The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-05-16
JAPAN WANTS TO
CONTROL PACIFIC
Mikado's Empire Plans to
Gain Mercantile >Suprem-
acy In Eastern Waters
BIG PURCHASE or SHIPS
ARMY AND NAVY DEPARTMENTS
MUCH CONCERNED OVER RE-
CENT DEVELOPMENTS - MER-
CHANT MARINE OF THE
UNITED STATES IN PERIL.

CHANT MARINE OF THE
UNITED STATES IN PERIL.
WASHINGTON. May 10, 1906
Developments of the last few weeks con-
firm be yond all doubt that Japan is
working strenuously to eliminate the
Stars and Stripes from the Pacific Ocean.
The next sixty days will in all probability
determine whether she will be successful.
No fault is found with the Oriental
Yankees for their perseverance in this
direction, for it has long been known by
the shipping interests of the United
States that these interests were playing
their last string, and if not aided quickly
the scattered remnants of our once pow
erful merchant marine would pass into
other hands.
There is more or less concern at the
Army and Navy departments over the
possibility of trouble with Japan some
day over our Oriental policy or over the
Philippines. In that case, Japan having
the ships, we would be at decided dis
advantage, for We would have no way
| to transport our troops or supplies to
the Philippines. With the large mer-
| chant feet She has already accumulated
and the American vessels which she is
about to purchase, Japan would be able
to land her troops and supplies in the
| Philippines on short notice. As America,
unless Congressional aid shall come, will
have no merchant ships on the Pacific
coast except those engaged in the coast
wise trade, this country would be Sc
riously handicapped, to say the least
The possibility of such an outcome is,
however, causing little concern to per-
sons who prefer that the American mer-
chant flag should disappear from the high
seas rather than assistance should be
/ given to the merchant marine from the
| treasury Of the United States
All these regard with satisfaction the
apparent failure of the friends of the
ship subsidy bill to make any progress
/ in the House Congress will shortly adj
| journ, and, as it is the intention Of the
shipping interests to abandon the con-
| test and either sell their vessels or dis
mantle them in case the bill is not passed
at this session, the fate of our merchant
marine will soon be determined.
It is understood on high authority that
/ Japanese agents are now in the United
States completing the negotiations for
our vessels ON the Pacific. Con sul Cen
eral Wilbur, Of Singapore, reports that
the chairman of the Board of Directors
of the Toyo Kison Kasha, the Japanese
steamship company. has been in formed
that the London bankers of the company
have succeeded in placing the whole issue
of bonds, amounting to twenty million
yen, in the London market, for the money
necessary to purchase the feet now be-
longing to the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company and sailing under the American
flag. The bonds are for twenty years
and bear FIVE per cent interest They
We're foated at 90.
i The Nippon Inusen Kaisha, another
japanese line, is reported to have just
concluded negotiations for the purchase
4 of the new steamers Dakota and Mime
sofa from the Great Northern Steamship
Company, and the Shawmut and Ire
mont, from the Northern Pacific Steam
ship Company.
It was learned that the agents of the
Japanese have recently been in St. Paul
negotiating with J. j. Hill, president of
the Great Northern Railroad Company,
aud that the terms of purchase of the
Dakota and Minnesota have been prac-
tically agreed upon. They are the larg-
| est merchant vessels ever built in this
country.
For their construction Mr.. Hill built a
shipyard at New London, Conn. Since
they were launched the yard has been
practically idle. and as Mr.. Hill sees no
future for the merchant marine it will
probably be dismantled when the vessels
are sold.
The japanese also have an option on
4 the steamers of the American Fast Line
now plying between San Francisco and
Australia. The earthquake has further