The Daily News. FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 1904. THE WAR AND IMPERIAL RELATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 187, 12 August 1904, Page 2

The Daily News. FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 1904. THE WAR AND IMPERIAL RELATIONS.

Writing recently of tide visit of His Majesty King Edward VII. of England to His Imperial Majesty Emperor William 11. of the German Empire, an English correspondent of a colonial journal lets in an interesting sidelight on the interchange of civilities as hearing upon events occurring in the Far Egst. After referring to the expressions of mutual interest in various matters by the two distinguished neighbours, the writer proceeds to stato that underneath the pleasant surface of conventionalism there lies latent a very definite purpose In the minds of both Sovereigns. They honestly desire to stop the war in (he Far East at the earliest possible moment. It might almost have been assumed that the son and the grandson of Queen Victoria would do their best in the cause of peace, but there are times when the most earnest personal desires must yield to the force majeure of cruel circumstances—as, indeed,

in the closing years of our great Queen's life, when she found herself compelled to sanction the war which broke her heart and ended her reign in gloom. At present, however, tne highest' interests of England and Germany alike demand the restoration of peace, and neither Edward »or William will leave a stone unl turned that can be used to this end. A± the present moment, however, the prospects of mediation are not favourable. The correspondent, con- , tinuing his remarks, sums up in concise form the position, as the cables t, have already unfolded it to ue in disjointed scraps. The Russians continue to be beaten at all points toy • the Japanese on land as well as at sea, and this apparently through sheer inertness on their side. The special correspondent of a leading Hussian journal makes public very grave complaints of some Russian commanding officers against the Japanese. Their artillery is immensely superior to that of Russia, he exclaims angrily, and so is their management of it. The Japanese guns are far better than the Russian guns, and the Japanese gunners u rc far better than the Russian gunners. This is the "most unkindest cut of all." How could the Russians reasonably except this from a yellow race ? "What a shame to deceive us so," loudly and bitterly lament th'a deluded Russians. "They find our range with bewildering quickness," i the complaint goes on, " and tht masking of their batteries issoskil- , lul as to defy detection." If Russia has to "cave in" to Japan, is there not the gravest possible dan--1 ger that in her rage and humiliation she may seek rehabjlHatian in a ; war with England ? Such a war would !>e popular in Russia, where lire idea has been sedulously spread I thut the hostile attitude of Japan was entirely due to British instigation. It would be characteristic if Russia, SMurtinigounder defeat, were to m a ke a desperate effort to show England that so far from havißg pulled the chestnuts out of the fire with Japanese paws, sho had in reality burned her own fingers in the effort, and yet not secured the chestnuts. Tins idea has already been mooted'in Russian political circles and it has found much favour. The plan suggested is to make secret preparations whjlo the' terms of peace with Japan would' be under discussioii, and then to follow the example set by Japan—which Englaud approved as in accordance with precedent and international law—by making a sudden descent, simultaneously upon Persia, Afghanistan and New Zealand, using England's alleged aggression in Thiiiet as the casus belli. The Russian volunteer fleet would, be promptly available for uction in the Pacific, and a part of the liullic fleet which is being detailed for service in the Far East will receive alternative sealed orders, which will enable it -to act at a moment's notice. Surprise would, of course, lie the salient factor in this scheme, and the essential condition under which temporary success might Iw .secured, it thcreforo behoves the colony, as well as the Mother Country to be on the alert, and in no circumstances to incur the peril of being "caught napping" or taken unawares.