Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-01-29
SAYS JAPAN WILL LOSE
!. w. Bookwalter Claims Rus.
 sia Is Misunderstood.
ONLY AN OPEN PORT IS WANTED.

Sees England's Hand In Present
 Movement If She Allies Herself
 With Japan, Russia, He Says, wnl Arm Hill Tribes I'm India-EngIand
 Expects United stntes Will Take a
 Hand,
 John W. Bookwalter of Ohio, who has travelled extensively in the far east, when asked Ly a reporter of the New York Tribune for his views on the ex- isting situation there as related to the Ianan- said:
 1.-The present far eastern situa ton is full of grave1y important possibilities and may precipitate consideration of question of worldwide significance. Should war begin between Russia and Japan, as now seems imminent. other powers will doubtless be involved, and the ultimate result will be new alignment of the nations of the, earth. The question in its broadest sense that may be involved will array the orien- tals, who stand for that which is squal itative and sentimental, on one side and the occidentals, who represent the quan- titative, material and commercial, on the other E -~
 "Russia's position is much misunder- stood. She has no ambition, primarily, to extend her territory; she has now one-seventh of the land area of the world. The thing she wants and which is an absolute necessity to her in this age of international commerce is an open port for with all her vast territo- ry she is bottled up. Whether she seeks an outlet through the Black sea, by way of the Persian gulf or through Manchuria or Korea. she is laid open to the charge of seeking to acquire fur ther territory. This is not, however, the fundamental purpose, but is incl dental and of secondary moment. Rus sia is taunted with the fact that she has no commerce, which is of course impossible without access to the sea.
 She has been shut in by the coali- tfon of European powers of which Eng land is the head, and it looks as if the present movement in the far east, un- doubtedly inspired by England, aims to perpetuate the same purpose. Rus sia Is said to be less progressive than some of the neighboring powers, but iii this connection it should be remem- bered that for 300 years she was the bulwark that protected all of conti- mental Europe against the invasion of the Tartar hordes, and in doing this she was necessarily weakened and her progress greatly retarded.
 Every step in Russian policy look ing to the acquisition of an outlet es- sential to the upbuilding of her com merce has been accepted by England as a menace either to India or English ambitions In China. The western world looks with covetous eyes upon the mill lions of possible consumers in China. It is people they want to manipulate for profit. The community of interest between England and the United States is commercialism.
 Russian territory borders on China for about 1000 miles, and the ethnical sympathy, considered in connection with their close proximity, forbids that they should be natural enemies. The same ethnical relation includes Japan, and if other influences were not at work there would be speedy settle nent of the questions now at issue be- tween Russia and Japan. But it may we'll be imagined in the light of all The circumstances that England Is again at the bottom of the situation. Her fe- puted desire to promote peace would seem to be wanting in sincerity, and in view of the attitude assumed by England her ancient enemy, Russia. cannot recede The conflict is tnevita- ble and may soon come.
 Should England openly ally herself to Japan 1t may be safely predicted that Russia will use the transcaspian road, which, with its branches, now runs very near the Indian border, as a