Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Quarter of a Century.] SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 1904 THE WAR CLOUD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7827, 20 August 1904, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Quarter of a Century.] SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 1904 THE WAR CLOUD.

So long us the present state of things c-xists in the Far East, the war cloud will hang over the British Empire, though wo keep on hoping it may not break. We have had many a narrow escape of participation m international troubles during the past half century ; and the only serious war in which we have been engaged was certainly not brought about by international quarrels. .But we cannot expect everlasting immunity, and just now things look as unpromising as possible. Ml , IJalfour's statement that the Government had reason to believe the danger of cruisers issuing from the Black Sea, or of outrages on a neutral Hag, was over, is scarcely re-assuring ; for the public have precious little confidence in any " knowledge " the Government possesses of the intentions of llussia. We have considerably more knowledge of llussian duplicity than of llussian intentions; and the strange behaviour of the Russian Government throughout the war, affords very little ground for believing that it will act in a more sociable or even sane manner towards its neighbours. It is, indeed, impossibic to avoid the conclusion tli.it llussia desires to precipitate international trouble. She has certauily flouted England deliberately, and affronted her on a point upon which she is, perhaps, hyper-sensitive— viz., her freedom of the sea. And since Japan and Germany have begun to look askance at each other, the plot grows unpleasantly thicker. That Germany is better disposed towards llussia than to the Land of the Chrysanthemum is beyond doubt, and Japan is not likely to prolong negotiations with Germany if that Power grants facilities to Russian vessels in her Eastern ports. Until the atmosphere is cleared of this particularly threatening cloud, we may consider Great Britain as on the verge of active participation in the Eastern trouble.

Meanwhile the Japanese plans, drawn with masterly skill, are maturing with deadly effect. Indeed, the brilliancy of the Japanese strategy is even less remarkable than the unerringiiess of its effect. The destruction of war engines and the accompanying carnage, mark an epoch that will ever be memorable. The silent steadfast advance of the Japanese, their übiquitous fleet and their invincible armicSjinspircd with aflame of patriotism and encased in the impsnctrable armour

of fatalistio indifference, form, of them- j selves a spectacle such as the modern world has never before seen. Closer, hourly closer, is being drawn the terrible cordon round Port Arthur, and daily the Russian forces by land and sea fall back. Three months ago we heard of Russian garrisons all over Manchuria; of army corps arriving and to arrive for the relief of the garrisons ; of the coming annihilation of Japan and apotheosis of Russia in the East. Now, her fleets arc dispersed, her stronghold virtually taken, her harbours blockaded; and we are told of a last despairing stand at Harbin! In a few short months what a mighty drama has been in progress! Not merely has it been exciting, it has become bewildering, inasmuch as it has dispersed all theories, disappointed all expectations, and set at naught all calculations.

The great revolution of which this war is the forerunner, begins to " cast its shadow before," though in the turmoil and excitement of the hour, and amid the risks and probabilities of every succeeding day it is almost unnoticed— viz., the quickening effect of Japanese success on Chinese national life. Yet an armed and aggressive East is what the next generation will have to face.