The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-03-20
JAPAN FEARS RUSSIA.
Warships and Forts Reing Built In
Anticipation Of Hos
filitteS

Mrs. VI. Ishida, the American wife of
Mr. Ishida, ex-commis>ioner from Japan
to the Columbian exposition, has arrived
here from Yokohama. and is at the Pal
ace, says the San Francisco Call. Mrs.
lshida was formerly Miss Toussaint of
Chicago. She was married t" the dis
tllgnished Japanese about two years
ago, and has most of the time since then
been living in Japan.
Mrs. lshida says things are i'll rather a
serious state politically in Japan. though
war. is moro prosperous probably than
mas ever been: \ year ago wages
were - cents and 80 cents Il day. Now
lhoy are 30 cents to 81. Articles Of
lnerchandlse also have gone up 80 per-
cent What concerns the people. though.
Is the possibility for more war when they
are not ready for it.
mere is great fear at the present
Of Russia said til" lady. Nobody
knows what that country intends. but
ITS attitude is regarded as anything bu,
friendly. What Russia wants is to st,
down TO torea. When it will strike re-
MAINS to be seen. If Japan can keep it
or, however, she wont have any war
TOR seven or eight years more. Then
she will b" in Il good deal better SHAPE.
appetizer generation will have come on
which can take the field OF course
Japan Is very thickly populated. hut she
would be in better condition then tbau
now. Meantime. Japan is goii. to have
int more NOR, warships and fortified tons
built. They ar" blilling f,rtilica1iDnS
10" DIS IaSt IS they can. and il is won
dertul the progress they arr milking.
was at dinner. ill coni,,any with
my husband, at Toxic Just before I came.
| away. AT that dinner were gathered
; some Of the most famous men Of .Japan.
| here was among them the Marquis IT,.
Formerly count Ito, who MAS 50 coiisI,ic-
uohs III The recent war. j;esi1rs him
there was Gen. I1omoiito, who command
ca an the fleets at tie time Of the war,
ana three other noted generals There
was also present al old Dam;r. favorit"
OF the Emperor. They wcr" all much
concerned a 'ont the present condition of
Japan and the attitude of Russia Gen
idomcllto tod li.t. they l"nked upon
Amerlca as their great friend. and hi
.!housht that If 'thc: countlics asked
things that were unjust from .Ja;an,
! America might come in and help. II"
sald Japan would go on M King FORTH
ci1lnns rs fast as possible. ana tl,1t she
Would nave som" more warshiNs built.
About half of tEcs'.. he said would liz:
England.
L think they intend to build about >iA
or seven more sl.ii's. They are h'l;li:nc
new port at Yokohama NOW. and r,l>i,
ing work as fast Is lie: can. | noticed
that as | came away. They ar" rilin.
! up stone after stone, till one who had
been there year az" would hardly know
! the h2rbor
; Gen. liomnlit" i q Sn:S,1!ua mai,.
! and over q feet high. All RI" generals
: are great hi@ NEIL The trunhI" is tia,
nobody i'll Japan knows just what Rus
! sias next move will i". She wants Ja-
: pan evidently. and is t9urin. our HOW
sh" is going to strike.
! AT III" dinner l have mrnti"n"l there
! were a number Of Speeches: The! all
spoke. in fact. and the subject H. the
war with Russia was generally discussed.
! 1t is believed! 10 l,e RuS>ia'> intention l..
sweep the seas. take all ti:. islands Of
japan. if possible. and z" down /" C"rt.a.
and thus command the whole roln1ry
'All the generals looked ut the matter
very seriously: Blu, they will do their
; best TO fprestail Russia. Nor, ships AMI
Notifications will Eir hniIt a> fast Z lr.,-
, sihle. and III" empire viii Try IL ever:
way ~ be Ready f.: the attucA."