The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-02
NO MENACE TO JAPS
INCREASE IN PACIFIC FLEET
AN OLD PLAN.
Government Had Decided Upon It Before
Trouble in San Francisco
Had Begun.

WASHINGTON, July 2.-Ever since
the reappearance of the agitation in ia
pan over the treatment Of Japanese
subjects IN San Francisco Washinstorl
has been filled with rumofs thAt~this
government contemplated an immedi-
ate increase in its naval strength in the
Pacific. These rumors have now as
sumed definite shape.
Sixteen battleships of the Atlantic
feet, the main division Of the American
naval lighting force,Aar ire to be cent to
the Pacific. 1t is declared. and naturally
the inference is drawn by those unac-
quainted with the situation that fear
of trouble with Japan is responsible
for this reported decision to mok2 a
great aggregation of floating fortyt t d,
position Of greatest strategic impor-
tance for any conflict with our far
Eastern neighbors.
The Roosevelt administration has
spared no means to deprecate the re-
ports that there is danger of war be-
tween this country and Japan. From
the statements made by prominent Of
ficials it is practically impossible to
escape the conviction that President
Roosevelt m his principal advisers
are satisfied that there Is no prospect
of a conflict unless the yellow and lingo
press-American and Japanese-suc-
ceed after long effort in producing
enough pin pricks 10 turn the present
cordial feeling existing between the
two nations into distrust and enmity.
In this knowledge the President and
his executive officers have done and are
doing everything they can to show ia
pan that the United States is anxious
to preserve the long friendship that
has existed between them. They are
constantly beset by sensational reports,
however, and find the task one of great
difficulty.
The latest obstacle In the way OF
maintaining cordial relations with ia
pan-the report of the intention Of the
United States to send , great fleet Of
modern armorclads to the Pacinc-is
the outgrowth of conditions and dis
cussions that did not have its origin in
the troubles involving Japanese SUBJ
jects on the Western col of this con-
tinent.
Long before the San francisco school
question became an Issue or. In fact.
was heard Of In Washington. the gem
eral board Of the navy had formed the
opinion that the preponderanca OF
American interests requiring protection
from the feet lay In the Pacific Ocean
and particularly In the Far East.
The matter had reached the point
something was to he done n
way or the other, when the agitation
over the a francisco school segreEa-
ton arose, and 1t vas decided that It
would be unwise to take any step that
might create a wrong impression in
Japan. BY that time, however, the
policy had apparently befn determined
on. and the Government would have
put It in operation II considerations of
caution and diplomatic wisdom had not
prevailed.
OYSTER BAY. N. T., 5July 2.-Rub-
lished reports that sixteen Ebattieships OF
the Atlantic fleet OF the Omitted States
Navy are TO be transferred to the Pacific
Coast because Of anti-Amex7 Jean feeling in
Japan We're denied todayt by william
Loeb. President Roosevelts secretary. Mr..
Loeb said that the reportA is without