The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-02-17
JAPAN,s CONFnENcE.

1t is doubtful If there ever before
with a big one that had such complete
confidence in it's ability to defeat its
| opponent as Japan has in her ability
to whip Russia. This confidence would
be ludicrous if it were not known that
she is wonderfully well prepared for
war, far better than Russia, and If she
| had not already demonstrated that she
is well qualified to take care of her.
self on the sea.
In our dispatches yesterday it was
| stated that she had decided, not to
| receive assistance from outside sources.
1t seems that in this country there
| have been offers of material assistance
and numerous soldiers Of fortune have
offered their services to the Japanese
| government TO fight in its navy or
army. 1t Is said that all of these offers
are to be declined. The war against
| Russia is to be fought by Japanese
alone. Is this because Japan wants all
the glory in the event of success, or is
it because she thinks that foreigners
in her army and navy would be a source
| of trouble and annoyance rather than
| of help?
The question is one that the Japa-
nese government alone can answer. 1t
is probable that Japan has acted wise
ly in deciding not to accept the serv-
ices of men from various parts of the
world, some, being influenced by one
feeling and some by another. 1t is
certain that, however earnest they
might be in their desire to assist Japan,
they couldn't get along very well with
the japanese, whose ways of living
and methods of doing things are diff
ferent from those of people of the
white races.
With only their own people in their
army and navy it will be possible to
preserve uniformity Of sentiment and
the strictest kind of discipline. 1t
would be practically impossible to do
this If there were Americans, English
men, Turks and men of other races
among their officers. Besides, the for
eigners would be pretty certain that
and fight battles better than the little
brown men, and that would be the
cause of annoyance, If not of trouble.
The japanese sent their young men
to the best military and naval schools
of the world and they are satisfied they
know all there is to be known about
matters pertaining to military and ma
l.. Cr.s.1
the war began that there were many
American officers in the army and
navy of Japan. 1t is doubtful If there
was any foundation for this statement
The fact that the japanese government
has decided to refuse all outside appli-
cations for positions in her army and
navy would seem to justify the doubt.
There is one respect in which other
nations might initiate Japan, namely,
in backing up the government in time
of peril when course of action has
been decided upon. 1t seems that dur
ing the war with Russia party lines
are to be obliterated, so that the gov
eminent will have no distracting do
nestle troubles while the war lasts.
Too often it is the case that the gov
eminent Of a nation during a war is
obliged to fight foreign foe and ene-
mics at home, the home enemies be-
ing the more troublesome of the two.
It will be a great disappointment, of
course, to those soldiers of fortune who
expected to win fame and perhaps for
tune in the army and navy of the Mi
kado to have their applications for
appointments turned down, but the
chances are, all things considered, that
the. Japanese government has taken the
wiser course.