are navigable only for a short distance ; but they, as well as the adjeining seas, -teem, with fish, the rivers especially with, salmon. Petroleum and naphtha exist on the island, asx! coai is mined by Russia/a convicts. Bears, sables, wild deer, tigers, flnd ether wild' animals occur. The inhabitants are Russians, Amos, a couple of Mongolian races, with some Japanese. — Clippings.— Tlie first is taken from an educational journal, and is nisant to be read for a composition exercise, and a capital one it makes, too. The second strikes me as being a good piece of poetry to think over. —No Report.— The train was just off, and Jeannie was congratulating herself on the prospect of having a compartment all to herself, when a smartly-dressed man rushed on to the platform and sprang into her carriage, not an instant too soon. "Just did it, after all,'' he muttered, as he flung himself into a corner seat, and prepared to enjoy the evening paper. Jeannie leaned forward. "I'm vera. sorry, sir," she said ; "but " "I never listen to beggars!" said the smartly-dressed one curtly. "But, sir " "If you attempt to address me again I shall report you to the guard!" he snapped. And Jeannie said no more. In due course the train stopped at Killietochie, and Jeannie prepared to alight. "I dinna oare if ye report me or no," she said slyly; "but I maun be having that pun o' butter ye've been sitting on for the last sax mile I" —Robin Adair. — The very oddest boy I know Is Robin Adair with his head of tow, And his big bright eyes wheie the questions grow. For this very same boy is asking "Why?" From the time that morning paints the sky l Till the sleepless stars come out on high,-— Why is oatmeal healthy and caudy good? Is it always naughty to do as you would?. And would you be an angel if you could? Why does the sun sleep back of the trees At home when in summer he takes his ease All night in the rocking bed of the seas?. Why is it bad for boys to fight And for soldier men so brave and ngnt 6 Why do I love you best at nigh../ Why do the oaks and elms stand' tall, And the apple trees do the work for ail, With their gna.led old branches ready to fa UK Why does a great, strong gen'leman tide In a carriage, handsome, a.nd soft, and wide, And a tired old woman walk by its side? Ah! Eobin, I'll neither laugh nor cry, But I'll teach you a secret deep and high— - The giov.n-up children keep asking "Way?* And the answers aie somewhere, safe and fair, Beyond the star and the starlit air, For men and women and Eobin Adair. —Dx Frances Ruth Robinson, Oxford, O.j 1 ~~ ja Wide Awaka.