Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-12-28
Re1dElve SIreo4Eh
Of japan and Us.
and powerful fighting feet, which
would be drain upon our naval force.
Philippine Attack FirsE.

and powerful fighting feet, which
would be a drain upon our naval force.
| Philippine Attack First.
| At the outbreak of such a war the
| Philippines naturally would be The mi
| tiar point of attack. Unless sufficient
| time for preparation could be had, it is
| to be conceded that the islands would
soon fall into the hands Of the attack
| ing force. 1t is also entirely probable
that simultaneously the naval base at
| Hawaii likewise would be captured
| and the cable island, Guam, midway
| between Honolulu and Manila, gathered
| in with ease and celebrity. Assuming
such disasters to have taken place, the
passage of either fleets or transports
| across the Pacific would be perilous.
The part China would BE- called
upon to play in war Of this charac-
ter, in view Of the regeneration and re-
awakening which is in progress in the
Celestial Empire, Is a far more queS-
tionable matter. In two years more
China will have an excellent military
system. An army of 100000 will then
be organized in a modern manner and
put upon an active service footing. II
is true this military force, for some
mysterious reason, has been raised Only
in the northern provinces. That the
Japanese have been instrumental in
building up this military power is an
open secret. But what is the purpose
Of this big and efficient army? It is
not to be believed that the japanese
have erected a monster to deyour them;
yet 1t is agreed the Chinese do not, as
a people, look upon the Japs with
any kindly feelings, and rather resent
their officiousness.
Japan's Shrewd Tactics.
It has been charged that the Japan
csc Influenced the organization Of the
Chinese army IN the northern pro
vinces in order to use it to repel any
descent Of the Russians into Manchu-
ria while the Japs were exploiting that
rich region. The fact that the south
ern provinces are unprotected and have
no army organization has been attrib-
uted to a shrewd move on the part of
the Japanese to leave open a door by
which, when the opportune time ar
rives, they may conquer their neigh
bors. While China has been eacour-
aged TO form a powerful army, sfn
appears to have been actually discour-
aged from building suitable navy.
Clearly China is more or less dependent
on Japan. If any conquests are to be
undertaken, the Land of the Rising
/ Sun is to take the Initiative and man
| age the undertaking.
! What position China would take in
the event of break in the harmonious
| relations between Japan and theUnited
States can only be left to conjecture,
The progress Of such a conflict un-
| doubtedly would have some bearing CT
the case.
A glance at the present financial
condition Of Japan shows that the
plucky little country cannot afford the
luxury Of war. If it intends to &C
to war with either China or the United
States it must postpone the evil day
| for some years. By that time the
whole complexion of the situation in
| the Pacific may be changed by the
opening of the Panama Canal. When
| that great work IS finished, it will
require a strong nation to dispute the
| mastery Of the western ocean with
! America.