The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-07-18
Naval Peace Movement.
The Sending Of Some Of Uncle
Sans Big Battleships to the Pa
cific Intended to Promote Peace
Rather Than Provoke War.

Wilmington Star. July Z.
President Roosevelt on Wednesday
denied that the Atlantic feet would
he sent to the Pacific. On Thursday
it leaked out at Washington that the
feet would be sent to the Pacific, aud
on Friday the Navy Department an
nounced officially that the vastest
feet ever sent to the Pacific would
leave the Atlantic some time i'm the
fall. 1t was denied, however, that
the sending of 16 big bati'eships to
the Pacific, besides II greater number
of cruisers, was intended as menace
to Japan.
We are prepared to believe that
this great naval movement is not in
tended to menace Japan, but the
country will be prepared to believe
that it is sent there to prevent Japan
from menacing us. The movement
evidently is based upon what the
government at Washington deems
necessary. There is reason for it
and method in it. 1t has been quite
evident for some time that for some
reason or other Japan has been dis
posed to pick quarrel with this
country over trivial matters. She
has seized upon merely local Incl
dents to make international ques-
tions of them, and if the truth were
known the diplomatic correspondence
between Japan and this country has
been of a graver nature than has
leaked out through the press. Ja-
pans representations to this country
have, doubtless, been of tone and
tenor that has caused the Washing
ton government to sit up and take
notice.
Most any nation except Japan
would consider the San Francisco in
cident of a merely local and trivial
nature to be settled by diplomatic
means of almost a character as not
to be made public. Not SO with
Japan. Her victory over Russia has
evidently inflated her people and
statesmen as well. They have made
a great display of their diplomacy
in settling or attempting to settle
the Frisco incidents. She has been
playing to the grandstand, and to a
locker on it is dawning that she has
an object in it. That object proba.
bly, is to pick a row with the purpose
of securing the Philippines. The
Japs have probably made up theil
minds that they can do it, and that
now is the time to try it, hence she j.
creating the excuses to justify her il
the attempt. The movement of {
tremendous naval force to the Pa
cific rather impresses one that th'
government at Washington looks al
it that way.
This government has no earthly
desire for any quarrel with the Japa
nese. 1t has no purpose OF menacins
Japan but it will turn out that The
demonstration in Pacific waters by
the United States is taken as mat
ter of precartion that recent tactics
of Japan warrant. Russia was
caught mapping or was over conf
dent, but Uncle Sam evidently is not
going to sleep when he sees signs
that he can read.
! Secretary of the Navy Metcalf an
nounces that the naval movement to
the Pacific is merely a naval maneu-
yer and has no significance from Il
military standpoint. We believe
that, but we also believe that it is a
precautionary and timely maneuver.
The world will be pretty apt to view
it the same way. This country has
no idea of any aggressive movement,
but it has become necessary to wave
the big stick to show that Uncle Sam
will be ready for any defensive move
ment that is made necessary by
people looking for him. The naval
demonstration in the Pacific is one
that is intended to make for Peace.
If it doesn't then the movement will
credit to the United States govern
ment for seeing trouble ahead in time
to be prepared for it.
A jackie who was in the Star office
about the time we wound up these
random reflections, about sized up
the decision of the Navy Department.
to show its hand in the Pacific, when
he broke in: Them people in Wash
'ntonS all to the wise