Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1900-02-03
JAPAN is READY FOR War
TO STRIKE A BLOW AT RUssr.
japan Might Have 20 Fight aas.
She Is Ready-She Has "a Powa.,
NaVy-Wnl BE Ready for War
Six Months.

London, Jan. 3l.-The new and powerf,,
Japanese warship Shikishima will try Ia
reach home port through the Suez cam,
but the Interpretation that the departu,o
OF the Shikishima was directly due to H..
situation in China is incorrect, as the Assn.
ciated Press learns that the date set 10,
sailing was decided on many weeks aoo
and party was held on board of ne,
previous to the deposition of the emperor
of China.
But though this incident was given ex.
aggerated Importance in the papers. thu
Associated Press is able to say that tho,s
in England most cognizaut of the secret
aims OF Japan especially those fulfilling
her naval contracts, have for some time
past thoroughly believed she mcditated
striking blow at Russia. Ii this imprc,
sion is correct, and there is the highest
and most conservative authority on which
to base it, it is not unlikely that Japans
hand may be forced and her intended
coup will be attempted before her plans
are completed.
1t may be that Japan meditatcs only
Tor the present administration to prevent
Russia from accomplishing the designs
which various correspondents have cred,
tied her with since the change in Chinas
emperor. Two powerful war vessels built
for Japan on the Clyde will soon be ready
to sail, while others are under course of
rapid construction. Their strength haa
not attracted much attention, but their
Importance as international factors can be
Judged from statement made to a rep.
resentative OF the Associated Press by one
OF England's greatest shipbuilders, who
declared that the vessels building for
Japan were the most powerful in the world
and could destroy the best British ships
III 10 minutes. Several OF Japan's vessels
III course of construction would have been
completed before now had not Japan en-.
countered financial difficulties. The Brit.
ash builders would not let the vessels sail
until paid for in cash. To accomplish this
Japan induced a syndicate of English
bankers to advance the money, and their
action has been the subject of good deal
of private criticism in the inner admiralty
circles, when ii is realized what tremen.
dous naval power Japan is accumulating,
and though Great Brtain's strength was
not impaired, it was thought inadvisabla
Tor british capitalists TO so materially as
slst Japan to become dangerous rival
y well known naval expert tells d repre-.
sentative of the Associated Press that if
Japan puts in commission the ships sched-
ulcd Tor service in the near future. she
VIII be ready for war within six months,
and can then defy Russia, and as the Jap
anesc and Russian ships at present in the
lar east compare, Japans fleet would have
an excellent chance Of controlling the sit
uation.
Russia Moving to the south.
st. Petersburg, Jan. 3l.--The Herald
publishes an article describing the recent
experimental transfer of Russian troops
to Kuskh, and says:
Russia is obliged to take precautionary
measures owing to the disturbance of the
balance Of power in consequence of re-
cent events. 1t is unjust, therefore, to
blame Russia ii she is making preparations
regarding the long strip between Persia
and Afghanistan"