The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1898-01-06
WAR Sentiment IN JAPAN
A BOLD STAND DESIRED, JUDGING
FROM TONE OF THE NATIVE
PRESS.
DEAOUACE GERMANY and RUSSIA
One Paper Thinks Japan Should Pre-
pare for War and Go to the Res
cue OF China-The Proposed
British Loan.

public feeling in Japan over the complica-
tions CT the far east centering in China,
is shown by the last press advices re-
ceived here from Japan. That the gov
eminent itself has an eye to the gravity
of the question is shown by statement
of the prime minister made in the course
of reply to delegation. He said:
with affairs tending to dangerous dc.
velopments, as is now the case in the
east, we shall not hesitate to ask the
diet for thirty million, or even forty
million, IL necessary"
This was only u short time before the
premier was forced to resign because of
the public feeling that the cabinet was
too weak to deal with the descent of the
European powers on China and the prob
able ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the latter
country.
The Jill ShimpO, the most influential
paper in japan, contains scathing ar
raignment of Germany's course, declaring
the occupation of Kiao Chau shows that
the laws and tenets and international
morality have ceased to be anything
more than speciOus pretense by European
powers, and that the rule by which their
conduct is really regulated is "the flesh
of the weak is the blood of the strong"
After declaring that Germany has
thrown off the mask and has taken the
lead of the western powers in II greedy
struggle to devOur China, the paper adds,
MS to the attitude of japan:
The confiagration is on the other side
of the river, but the river is a narrow
one and the sparks may easily fly across.
The lesson for japan is IL country's Sc
curity depends solely upon its strength
to resist aggression and that aggression
has come almost to her own gates. 1t
will not suffice that she would be merely
on the defensive. 10 preserve what one
has already, it is sometimes necessary to
add more. A crisis in the Orient now
confronts Japan and her undivided
strength must be devoted to guarding
against the points that menace her."
The Nichi Nichi Shimbun takes a SINH
lar view, declaring that it is part of the
plan of tie encrOachment of European
nations of the east 1t adds:
Japan his the greatest interest ut
stake in these things and the Japanese
foreign office should lose no time in OBJ
tanning from Germany clear expose Of
her purpose
The Kokumin Shimbun says that Ger
many's action is sequel to the three
powers RUSSIA, Germany and France)
interference with the japanese holding
Port Arthur after having taken that
fortress and that as these powers are
again in collision, Japan must diligently
prepare herself for emergency.
The Nippon says the crisis calls for u
resolute foreign policy by Japan and
ayers that nothing tends to impair amity
more than tame submission to insult and
wrong. The course of Germany is ar
raigned as n fragrant violation of inter
national law.
The Chuo Shimbun declares that the
time for the partition of the Chinese en-
pire has arrived, and adds:
'What shall Japan do? Shall she join
in the scramble for pieces of the doomed
state, or shall she, oppose its partition.
in such n crisis-the like of which has
not occurred since the restoration-the
portfolio of foreign affairs is in the hands
of man in whom the nation has no con-
fidpnce"
The Toxic Shimbun takes the radical
position THAT it is JapalI's duty to succor
China at this juncture, on the ground
that the boosted civilization and Chris
tianity of the western world is slowly
down right and justice in its
descent on the orient.
Aside from the excited discussion of
thC pioDlth- Chihu, thC Jupuh'ot ult5b
is mainly concerned in the country's ex-
tensive naval and military development.
The expenditures OH armament expan-
sion" this year viii be S0,G45,T21 yen
and next year 63, 100000 yen.
Brilliant field manuevers have been ex-
pected by the two army corps of the north
and the south In the presence of many
foreign diplomats and military experts"
The battleship Yayshima has just arrived
from the English ship yards. She is the
second of the big battle ships added to
Japan's new navy. the first being the
Fuiu They are sister ships of 12,517
tons displacement. each Of 20 knots speed
and in armament and general nnpearance
much like the United States battle ship
Indiana. The Yashima is the largest
war vessel that ever passed the Suez
canal. and it was found necessary to
unship the heavy guns and take off some
of the outer armOr to get her through the
caral.