The Savannah morning news., 1904-10-30
JAPS SUPERIOR
To THE RUSSIANS
MORE FIGHTING STRENGTH.
DIR. j. A. b. sHERER WAS IN FLOW
cry KINGDOM FOR FIVE YEARS.

While Russia Has Three Times the
Spirit Prevails i'm IsIand-Great
Fear is That Finances Will Not
Hold Out-Japanese Fighting Bat
ties for AnEIo-SaxOn-Ameri In
dustries-Sure to Win Out.
Impossible as it seems, the japanese
have a greater fighting strength than
the Russians"
The above statement was made yes
terday to a representative of the
Morning News by Rev. ]. A. B. Sher-
er, president of Newbery College. who
is here attending the Lutheran confer
ence.
DR.. Sherer spent five years in ia
pan in the employment of the govern
ment as a teacher of English, return
ing in 1897. Since that time he has
kept in close touch with the progress
Of the Flowery Kingdom. Last April
he issued a book entitled, Japan To-
day." which has already reached it's
third edition. His History of Japan"
is in press.
while Russia has fifty-seven times
the territory of Japan, it has only
three times the population. The mass
of the Russians take little stock in the
war; and have no sympathy with the
struggle.
with the Japanese, they are in the
fight body and soul. The men esteem
it a privilege to die for their Emperor.
Their only religious principle is loyal
ty TO their ruler. In all their schools
they have military drills.
Superior in Wealth.
1.-THE superiority of the Russians lies
in their greater wealth. The Japa-
nese war chest represents in large
measure the personal sacrifice of its
citizens. Japanese are among the poor
nations and their tax rate is heavy.
During my stay in Japan I was a
government official, and as such had
exceptional opportunities to study their
movements.
I'm regard to the present war, the
Japanese have foreseen it ever since
their war with China. The indemnity
they received for being forced to give
up the territory they took was expend-
ed on their army and navy. The key
note of their talk after that was forced
upon them by Russia and other ma
tions and was revenge
Russian never thought Japan would
fight. l was once talking with a Rus
sian officer and I asked him what he
thought of such thing. He fiicked
the ashes from his cigar. That's what
I think he said.
odds Are With Japs.
THE Japanese have a fair chance
of winning, that is, the odds are on
! their side. The Car is a 'nincompoop'
and is surrounded by weak men. He
himself is weak almost to the point
of imbecility.
IT sympathize with the Japanese in
| this war because I think that they are
| right, though as a. nation their char
acter has very grave defects. think
the Chinese have many points of SUI
! periority in this regard.
1T is all a mistake to talk about the
! Russians being the representatives of
| the white man. Though they have
white skins they have an Oriental
heart. The Japanese have a dark
| skin. but are Western in spirit. BY
some wonder this nation is more Eu-
ropean than Oriental. They are fight
ing the battles of the Anglo-Saxon.
THE bone of contention is China, of
/ course If Russia wins, it means
| that China will remain just like it is,
| while if Japan wins they will western
ize it.
| Il notice that the Russians are much
more free in giving out news than the
| Japanese. The latter give out news
several days late and then only after
| it has been carefully edited. The
Russians seem to have a very hap
hazard system at st. Petersburg, and
much they give out enables the Japa-
nese to use it with effect, I am sure.
mo matter who wins. the result
will be a vastly increased field for
| American industries"