GORDON ON FRANCE AND CHINA.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3254, 2 March 1885, Page 3

GORDON ON FRANCE AND CHINA.

A writer m the Pall Mall Budget says that m a conversation about twelve months ago with General Gordon, the latter made the following remarks concerning the prospects of a FrancoChinese war : — The Chinese will not go to war. As for their ability to annoy the French, m case war should ,break out, you will remember that 1 "gave them advice which I still think is good. Let them not fight the French m open field, but harass them by night attacks, trusting to the sun, the climate, and the exhaustion of the campaign to weaken their adversary. That advice is as good now as when I wrote it, although some people took it as a joke. France could not do China much harm. The Chinese care little unless the French take Pekin with much more expense than they care to incur. The Chinese, moreover, would equipe privateers, any number of which would be furnished them by America, torpedo boats, &c, &c, with which they can do a great deal of mischief. As for the Chinese, I believe they are the coming race. They are destined to overcome the world and to occupy it. It is written, "In those latter days people shall be without faith." This will be fulfilled m the domination of the earth by the Chinese, who are strictly without faith. It is is difficult for me to believe that any Christian nation can so far fall away from belief as to " become entirely without faith. " It is to be accomplished by the Chinese overrunning the world. They are upright and industrious, and will establish hongs m London instead of exporting their tea by deputy — by agents, and before long they will gradually absorb the commerce and wealth of the world. Li used to tell me, when talking about the railways and telegraphs, "We will have telegraphs, because they are the ear, and it is well to hear ; but we will not have railways yet." " You push us now ; but you will find, perhaps, that we will go too sharp for you some day." And so they will ! Could you see the Chinese merchants established m the great European warehouse the rest of the world would pass into the hands of China. "It is a bad look-out for us," I said. " Yes," said he, " but there it is ; and it ia coming."