The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1914 THE GREAT WAR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 100, 18 August 1914, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1914 THE GREAT WAR.

Yet another development of tlit Great War now raging lias occurred, and Japan, obviously uneasy for some time with regard to Germany, and ’ avowedly most anxious to fully maintain the general interests and inten- ■ tions of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, lias entered the arena. Politely, in : the most courteous terms, and at the same time with uncompromising directness, Japan has simply ordered Germany off China’s soil and given her one" week to remove her ships from Chinese or Japanese waters, or, alternately to disarm and intern those vessels she is unable to remove. A further demand that the entire territory at Kaio-chao shall bo at once handed over to Japan unconditionally for eventual restoration to China, is not by any means half-hearted, and indicates Japan’s ' willingness—if not anxiety—to pay off some old scores, ft hardly seems probable that Germany with her inflated militancy and arrogant bearing is likely to submit, but with her hands full m Europe, if she does not, Japan will very speedily enforce the demands so pointedly made. Though Kaio-chao is well fortified, it really can offer no sustained resistance to Japan at this time. Its chief value to Germany is as a coaling station, and it was secured at the close of the ClunoJapanose war, at the close of winch Germany was one of the most persistent of the Powers in objecting to Japan obtaining the fruits of victory in the shape of any substantial territory in China, while Germany took cart to take what she herself wanted. At that time Japan could do nothing, but her advance in the world’s history and as a power to be considered, lias been most remarkable. Her more recent history is too well-known to need recapitulation, ami it is moderately safe to assume that if Japan has decided expel Germany permanently from Eastern wafers she will accomplish the work. ■\yiiat further complications may arise through this activity on the part of i

tlie*. Japanese it is exceedingly hard to predict, hut the changes that have come about in the world during the past few years have been so extraordinary that one merely waits in wonderment.