The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1893-04-11

where on the Coast. A recent nscare''
article in your paper has called con-
siderable attention to the Japanese
war vessel Naniwa, and the peculiar
attitude her officers have taken since
being here. Whether there be any
truth or not in the report that the
japanese captain has said that he
could blow the Boston and the Mohi-
can out of the water, the question
simply is, Could he do it? Suppose
that a serious row took place at our
boat landing between American and
japanese sailors and that some were
killed on either side. Suppose the
killed were Americans, as would like
ly be the case, for the japanese carry
side-arrns on shore, while the Ameri-
cans do not, and the murderers escap-
ed to their ship. What would the
American Admiral do about it? What
could he do about it? Nothing but
bluster and threaten, without the
power to carry out his threats. Sup
pose, again, that the japanese COM
mander took notion to hoist his
colors over the Government Building,
and it would seem that he would have
an equal right with Uncle Sam to do
so, if called on by the Provisional or
any other government, ex-Queen
Li!iuokalani. for instance. What
would the Boston do about it? l
am inclined to think, nothing.
for the simple reason that she
is virtually powerless against the SUI
q IF hn Tor
sci. 1t has been asserted in my hear
ing that the Americans would imme-
diately board the Naniwa in case of
trouSle and take her at the point of
the Dayonet. That was all very well
in the days before the invention of the
Gatling and Nordenfeldt guns, but it
has not been tried of late years and it
might not work so well as it did, ana
however willing the American sailors
might be, how would they get on
board vessel that can virtually steam
all around the Boston, or, to speak eX-
actly, steam nine knots to her seven.
Then again, the Boston has Cnly 250
men on board, while the japanese had
$50 when they came into port, and
have taken on large number since.
Now, Mr.. Editor, am no alarmist,
but 1 do believe in the adage, .In
time of peace prepare for war;" and
no one can say that the United States
is prepared for war with Japan to-day
any more than she was with Chill
three years ago. Out of her boasted
new navy there is but one modern
vessel in Pacific waters outside of the
Monterey, which was never designed
to go far from the Golden Gate.
Japan has fleet of some fifty or
eyfx - Il Of 10y
than the one now in Honolulu, and
how quick they could reach San Fran
cisco, Portland or San Diego, can be
imagined by the celebrity with which
the Naniwa reached Honolulu. The
Japanese take a pride in their navy,
and are increasing it quietly but rap
idly. How many of US imagined that
they had such vessel as the Naniwa
until we saw her? / read by the last
mail that the Emperor OF Japan has
reduced his personal income by $780,
600 per annum in order TO secure an
increase in the navy.
The new secretary of the L. s.
Navy seems to be the right man in
the right place. only hope that he
will show American citizens that
American war vessels are not built
for show but for active service. 1t is
all very nice to have brand new
navy but it is an entirely different
matter to make practical use of it.
Let US hope that the serious error of
concentrating the American navy in
the port of New York for the purpose
of a parade and junketing tour will
never take place again under this or
any coming administration. In con-
clusion, if any one doubts the dispar-
ity in size and armament between
the Naniwa and Boston, let them go
on board both vessels, as l have done,
and get their eyes opened. | believe
the statement set forth in this letter
to be strictly true, and my object in
writing it is to call the attention of
my fellow citizens to the glaring fact
that although we own the earth, or at
least we claim to, that we are "not
in it, on the sea, and the quicker we
tumble to that fact and prepare
accordingly the better it will be for
US in the future. Although we claim
to have "navy" il is as much
navy ''in embryo" as an egg which
has been sat on about twenty-four
hours. write plainly but | mean
well. AMERICAN.
p. S.-Since the above was written
[ notice the following paragraph in
the editorial note of the Examiner of
March S0th. 1t is needless to say
that it was written by that erratic
but brilliant and fearless writer, Al
bert Bierce:
$50 Japan has dared to look upon
United States warship aud pronounce
it tub. The worst part of the allie
cation is that the truth therein is
visible to the naked eyer