Southern Mercury. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 25, No. 14, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 6, 1905 Page: 7 of 8
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I
I
V
APROPOS OF THE COMING PEACE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND JA1
HE probability that mil-
itary operations in the
far east will soon be
brought to an end
makea the terms of
settlement a matter of
public Interest. Some
Idea of what these
terms are likely to be may be mined
from a brief consideration of similar
examples In modern warfare.
In spite of Muscovite assertion that
any proposition looking toward the em-
pire's acceptance of terms of peace is
entirely out of the question, one need
not be clairvoyant to realise that the
moment is approaching—very rapidly
at that—when Russia will be compelled
to resort to diplomacy as the only re-
gaining means of escape from what
has already become a pitiable situation.
Previous to the present Titanic
struggle for supremacy in far eastern
acquisition it was a matter of univer-
sal consent among the nations to re-
gard Russia as a great lighting power.
Her record seemed to justify it. It has
been the habit of historic chronicles to
Insist upon the declaration that she has
never failed absolutely in anything un-
dertaken for the expansion of the em-
pire and that her armies have never
known unqualified defeat.
Time and adverse fortune have rob-
bed her at the capacity to prolong the
Illusion ia regard to her pre-eminence
In arms. What has always been reck-
oned as the most unassailable truth
begins to take on the haziness of his-
torical Action. Her once invincible
navy lies at the bottom of alien waters.
Her army, the very flower of her.mili-
tary strength, Is converted into an un-
disciplined mob, fleeing preei£itateiy in
search c£ Individual safety. Her mass-
es of avi/lable humanity of which the
world li/i.'i been told so much now hang
like mllls&cies about her fated neck.
Scarcely less transcendent has befen
Russia's reputation for diplomacy. The
present generation has heard much of
It, and those that lived earlier were ac-
customed to acknowledge it. From
time immemorial it has been looked
upon as a special brand—a mixture of
oriental craft and western energy. This
combination has been believed to be
Invincible. In order to meet it suc-
cessfully all first class powers have
been obliged to maintain legations at
Bt. Petersburg composed of men who
have had long and careful training in
Muscovite ways of dealing with stran-
gers. Evasion, perversion and abso-
lute untruthfulness are there employed
as legitimate agencies.
The coming peace negotiations will
be the supreme test of the value of the
Russian diplomatic methods. It will be
a new experience for the hitherto auto-
cratic maker of terms. This time it
Will not be a cowed and penitent sultan
forced by his sorry fortune to promise
an indemnity so great that he has nev-
er since been able' to free himself from
the iron grasp of his pitiless creditor.
Nor will it be a puerile and unstable
eastern despotism coerced Into making
concessions which are %<iuival«>nt to a
transfer of empire. Now it will be the
far more delicate and hazardous at-
tempt to extract the best possible con-
ditions from a victor who cannot be
deceived, an antagonist whose terrible
realism is the most awesome force the
Insincere Muscovite statesmen have
ever been -compelled to encounter.
The practice of exacting an indem-
nity from a conquered foe is rather
modern, at least in its present form. In
the good old times the matter was ar-
ranged with great simplicity. There
was no question of indemnity, but the
Tlctor was entitled by the custom of
war to all he could get. He was care-
ful to leave nothing of value and to
avail himself of a very liberal construc-
tion of the rule. Cities were sacked,
the country laid waste and pillaged and
the luckless Inhabitants carried into
bondage. Even the temples were made
to yield their treasures. In that direct
and all absorbing manner the victor
made sure that he waa reimbursed for
the cost of the campaign, and since
there watt nothing further to be had he
was satisfied.
Nowadays ^he victor Is no less eager
to reimburse himself, but he refrains
from becoming his own collector and
the first treaty of Paris. This was a
most wordy and formidable document.
Like all Important agreements between
Chiistian nations. It began with the
high sounding prelude, "In the namo of
the most holy and undivided Trinity,"
and went on at great length to tell of
the magnitude of the affection which
existed between the various majesties
who were signatories and how solely
they had been actuated by a desire to
preserve the peace of Europe.
Then these self complacent royal gen-
tlemen, restored to their exercise of
already drained hy war of*the most ex-
pensive nature. It was paid without a
hitch of any kind.
The four greatest wars of the last
thirty-five years have all been settled
by the exaction of Indomnlty. When
Prussia overthrew the military pres-
tige of Austria In the space of seven
weeks In 1866 she demanded an In-
demnity of $15,000,000. That was an
exceedingly modest sunt for so com-
plete a victory, but Prussia could afTord
to be reasonable in consideration of the
short period required to effect It. Sim-
ilar financial exactions were made upon
Austria's allies, and there were also
numerous torriiorlul concessions.
Five years later the Prussians wore
had no reason to exhibit any sentiment
In the matter, and they didn't. Four
years' time waa given in which to dis-
charge the debt, and the uhlans were
Quartered In garrisons on French soil
until the payment should be made In
full. It was an opportunity for the
splendid patriotism of the French peo-
ple to come to the front, and It did not
hesitate. The Indemnity money came
in so rapidly and In such a steady
stream that the government was able
to anticipate the payments, and In July,
IS"3, the last Oerinan soldier left
France.
Five years afterward Russia had not
forgotten the precedent established by
her German neighbor. At the clone of
make the best of It. Russian diplomacy
and the more potent mistrust and jeal-
ousy among the powers set a limit to
their ambitious designs, but It Is cer-
tain that the Chinese war was im-
mensely profitable to them.
The United States set an admirable
and most humane example for the na-
tions in Its conduct at the settlement
of the dispute with Spain. During the
discussion of the treaty terms the
American commissioners seemed to all
disinterested observers to be as solic-
itous for the welfare of the vanquished
nation as for that of their own coun-
try. Every concession possible was
made, to the traditional and sorely
wounded dignity of the Spanish com-
mission. It was distinctly insisted on
by the victors that the transfer of ter-
ritory Bhould not be regarded In the
light of Indemnity, and no money de-
mand was made. With unheard of
generosity, the American commission-
ers ofTered a sort of consolation prise
of S20.000.000 for the loss of the Phil-
ippines.
The United States seems to be about
the only nation that Is not addicted to
%
©
have the Initial proposition
the other side. It Is a fact
Japanese have already forwar
posals for a cessation of hoatlllt
St Petersburg, accompanied by
Intimation of what was likely
asked at the final settlement. It
already been permitted to come
semiofficial Russian sources that ja
will demand a large cash bid
and numerous territorial con
The tatter would amount only
transfer of privileges obtained from (
Chinese government in return for ■
received. Over the former there
likely to arise a long and laborious <
tentlon, The victors, secure In
might and the consciousness that
have the sympathy of the clu
world, will be Insistent in their
mands. It will serve no purpose for i
Muscovite commissioners to remind 1
tittle brown men from Tokyo that
have abandoned their early declaim'*
tlons respecting the flnal adjustment;
that they are demanding that which at
the beginning of the war they profe
not to desire. With Infinite patience
and correctness of expression the sober j
faced logicians from the Island klng-
dom will Implore them to consider how
events have Interfered with their origp
inal intentions, how utterly Impossible
It may be to provide beforehand for ev- .
ery possibility.
GEORGE H. PICARD.
permits the conquered nation to satisfy
his demands as best it may. In princi-
ple it Is analogous to the practice of
"the civil courts of law, which compel
the defeated party In an action to pay
the costs of the suit. Owing to the ex-
travagant estimates in certain cases
this concession to modern war practice
is a refined mockery. Of course it
would be altogether too much to ex-
pect of a victorious nation that it
should be satisfied with the repayment
of the barb expenses of the war. Such
magnanimity is not to be found In the
history of modern warfare. On the
contrary, it has been the constant aim
of the victors in all the great wars of
recent times to secure as great Indem-
nity as possible.
The negotiations preliminary to a
treaty of peace are frequently exceed-
ingly complicated and are accompanied
by a prolixity of verbiage and ceremo-
nial that Is no doubt impressive and
correspondingly tedious. In 1814 Na-
poleon was checked by the allies and
made prisoner, and the king of Eng-
land and his continental helpers re-
stored the legitimate French monarch
to his throne, according to the terms of,
THE CZAB'S NIGHTMARE.
"the divine right of kings," proceeded
to remodel the map of Europe, which
their arch enemy had muddled beyond
recognition. The articles of the treaty
provided for the restoration of the old
boundaries of France, with the addi-
tion of neat slices from Belgium and
Germany. The allies arranged the re-
mainder to suit themselves.
The following year Napoleon eecaped,
and there was another shipwreck of
treaty terms. After that scare was
averted the powers made another
treaty with France. The document It-
self was a little longer and a trifle more
grandiose In expression than the other.
By the new contract France was oblig-
ed to pay the allies an indemnity of
$140,000,000 for their services in get-
ting rid of the Incubus. This was an
enormous sum to be raised in a country
successful in reducing the French to a
condition whieh enabled them to make
a peremptory, demand both for terrl
tory and for treasure. The victorious
Germans werCj not restrained by any
motives of generosity on this occasion.
If they had ever regretted their lenien-
cy toward Austria they were now given
an opportunity to recoup themselves.
It was quite within the range of ex-
pectation that the long disputed Rhine
provinces should form a part of the de-
mand, but the world stood aghast at
the magnitude of the supplementary
exaction of the payment of a war in-
demnity of 11,000,000,000. It was a tre-
mendous price to pay for the privilege
of wiping out the evidences of inva-
sion, but the French accepted tho ne-
cessity with a dignity that won the ad-
miration of the wsrld. The Germans
her successful war with Turkey she
named an Indemnity which was as Im-
possible as It was absurd and made so
designedly. Turkey held out her empty
arms to the powers appeallngly, and
once more they came to her relief. The
demand was decreased sullenly to $160,-
000,000, and a considerable portion of
the debt Is still unpaid. Russia has
permitted the payments to lapso and
has made use of this financial delin-
quency to extort new concessions from
her laggard debtor.
After the Chino-Japanese war of 1894
the victorious islanders, following the
example of wostern nations, compelled
the Chinese to pay an Indemnity of
$175,000,000. This was a good deal
more ready money than could be ob-
tained In the empire even If the ef-
fective Celestial method of "raising the
wind" were put to Its ultimate test.
A loan was made at a suicidal rate, and
the Chinese have all they can do to
avoid default In paying the Interest.
Besides this money obligation, the em-
pire was driven to part with tho rich
island of Formosa. At the time, realiz-
ing the full significance of the oppor-
tunity, the Japanese were disposed to
the liablt of collecting a money Indem-
nity at the close of a successful war.
It is quite true that the great American
republic prefers to mako Its way in
peace and lias not been persuaded to
go to war for the purpose of ultimate
aggrandisement. At tho close of the
war with Mexico there was no demand
for an indomnlty. Instead of that the
United States commission agreed to
pay Mexico a lump sum of $15,000,000
for the territory which wus anxious to
be annexed and an additional $3,250,000
for damages sustulned by citizens of
Mexico during hostilities.
There Is no doubt whatever that the
coming peace between Japan and Rus
sla will bo accompanied by the oxer
else of all the statecraft known to dl
plomacy. Although the Japanese have
by their amazing frankness and direct
ways of doing things disproved all that
lias ever been affirmed of their oriental
Insincerity, tho Russians hare confirm-
ed tho world's former opinion of their
devlousness. After the preliminary ar-
mlstlco Is declared and some form of
conducting the peace negotiations Is
agreed upon the real battle of the
giants will begin.
Although the Russian forces may bo
hopelessly disorganized and driven out
of Manchuria, It docs not follow that
peace overtures must havo the appear-
ance of coming from the vanquished
Muscovites. Modern diplomatic inge-
nuity has so ordalnod that In such
cases It often facilitates matters to
WILL 8EE THE SURGEON'8 KNIFE.
The recent discovery of eucalne, •
powerful anaesthetic, Ib looked upon as
another scientific triumph. v
It will make possible operations which
might not otherwise take place owing
to heart weakness, for the patient re-
mains conscious during its use, al-
though, of course, those parts of the
body to which It Is applied are Insenst-
bio to pain. It will also give the sur-
geon more time for his work and do
away with certain people's conscien-
tious objections to anaesthetics.
Although it can bo used for amputa-
tions, it will probably be most useful
for treatment of the thyroid glands. In
sucli operations the use of chloroform Is
often Impracticable.
Kucaine Is Injected by a hypodermic
needle under the skin at the place where
tho incision is to be made. After a few
moments the skin may be cut without
the patient feeling anything. As differ-
ent and deeper parts are exposed the .
drug is dropped at Intervals of a few
minutes.
To tho observer the operation ap-
pears similar to thoso of the days be-
fore chloroform, as the patient Is con-
scious und now und again makes soma
remark. The eyes are covered with a
cloth to minimize nervousness, and tha
patient is strapped to the operating ta-
ble to prevent Involuntary movements.
He Is conscious, but he cannot feel.
FED BY MACHINERY.
An American farmer owns a small
tract of land which ho has stocked wltb
a few dozen chickens. As he is com?
pelled to be away from his home during
the day he studied out a scheme for
caring for his chickens during his ab-
sence. In each pen he had erected
troughs to hold food for the hens, and
these troughs are connected by wire
with his house. Within the house ha
has connected the wire with an alarm
clock. When he leaves home In the
morning ho sets the alarm clock at tha
hour for feeding the chickens, and by '
an Ingenious arrangement when tha
time arrives the alarm goes off, tha
connecting wire releases the troughs^
and tho chickens make a rush for their
food, which is spread before them as II
tholr owner did the work in person.
y
✓
&
HARBIN, THE LAST RUSSIAN MILITARY CENTER IN MANCHURIA
HE fall of Mukden, one
of the principal bases
of supply selected by
the blundering Alexe-
ieff during his rule in
Manchuria, and the
subsequent abandon-
_ _ ment of Tiellng leave
Harbin, situated 300 miles to the north-
east of the ancient capital, the- sole re-
maining Interior point of interest in
the present campaign. According to
all accounts, it was no part of Kuropat-
ktn's Individual plan to make a stand
at Mukden. When he was sent to su-
persede the thick witted viceroy, how-
ever, matters had progressed so far
that It was deemed Impracticable to
abandon the original Intention. It was
no longer a matter of choice. The Jap-
anese advance had settled everything.
The Russian general accepted the sit-
uation with as good grace as he could
manage, but he never concealed his
opinion that a mistake had been made,
and he allowed no disposition to relax
In the effort to strengthen Harbin and
to fill it with stores sufficient to with-
stand a long continued investment.
The location of Harbin is not an ideal
one for defense. Nature has Interposed
few barriers to hostile approach, but
man and unlimited treasure have ac-
complished much in the way of supply-
ing the omission. The post was de-
signed originally as a military center
and an administration town for tho
government and direction of railway
affairs. Its growth Into a thriving com-
mercial and manufacturing city was
not a part of the Bcheme of the original
promoters, and its subsequent develop-
ment into Its present dimensions has
always been a surprise to the St Pe-
tersburg military authorities. It Is
built along the Suogarl river at a point
where the Mancharian branch of the
Transsiberian railway crosses that
stream and where the Chinese eastern
branch runs south to Dalny and Port
Arthur. Since the desertion of Dalny
and the fall of Port Arthur this branch
has bean abandoned, but the Japanese
bare seen to it that the southern part
of the route baa bean kept In repair.
I« abeut MO miles north of
and productive agricultural country,. to become a -property owner or to es-
whlch yields vast quantities of corn, tabllsh a permanent business enter-
wheat, oats, barley, hemp, tobacco and prise of any description. Russia ob-
many domestic fruits. There are also tained concessions from the Chinese
vast areas of timber and grazing land?. 1 government which enabled her to take
parts—the old town, three miles from i clal Is the administrator of the city,
the central railway station; Prestln, or and the railway offices and the admln-
the river town, the present commercial istratlon buildings are side by side,
center, and tho administration town, Transportation facilities at Harbin
in close proximity to tho railway sys-1 aro excellent. Tho Hungarl river Is
EUSSO-CH1NESK
k, Harbin
JAPAN
iseai
m
m
IMapofBastbr
I
flul-
It Is by far the
fertile and
of all the desirable lan'l Ini
I the vicinity of the city, aad an
It Is, In fact,
railway
canter of tho i navigable for light draft steamers and
la Man- native craft nearly miles above tho
gers and large cargoes of freight. Theso
steamers use wood for fuel, and tho
machinery In them Is of American
make. Going east from liarbln, tho
railroad reaches the sea at Vladivostok.
Going south, the railway used to meet
seagoing ships at Newchwang, IJalny
and Port Arthur. Now, of course, that
traffic Is Interrupted. West from Har-
bin the train runs on a branch tine to
Stretcnsk, at tho head of navigation of
the great river Amur. Tho main line,
of course, extends to I.ake Baikal and
on to St. Petersburg. From tlila It will
bo seen readily that Harbin Is pre-emi-
nently the railroad center of Asiatic
Russia.
Since It was primarily established as
a military station and a center for the
ndinlnliitrntlon of the government sys-
tem of railroads Harbin's rapid devel-
opment Into a great commercial and
manufacturing city was a surprise not
only to Its original promoters, but to
the world at large. Its manner of ex-
pansion was decidedly American. It
grow so rapidly that real estate opera-
tions assumed an activity that would
have done crodlt to American specula-
tive genius. Capital for most of tho
private ventures was furnished by Si-
berian Jews, and the Chinese also ad-
vanced funds for the erection of many
fine buildings. No private enterprise
was permitted to take root in tho ad-
ministration city.
Harbin's boom continued up to the
moment of the beginning of hostilities.
The city resounded with the din of con-
struction all day and far Into the
night, much of the labor being done by
electric light. In six years ten flour
mills were built, with an average daily
output of 1,000,000 pounds. More than
a million was Invested in pork and beef
packing Industries, sawmills were put
Into operation, brickyards were started
everywhere, and a mad passion for
building seized everybody. The gov-
ernment alone expended over $16,000,-
000 in four years.
But now war has dwarfed all other
interests at this "Moscow of the east,"
as It has been nicknamed. Nobody
cares at present to discuss tha future
of Harbin. Tha only Interest taken In
Its phenomenal number of now build
tags It by the army
the gossip In the town. Everybody
knows that the future of the Russian
army has much to do with the future
of Harbin.
Tho atmosphere of war Is very heavy
In tho city. There are hospitals on ev-
ery side, troops encamped in the streets^
and squads of soldiers bearing Utters
on which are stretched the sick and
wounded form an almost constant pro*
cession. It Is all so unreal, so unex*
pectcd, for Harbin. A few short
months ago she received her war newt
by way of St. Petersburg, she was so
far away from the actual fighting. To*
day the enemy is almost knocking at
her door. HERMAN NOSTRAND.
ARTIFICIAL 8NAIL3.
As escargots, or snails, are not mucb
eaten In English speaking countries, tha
discovery that artificial snails are made
will not worry American epicures. In
Paris it ls'difTerent. Public knowledge
of this enterprise camo about through
the suit of a Paris workman against hia
employer for Injuries received In ma-
nlpulatng a machine for fabricating
snails. It was explained that the em-
ployer bought empty snail shells from
the dust men and ragpickers. Having
cleaned out the shells, tho defendant
and his people filled them with "mou"-—
that Is to say, lights or cat's meat. Thta . '
soft, spongy stuff before being cram-
med Into the Bhells was cut into cork-
screw shape by very improved ma-
chines. When the shell was filled some
liquid fat or grease was poured. Ipto It,
and the trick was done,* The fabricated
snails were sold usually at 5 cants the
dozen. Sometimes, when there' la b
great run on snails, the manufacturer*
get a good deal of their "raw material"
from Germany. It Is affirmed that tbero
are actually some epicures in Paris who
prefer the sham snail to tha genuine ar^V?
tide even when the latter baa
among the vine leaves of
The artificial escargbt is said to hail
special flavor which la highly
ated. •
AMERICAN SUPREMACY.
Last year 1.06$,600
chlnea were sold In the 1
and of tbte number 125,6
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Park, Milton. Southern Mercury. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 25, No. 14, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 6, 1905, newspaper, April 6, 1905; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth186094/m1/7/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .