The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18
JAPANESE on OUR SHIPS OF WAR.
An Explanation by One OF tho Race In
New York.

NEW
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: Your
correspondent who signs himself Expert
ridiculously breads Japanese on American
warshps and tries to explain. with apparent
cleverness, Japanese methods In acquiring
knowledge and solving foreign secrecy. l.
however, cannot agree with him His ex-
PLANTATION IL much open to criticism, for he
shows his lack OF Misunderstanding OF the position
OF the Japanese on American warships.
We do not object to the American restriction
OF Japanese in It's navy as a precautionary
measure, but we must disclaim the charge
Of treachery upon Japanese.
1t is true that Japanese are keen observers
In all things. and that there are many intelll-
gent young men Of respectable families and
OF knowledge on American warships. But
1t Ia by no means an exception In the case Of
the navy alone. am sure that you can
find more Japanese jurists, economists, poli-
ticians. physicians and engineers in your
Kitchens and pantrles than on your warships:
and you may be beaten in logical argument
by your own servants and may learn a good
many things from them on Japanese as we'll
as international affairs, with authority.
This, however. does not necessarily mean
that your Japanese servants are looking
after your faults or secrecy. They work IN
the navy or, in families for no other reason
than for their own financial support, to make
a living or in order to secure some education
while or after making an ample fund. may
venture to say that the Japanese in the Amer.
lean navy are less educated and less amhi-
tious, on the average. than those on land,
while on the sea; they merely enter into the
American navy for easy money making:
There is no truth whatever in the talk Of
Japanese naval officers being in the Ameri-
can navy as stewards or cooks.
tesS. allowed to be dsciplned in other ns 1
just as most Japanese naval officers were and
naves. 1t is most difficult task to unvel
as mere servant, who is restricted Spi fronn
going TO any secret or important places. as
any one familiar with naval construction
knows
Moreover. naval of4oer needs not to
smuggle TO learn the strength and weakness
Of ,a 70 navy for he Is or ought to be
American mep-of-war not merely to. mako
money but to learn secrecy, why should they
work as servants instead Of sailors or ems
gineers. which services are also open to all
and are of nearest access to the alleged pur-
pose? l assure you that you will hardly
find one Japanese sailor or engineer out Of
You viii find il futile to pick out in the Japa-
nese navy Japanese who was in the Amer-
Our navy does not pass man beyond from
II to % years Of age, unless in reserve, and
therefore those Japanese who were in tho
American navy would not be allowed in the
japanese navy. as they are generally outsids
No wonder Admiral Evans denied the story
that he had seen his. former servant acting
as a commander in the Japanese navy. al
talk of such kind is mere gossip Of magina-
ton born from the Japanese unusual sue
coesses in the present war. and the contagious
that all Americans will sleep well assured and
not in the least worry over war with Japan,
which Is ne yer contemplated nor even dreamed
NEW YORK, June 16-