SOME LEADING EVENTS IN THE CURRENT

STORY OF THE WORLD.

BY DR. J. M. TANNER, SUPERINTENDENT OF CHURCH SCHOOLS.

Were the Japanese Guilty of Treachery?

The Russians have characterized the attack of Japan upon the Russian fleet at Port Arthur as a "stab in the back," and describe it as a "truly Asiatic" piece of treachery. There was no formal declaration of war, and the Russians explain their naval reverses as a surprise for which they were unprepared. The French also take the same view, but France is the ally of Russia, and, of course, in full sympathy with Russian ambition.

The world will hardly take that view of it. It is not an uncommon thing for nations to go to war without a formal declaration; and the question of fact in the present war is, had both nations reasonable ground to expect hostilities? After Japan had waited an unnecessary length of time for an answer to her last note, and during all the delay saw the feverish haste with which Russia was pushing preparations for war, she recalled her ambassador from St. Petersburg. When, on February 6, M. Kurino announced to the Russian Foreign Office his recall, and that "thereafter Japan would reserve entire liberty of action" in the matter, it was understood that war was at hand.

But did the Japanese make the first attack? Two attacks were made on the night of the 8th, one by the Japanese at Port Arthur, and the other at Chemulpo, in Korea. The time of the Port Arthur conflict is not fixed by any of the dispatches before 11 p. m., and some fix it at 2 and 3 a. m., of the 9th. At Chemulpo the Russians fired upon some Japanese torpedo boats that were accompanying transports into the bay, as early as 9 p. m. of the 8th. It is not at all likely that either country was apprised that night of what the other was doing, but whichever fired the first shot, it is evident both considered the time opportune to

strike. If any breach of international law has been committed, both nations are equally guilty. The Russians had two days in which to telegraph their commanding general, Alexeieff, at Port Arthur of the withdrawal of diplomatic relations. Alexeieff was not only put on his guard, but the Korlietz, under his command, proceeded at once to Chemulpo bay, and fired upon the Japanese torpedo boats, and paid the penalty of its rash act by its being totally disabled.

The Progress of the War.

In the midst of the many conflicting statements that come about the military operations between Russia and Japan, it is impossible at this time to determine just what has been done. Some of the movements ascribed to the Japanese army are so absurd, when the distance and conditions of the country are considered, as to be wholly unwhorthy of belief; however, so much is satisfactorily known as to give us an assurance that Japan commands the naval situation. The division of the Russian navy at Port Arthur was really most menacing to Japan. From the beginning, however, Russia was really at a great disadvantage in the disposition of her navy, as she was obliged to divide it in two, using one part for the protection of Vladivostock and the other for the defense of Port Arthur, while the Japanese were in a position, practically to concentrate her navy. The bombardment and siege of Port Arthur demonstrated at the outset that Japan was really superior in the equipment of her navy, and it is definitely known at this writing that in this port nine Russian warships have been put out of action by the Japanese.

As soon as Russia's navy had been put out of commission, Japan could begin at once on a large scale the transportation of her troops across the narrow straits between Japan and Corea to the latter country. Corea was, therefore, the first objective point of the Japanese land forces, and Japan soon made herself master of Corea, and at the earliest possible opportunity entered into treaty stipulations with Corea, by which Japan assured the Coreans their independence under the Japanese sphere of influence. While Japan did not annex Corea, it placed strings on that empire which brought the latter virtually under the tutelage of Japan.

As was expected, the Yalu river became the point of actual contact between the opposing armies. The Russians would naturally make a desperate effort to prevent the Japanese soldiers from crossing this boundary river between Manchuria and Japan. If the Russians could not stop the soldiers of Japan at the Yalu, it would not be possible to prevent them from reaching the Russian railroad leading to Port Arthur. If the Japs could cross the river, they could evidently take the railroad, and thus cut off all connection between Port Arthur and its base of supplies at Harbin, a Russian city of about sixty thousand inhabitants, nearly six hundred miles north of Port Arthur. Alexeieff, who was in command of the Russian forces of Manchuria, clearly saw the direction of the forecast which the Japs had made, and promptly withdrew the headquarters of the army northward, so as not to be caught in the trap which the Japanese were laying for him.

The Japanese have shown themselves in all their movements to be most excellent strategists, and their ability to mobilize a large army has never had a parallel except in the Franco-Prussian war. Japan is really the only country in the world that held out any hope of an ability to drive Russia out of Manchuria. Japan is spoken of as little Japan, but it is doubtful whether a single nation of Europe, Germany perhaps excepted, can produce as large and well equipped an army as Japan. The Japanese soldier has tremendous • power of endurance. He has never been demoralized by the drinking habit that abounds among the rank and file of the soldiers of other countries. The Russian soldier is excessively intemperate in the matter of drink, and this war is likely to afford the world a telling lesson in the value of sobriety. Japan is practically fighting at home, and can put, in a short period of time, at least 500,000 soldiers in the field. It is hardly too much to say that not any two nations of Europe could have as effectually met the Russians in Manchuria as the Japanese. Time is the essence of this war. Whatever is done effectually against Russia must be done at once.

Finances in the Present War.

It is difficult to determine, in the case of nations as in the case of individuals, what one can do in dire extremity. It is

certain that Japan's credit is good, and there is the strongest probability that the Japanese have managed their financial affairs with the same forethought and thoroughness that they have organized and handled their army. Japan was most fortunate in her alliance with Britain. The ability of that kingdom to aid Japan in a financial way was a matter of no small importance. As a matter of fact, Britain, through her loans, has perhaps done as much for Japan as she could do were she to furnish Japan a considerable number of soldiers, but without giving Japan the financial credit which the Mikado's empire needs. Then, Japan knows that Great Britain can and will give to her financial aid, and especially if the Japanese make any headway in the war.

Russia, on the other hand, is very much embarrassed. The French, who are the allies of the Russians, have not shown any disposition to advance money to the Russian Government in the present crisis. France does not doubt the ability of Russia to meet her obligations, but France knows that Russia will need a considerable period of time to regain her financial equilibrium; besides, the French, according to accepted computations, have already loaned to Russia something like $300,000,000. The ordinary means of producing revenue in Russia are not at all adequate to meet the expense of the present war. The Russian gold reserve will be very quickly exhausted, and the resources in Russia by which revenues can be created are not many or extensive. Russia has, however, one resource that may meet the financial exegencies of the present war. That resource is the church, which possesses enormous wealth, compared with which all of Russia's other financial resources are merely a drop in the bucket. War is like the sea, it has a capacity for swallowing up everything that falls into it.

King Coal.

Coal is king whether a "merry old soul" or not. The everincreasing use of iron, and the great part it plays in the commerce and progress of modern civilization make its dependence upon coal greater every year. The coal question is one of serious importance to the world. The further we are compelled to go down into the bowels of the earth to get it, the more expensive it becomes.

Practically all the coal of the world, today, comes from five nations, the United States, Great Britain, Germany, France and Belgium, and its increase in these countries during late years, has hardly been equal to the demands. The world's commerce and civilization are greatly in need of new coal fields, and the great nations of the world are looking anxiously to China to supply the growing demand. It is estimated that China has two hundred thousand square miles in which there are coal deposits. This makes her coal fields the largest in the world, but though China leads the world in its known coal areas, the coal of that country has lain dormant because of the difficulty of its transportation. But since great corporations are projecting railroads in all directions, and into the heart of China, the coal problem there will soon be solved. The European nations will in many ways be greatly in need of China's coal. What Japan is, therefore, doing in arresting either the actual or commercial occupation of Manchuria by China, is in the interest of the great powers. Manchuria's great coal fields will some day be a source of untold wealth, to which free access is very desirable.

The United States today leads the world in the production of coal, as will be seen from the following table:

It will be further seen that the United States and Great Britain together produce more than two-thirds of all the coal in the world, and coal gives us a fairly good example of the relative wealth of the leading nations which produce it. The amount of coal produced by each miner also affords an interesting example of the relative productiveness of the different nations. In the United States, each miner takes out on an average five hundred and twenty tons of coal a year. Great Britain, two hundred and seventy-eight; Germany, two hundred and forty-two; France, one hundred and ninety-eight, and Belgium, one hundred and sixty-six.