The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
Build ships and eat dirt"

Build ships and eat dirt"
Capt Richmond Pearson Hobson, the
country's most strenuous advocate OF q
greater navy. and the new member Of
the House Of Representatives from the
Sixth Alabama district, coins this phrase
as descriptive Of the condition in which
ne believes the people Of the United
States find themselves by reason OF their
failure TO appropriate more literally Ia
the past for the navy
Capt Hobson, who has arrived IN
Washington for the coming session OF
Congress. does not mince words in dis
cussing the possibilities OF war with
Japan and the sending of Uncle Saazs big
fleet 10 the Pacific. He goes farther than
the department in its announcements and
plans, and says the feet should go to the
far East and be kept there.
The only possible hope Of peace is 10
get our entire feet out to the far East
said Capt Hobson last night
ing the game with Japan. and particu-
larly the British. viii become active IN
the Atlantic TO make our Atlantic States
timid, to hold oJT feet or part Of it in
the Atlantic; but we should unhesitat-
ingly send that fleet straight to the far
East and keep 1t there while We build
two other fleets as large for the Atlantic
and South American seas. TO protect the
Monroe doctrine.
Japan Seeks PreteXt.
IF japan cannot find some further pre-
text between now and the sailing Of the
feet, it is not unlikely that she viii cause
the so-called yellow press of Japan 70
/ inhame the people Of Japan and use this
as a basis to make representations to
America to withhold the further progress
+ Of the fleet. and. If necessary. pretend
with regret that she has 10 urge and in
sist hat We do not send the feet farther.
/ All In all we are al a very critical june
ture in our country's foreign relations,
and at a period when the Panama Canal
is not complete. which viii be our danger
Gus period-the period that viii be
l
/ 10 bring or a war.
During this period. because of our Ut
terly inadequate navy. our people must be
[ prepared TO not only be exceedingly calm
I and conservative. but To accept any form
of humiliation that may come We have
neglected the question Of defense 50 long
that we must now eat dirt. Our policy
must be to build ships and eat dirt: and
/ We cannot stop eating dirt until after the
/ ships are built
War May Come soon.
/ Capt. Hobson believes the clash with
Japan may come in February. II post
poned that Ions by reason of affairs in
/ China.
''The official announcement that the
/ Empress Dowager Of China viii abdicate
next February. on the Chinese New Year.
brings 20 the front the whole question OF
the fate Of that great empire, says he.
American diplomacy. insugurated
under Secretary Hay and continued under
/ Secretary Root, secured the Padoption.
willingly OF unwillingIy. by the powers.
Of the open door policy for China. Since
/ japanese ascendency in the far East. a
plan has been on foot to overturn this
/ just policy and 20 substitute for il the
/ dangerous sphere of influence policy
Japan, along with the military powers
/ Of Europe has misgivings lest. with q
/ fair chance and no favor. America might
secure the lions share of the coming
great commerce of China, and Japan has
organized a movement by which America
is to be left out and China is to be sub
divided into spheres OF influence Upon
/ this basis Japan has negotiated special
new treaties with the European powers.
by which treaties the limitations of the
/ various spheres Of influence have been de-
fined.
Yellow Against White.
This question mas an important bear
ing. not only upon the future commerce
Of America but upon our peace and the
peace of the world The spheres OF in
fuence policy would unquestionably lead
not only TO dissensions and wars be-
tween the powers as to the subdivision,
but would ultimately lead to the abso-
! lute> preponderance Of Japan over China
and the transformation of the Chinese
from a peaceful into a military people
and lay the foundation for an ultimate
struggle between the white race on one
side and the yellow race on the other.
fo- the supremacy OF the world. On the
Others hand the open door policy in
China. based on justice and equal rights
I for al would guarantee the ascendency
of peaceful activities in China. would
/ oDepsup to that country a great CONNER
ciaf future which would reflect vast
benefit upon all nations. and would lay
the foundation for the two great races
to meet each other as friends and COM
rades. and not as enemies in war
But the question has a more pressing
and vital significance fo- us. These new
Japanese treaties with the European
nations. and especially the treaty Of al
lance. offensive and defensive. with the
British, are parts Of the diplomatic prep
larations that Japan has made for an at
tack upon America.
"Her naval and military preparations are
practically complete, and all that now
remains is for her to secure a pretext
for such an attack; this fact explains
, the apparently unaccountabIe attitude OF
Japan upon every little, ridiculous. tri-
fling incident that occurs anywhere in this
country.
The understanding with the other
nations is doubtless that Japan viii
throw America out Of the Pacific Ocean.
and America would have 70 stop for a
number Of years 10 make preparations
to go back. and by that time the parti-
ton of China would have been completed
and America, 10 get back into the far
East would have to face the combined
world, and at such a distance would be
confronted by a practically insurmount-
able barrier