The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-05-19
JAPAN STRIVING
FOR CONTROL
IN PACIFIC
If Successful Ii Would Place this
Country at Disadvantage ReIa-
tive to Philippine Control.


will probably determine whether she
will be successful or not No fault
Is found with the Oriental Yankees for
their perseverance, in this direction for
ring interests of the United States
that they were playing their last
string and if not aided quickly the
scattered remnants of our once power.
full merchant marine would pass into
other hands. All things considered,
Japan, the coming nation of the Onent,
| is the one which our ships on the Pa
cific should go and as some one is to
get them, Americans will feel pleased
that 1t is to be the Jananese OF
course there is more or less concern
at the Army and Navy Departments
ever 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 a decided disadvantage for we
would have no way to transport our
troops or supplies to the Philippines.
However, many regard this possibility
WIN SeSNASAelNN4OAAs bSAACf lllE IuC 4lll1 p
pines are burden and the quicker
Japan relieves us Of them by purchase
or force, the better it will be for the
fleet she has already accumulated. and
the American vessels which she is
about to purchase, Japan will be able
TO land her troops and supplies in the
Philippines on short notice. AS Anne
RIGA will have no merchant ships on
The Pacific coast except those engaged
in the coastwise trade, this country
will be seriously handicapped to say
the least.
The possibility of such an outcome
is, however, causing little concern
throughout the country for many peo-
PIE think that if we have no merchant
marine we are less nkely to get in
trouble abroad and will be compelled
to stay at home and mind our own bus
mess, leaving other nations to trade
with us and do our carrying trade or
rot. as they please. sStill Others would
prefer that the American merchant
flag should appear from the high seas
rather than assistance should be given
to the merchant marine from the
Treasury of the United States. AL
these regard with satisfaction the
apparent failure of the friends OF the
ship subsidy bill to make any prog
ress in the House. Congress will
shortly adjourn and, as it is the inten-
ton of the shipping interests to aban-
don the contest and either sell their
vessels or dismantle them in case the
bill is not passed at this session, the
fate of our merchant marine will soon
be determined.
1t is understood on high authority
hat japanese agents are now in the
United States completing the negotia-
tons for our vessels on the Pacific.
Consul General Wilbur, OF Singapore,
reports that the chairman of the board
of directors Of the Togo Kisen Kaisha,
the Japanese steamship company, has
been informed that the London ban
kers of the company have succeeded in
placing the whole issue of bonds
amounting to twenty million yen, in
the London market for the money nee
Cessary to purchase the fleet now be-
longing to the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company and sailing under the Ameri-
can flag. The bonds are for twenty
years and bear five per cent interest.
They were floated at SO. The Nippon
Yusen Kaisha, another Japanese line,
is reported to have just concluded ne
gotiations for the purchase of the new
steamers Dakota and Minnesota from
the Great Northern Steamship Com
pany and of the Shawmut ind Ire
mont from the Northern Pacific Steam
ship Company. 1t Yves learned today
that the agents of the japanese have
recently been in st. Paul, negotiating
with Mr.. J. J. Hill. President of the
Great Northern Railway Co., and that
the terms of the purchase of the Da-
kota and Minnesota have been practi-
Cally agreed upon. These are the lar
gest merchant vessels ever built in
this country. For their construction
Mr. Hill built a shipyard in New Lon
don, Conn. Since they were launched
the yard has been practically iale and
as Mr.. Hill sees no future for the mer-
chant marine. it will probably be dis
mantled when the vessels are sold.
The Japanese also have an option
on the steamers of the American fast
line now plying between San Francis
90 and Australia, The earthquake has
further crippled the business Of this
line already in difficulties and the
latest information is that 1t will aban-
uon tbs service. The Japanese op-
ton becomes effective. it is understood
if Congress adiourns without passing
the ship subsidy bill These steamers
are the fastest going to Australia and
cur trade with that country has more
than doubled since the service was
inaugurated. 1t is understood that
Japan will place them in service bet
ween Yokohoma and England
Whether the japanese viii conduct a
line between San Francisco and Aus
tralia or not. is not known but it is
thought likely It may do so as there
is considerable carrying trade between
these points and the United States will
have no line of its own. IT is there
fore thought probable that some Of the
British tramp steamers acquired by
the japanese lines, will be Overhauled
and a monthly service will be given be-
tween Australia and San Francisco.
The Minnesota ana Dakota, will most
likely, according to report from United
States Consular officers, be placed in
the South AmericanJapanese trade, |
which japan is strenuously cultivating |