(Spscially translated for the "North-Chint Daily News".)
The Germans have captured Kinochou and the ships of war of the Great Powers are being concentrated in our waters. The Government perceives the daily approaching calamity and in fear and apprehension asks for funds. Now the Germans have captured Kiaochou already fifty days, but we live no troops, no ships of war, nor the ability to fight the enemy. The Germans have presented six demands which have been allowed, but no movement lias been wade to counteract future complications, I hear that British and Japanese men-of-war are gathering in the Chusan Archipelgo with the object of holding the Yangtze Valley, the Russians doing the same thing at Port Arthur, and that French men-of-war are also coming. Wo cannot fight any one of them and the prospects are that we will not be able to refus them what they desire. The various Powers will, therefore, without the expenditure of a single grain of food or the splintering of an arrow obtain portions of our native soil. Italy, Austria, Spain, Portu-gil, Sweden, Denmark, and even Siam Appear to be following close on the tracks of the greater Powers, and if each of these also ask for a portion of the common prey, how can we satisfy the desires of all of them? Partition of our country threatens us on the spot, we know that death looms over us. and although we desire to reform the government and so make make ourselves strong there seems to be put little time left fur us to do so.
What wust we, therefure, do to-day We must at once inaugurate internal reforms and seek friend ship with foreign countries. There can be no salvation for our country unless we commence on these lines at once. As for friendship with foreign countries, Eadvoeate south than the Gulf of Pechili. We have discovered that Russia and Germany have a secret understanding between them as regards China. Hence, although Russ had given us her protection she did nothing to prevent the Germans from taking Kixochou. It is therefore clear that Russia is unable to protect our northern soil for we then solely depend on Russia's tection it will he seen from what has fal eady transpired that not only will we [lose oar southern provinces but we cannot even depend upon that country to preserve [our northera territories. With the loss of one outer provinces, rebellion will immediately spring up and the fabric of the Empire will totter to its base and fall crumbling in ruins before our eyes. Nothing can therefore be clearer than that the protection of Russia is indeed not to be depended uj When coming to the Far East the ships of war of Western Powers have to use the Suez Canal to get here, Those "f Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and Holland to get into the Mediterranean Sea must_pass Gibraltar. This last place belongs to Great Britain, while 8 10ths of the Suez Canal shares belong to that country also. The President of the Suez Canal Commission is the Prince of Wales, and hence Great Britain's control of the Canal is supreme.
During the Keng Yin cycle (1880) when Great Britain and Russia were on the verge of war, the British fleet was on the point of entering the Baltic sea for the purpose of attacking the Russians, whilst on the other hand the Russian fleet was preparing to leave that sea for the same purpose. 'The narrow straits leading out of the Baltic sea is named Chih-te-o-ni, and the forts com-ling that waterway held by a Danish med Lien-jen, This officer notified the two hostile Great Powers, that Russia would not be permitted to' pass through the straits outward bound, nor would Great Britain be allowed to enter the Baltic by these straits, and that attempts to do so would be resisted by the forts. The consequence was that the hostile fleets cruised about the respective entrances, of the straits for a short time, and finding the Danish officer resolute in his intention, they subsequently steamed away.
Now if Eh keeps in close friendship with Great Britain, Great Britain when the emergency arrives can preserve strict neutrality and following the example of the abore quoted incident of the Danish oticer forbid ingress or egress into the Suez Canal, and the ships of war of the 16 countries of Europe will not find it an easy matter to come to the Far East. Should they try the 70,000 li of the Cape of Good Hope route, all the places en route which their ships will hace to pass belong to Great Britain. So also by the Suez Canal rout+, ships have to pass Egypt, Aden, Ceylon, Penang, Singapore, and Hongkon; all of which also belong to Great Brita Where will hostile fleets then be able obtain coal, ete., on their way to attack China? By allying ourselves with Great Britain we can therefore depend upon that we seek the friendly Britain. Great Britain poss help of Great Gibraltar, Suez, Aden, and Ceylon as a ssses forty-two, Great Wall for a def-nee, for then the different paris of the who which acknow- powerful king ins of the East and West ledge her rule., Her largest sessions, are Canada, India, a sia. She has quite enough to do in gover ing her dependencies and, st desirous of eneroxching on' amongst the Grext Puwers, We sought the protection of Russia because we considered Russia had done us friendly xct in yneventing Japan. from working her will on us after the Into war 1894.5), Awthoush France and Germany Joined Rosin in this matter the three allied Pawers could only preserve the three Rertleeastern provinces (Fen n, Kirin, and Heilungehiany) but they ootid not prevent Formosa from falling the havwls of Jajan. Hence it is clear that Rossia's power does not extend further will not be able to come out to China easily. The only other countries which may be able to attack China by the sea Foute are Japan and Francs. The Japanese ose to Great Britain in order to resist Russia. If then we keep close to Great Britain the Japanese will surely also help us. Great Britain has over 200 armoured fighting ships and dominates the globe. By key 1 close friendship with Great Britain France will not dare to harm us. Even if France should create trouble: will only be necessary fur us to give some small concession t" that country to quiet her. It would be much better, comparatively speaking, to grant concessions to Great Britain and certain small ones to France only, than to lave all the Powers, great
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.