The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1907-07-11
THINKS SAKAMOTO
WAS M|SQUOTED
ADMIRAL 6RoWNsoN DOUBTS He
iNsuLTED AMERICAN NAVY.
NO DEsERTloNs in WAR
Japanese Embassy Vigorously Dis
credits the Interview In the Hochl
Government Thinks Fleet
inadequate.

washington, July 8. - Admiral
Brownson, chief of the bureau OF navi-
CATION of the navy department, said
Monday he was satisfied that the jap
anese admiral, Sakamoto who is re-
ported In the Hochi, a Japanese anti
governmental paper, to have ques.
toned the patriotism of American
naval crews and the ability Of the
American naval officers, has been
misquoted Said Admiral Brownson:
While spurred on by a spirit of
unrest or inconsistencies, sailors have
sometimes left the American navy,
but they have always done SO In time
OF peace. There is no record of
blueJacket deserving In time of war"
Discredited at Embassy.
At the Japanese embassy the Off
Gals discredited the reported utter
ances of admiral Sakamoto. Mr..
Masano Hanihara, the second secre-
tary, expressed his strong belief that
the admiral had not given voice to
any such utterances as those printed
or anything like them, and that IL he
spoke about the matter at all he has
been badly misguided. .-t
Such alleged sentiments by the ad-
miral, he declared. were absurd and
nonsensicals and their publication was
very much deprecated. 1t was not
the practice of naval officers in Japan,
Mr.. Hanihara said, or of those con-
nected with the navy to talk in such
fashion. The ambassador, Viscount
Aoki, he declared, did not care to dis
cuss the matter, because he did not
want to give 1t any Importance by re-
ferring to it.
Think Fleet Inadequate.
One purpose of the administration
in ordering the big naval demonstra-
ton ON the Pacific coast next winter
is to impress congress with the neces-
sity of making more adequate provi-
sion for the national defense. 1t will
be shown that our present fleet is in
capable of dominating In both the Pa
ci1c and the Atlantic. .aa
While Admiral Evans Armada is in
Pacific waters, the eastern coast will
be practically at the mercy of Eu-
ropean foe. should such Unexpectedly
arise. And, not only are more ships
needed, but Increased naval and dock
ing facilities, especially In the Pa
cific.
The navy department contemplates
the establishment of one of the great
est naval stations in the world at
Olongapo, harbor north of Manila.
The initial work on this project al
ready has been done, but a large
sum of money is needed to COM
plete 1t.
Aoki Silent as to Treaty.
Viscount Aoki, the Japanese ambas-
sador Monday declined to discuss the
reports indicating an indefinite sus-
pension of the negotiations for q re-
newal of the present treaty between
japan and the United States If this
government reserves the right to re-
tain a clause in the compact permit
ting the exclusion of Japanese coolie
labor. THAT is matter about which
you must ask the state department Of
ficials," he said Il cannot discuss
any feature of it for publication"
The reported views of Foreign Min
lister Hayashi received here through
the personal representative of Count
Okuma, the leader of the progressive
party In Japan, outlining the Japanese
&c nment's attitude on this subject,
were read with great deal of inter-
est by the officials of the Japanese
embassy, but they would not make any
comments on the subject.
Ambf dor Aokfs attention was
called the published statement that
the ,ttleships of Admiral Evans
feet .ere to be sent to the Pacific to
which he replied: You don't hear any
word of this in Japan, but in Europe
and in the United States there is
plenty of talk about it."
One Sensible Toxic Paper.
Toxic July 9.--Asahi publishes an
intervie with an influential Japanese
naval pert, who says:
1T uld be improper to infer a
demon alton in the transfer OF the
Ameri fleet to the Pacific. This
y movement is part of a prearranged
olan and is a result of the constant
growth of the American navy and the
increasing importance of Pacific inter
ests from the strategical point of view
No significance need be attached until
at least 80 ships have been transferred
to the Pacific"
The Asahi also publishes an edi-
torial article setting forth the same
views. 1t regrets the American fleet
cannot visit Japan in order to enable
Japan to reassert her sincerity and re-
ciprocate the naval hospitality ex.
tended to the visiting Japanese war
ships at jamestown.