The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-09-03

but the proximity of the Slavic colossus
is a perpetual source of anxiety with
them, while at the same time it fascinates
them just as a bird attracted by the
snake preparing to devour it. Weighing
these things in my mind, l confess to
some m!sgivings as to the alleged dis
rUption between the yellow races. What
if Japan had a secret understanding with
Chna-China, which really fears only the
great Russian neighbor with her impos-
ing masses of population?
His highness and all the excellencies
were tickled half to death by the Rus
SLAMS gecd-natured criticisnl-if they had
impressed him favorably they had demon
strated their formidableness to the one
power whom they fear AS to the rest,
it was scarcely worth while to bother
about them. The Japs fear Russia polit-
ically and are deeply interested in the
United States commercially. Hence their
attention Is almost exclusively centered
on those two countries.
The representative of his Chinese maj
esty spoke curiously enough in German
this being the only foreign language he
had mastered. He expressed himself very
favorably, and as he has the reputation
of close student of European army
methods his words struck very agree
able note.
! AS a matter of fact, all the military at
| taches were astonlshed at the spectacle
of military prowess and capacity aeen.
And the warlike spirit was not confined
to the troops, either. 1t seems TO have
taken root among all classes of the popu-
lation; every Jap seems to be embued
with an enthusiastic and intelligent in
terest in the army.
| Tho people flocked to the manoeuvre
territory by the ten thousands, some COM
ing long distances and remaining long
as the troops I noticed the pupils of
|
wearing uniforms and carrying light
arms, bird rifles and the like.
! l made the acquaintance of the Mi
kado's navy, or the best part of it, at a
review hello by the Emperor in person in
the Bay of Hiogo, skirting the Island of
Hondo. wherein the well known seaport
| Of Kobe is situated
! The trainload of foreign attaches and
other invited guests arrived at o'clock
sharp. The sea was as smooth as ball
room floor. The silvery white battleshpS
of Japan were drawn up in four rows.
Shikishina, the mightiest battleship of
| the world, with its three gilded smoke
stacks held the place of honor in the
first line. Seven other men-of-war, all of
/ imposing size, stretched alongside from
west to east.
| Nine cruisers of the first class formed
the second row, torpedo destroyers pre-
dominated in the third. The fourth, made
! up OF torpedo DOaLS ana despatch DOaJS,
approached the coast of Ono There was
| no sign of life on board of either the
giants or pigmies, not a sound, not
yard of bunting was visible, scarcely a
wavelet breaking at the bow.
! Suddenly bugle calls on the Shikshima,
repetition of the signal on all the rest of
/ the ships, one after another. And as the
/ final blast died away the decks and masts
suddenly became alive with hundreds of
/ small ia IF
command now rang from bow to stern,
while the boys in blue looking from the
distance like flock of imps, ran up the
masts and rigging, lay aloft and unfurled
| a perfect rainbow of bunting, whipping
the air above the yards. There We're all
sorts and forms of standards, flags and
pennants. multi-colored, and above all
ffoated the red, flaming sun of Japan on
white ground.
Puns of smoke now rose lazily into the
air. becoming darker and blacker, grow
ing into clouds and finally envelopng the
ships white bodies in thin veil. When
black spot appeared in the direction of
Wada Point, from where the Mikado's
lnegship Asama was expected the crack
cruiser Akashi at once FASTENED off to
conduct the imperial master. She return
ed half an hour later, plotting the Asama
and three other warships.
The extraordinary stiffness prevailed up
to the very second when the flagship hove
into full sight. Then suddenly the i'm
perial salute beloved forth from all the
vessels at once. making the air tremble
with the thunder. There We're the sharp.
shrill crack of the small guns, backed by
the full metallic base of the 13-inch can
mona powerful combination
Twenty-one times-count them-they
lshrieked and doomed and Numbered well
come; then, as the yellow smoke waited
away, there was ''hurrah" from 900
threats. The decks. masts, yards and
even the smokestacks were black with
marines and sailors, standing. hanging
and balancing at attention
AS finally the echo of cannon boom re-
sounded weaker and weaker from the
hooe mountains in that grand harmony
OF military sound, the Shikishima's band
struck up the national anthem and the
Mikado's flagship opened the review by
najestcally sailing down the first row
OF warships, making an imposing show
OF her fine lines and armament.
The moment the flagship approached
one or the great war vessels the latter's
band started off with the national hymn.
SO that soon half dozen bands were
playing, which accompanied each other
To the measure. Next the Mikado visit
ed the mighty cruisers and torpedo de-
stroyers. proceeding very slowly and keep.
Ing sharp lookout. Occasionally there