Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-17
PREDICTS WAR WITH JAPAN
MR.. HoBsoN SAYS IT Is ALMOST
INEVITABLE.
Addresses University Club With
Sailing of the Fleet" as
His Theme.

That war with Japan is almost inev-
table that Japan is simply aching for a
war with this country. and that in our
present unpreparcd and defenseless state
Japan could not only take the Philippines
and Hawaii. but could invade this coun-
try without much resistance. were some
Of the suggestions offered by Richmond
+. Iobson. representative in Congress
from Alabama. and Of Marrimac fame. in
an address at the University Club 18th
aud X streets northwest. last night
Tn theme Of Mr.. Fobson's address was
The Sailing of the Fleet and it was
expected that he would give a graphic
account of the long cruise in prospect
but he turned his attention to describing
what the significance attached to such a
movement is and what the possible out
come will be. He declared that the sail
ing of this feet is more than naval
pageant. more than a practical demon
stration of the efficiency of our battle
ships and men.
Awakens at Last.
1T means" he declared. that America
has at last awakened to the fact that the
dangers on the Pacific have increased far
greater than they have on the Atlantic
and that America has taken upon her
self TO become the bulwari1 against the
progress of the peril of the orient. to
save not only this nation, but the entire
white race from annhilation When the
fleet arrives in the Pacific Japan's war
like attitude and chances may not be so
strong, he said.
More than 80 members of the ITnfver-
sity Club and the invited guests were pres
ent. and Mr.. Hobson s analysis of the
situation was appauded many times.
Among the prominent persons present
We're: Sen tor Thomas c. Carter of Mon
tand, ex-senator Stewart of Nevada aud
Surgeon Gen. Wyman. John X. Stauffer
presided.
Mr.. Hobson said Japan is aggressive
toward the outside world and will be for
centuries to come. and that she is train
ing the Chinaman to hate the white man:
that it is likely she will have enlisted the
interests of India and Africa before long
She instigated the Boxer troubles in
China he said. las we'll as the more
recent boycott of America. japan partic-
ularly hates the American. She is ready
for war with us. except justifable pre-
text before the world. Great Britain has
such a treaty with Japan that she will
have to help her eastern ally in any war
the latter desires to make. Japan, France.
Great Britain and Germany are allied to
drive the American commerce out of the
orient. These nations are already at work
Strangling tCat commerce with China.
But in the end Germany may be counted
on as our ally. 1t is not only our loss
of Oriental commerce and Self-reSpect
that is at stake. but this nation has
drifted TO point where it must look
about to save its existence. We have neg
lected our duty. and l hope the sailing of
this fleet means that we have awakened.
The trouble with us is that we have been
too busy making money.
Japan's Readiness for War.
Japan will continue warlike as long as
war is profitabl While we have been
sleeping Japan has. since the Russian
war, started to construct $4,000, 900 worth
of battleships after the type of the
Dreadnought She has added five d.
visions to her army; she has increased
her arsenal activity, and has established
steel plants and other plants for making
the implements of war. and hundreds of
thousands of men are at work night and
day.
Japan, as a matter of fact has already
taken Hawaii. She has 60. 600 trained and
possibly armed subjects in the islands
They are there under the guse of work.
men. but they are trained soldiers and
local subjects Japan is making the same
arrangements to take the Philippines
She is wonderfully strong in her merchant
marine, and is we'll supplied with money.
She has a war fund large enough to per-
without issuing a war tax. With her
merchant marine and other facilities
she could land 100000 men on our Pa
cific coast in three months. and in five
months could put 1.OOO.0O0 men there.
which invasion We could not meet with
more than 100000 trained soldiers.
In speaking of Japans strong desire
and aim to invite war with the United
States Representative Hobson recounted
the San Francisco school trouble.
prtf ntt frD ,soly
and wise for them he said. 1T was an
awful bitter pill to swallow. but they
made us bow to her. The President knew
with japan at the time of the San Fran
cisco incident, and he should be COM
mended for battling the schemes of Japan
even at the cost of granting an injunc-
ton forcing one of the great common
wealths of this free nation to suspend its
laws of liberty at .ne demand of mon
archy-an absolute and oriental monarchy
at that