The San Francisco call., 1907-01-06
By Edwin II. Summers,
Late Of u. s. NAVY

II HERE viii be no wer between
the United States and Japan over
the San Francisco public school
question. or over any other die
pute. at least not in the immediate
future
The Japanese statesmen are wise,
= uewd. far-seeing men, and they are
Ia disposed to see their country COM
NIT suicide. Suicide IL would certainly
be Tor Japan to go TO war with the
United States at the present time.
The certainty OF peace is owing to
the fact that the United States navy is
much the superior OF the japanese
navy. The navies OF the two countries
are the keys TO the whole situation.
Every statesman as well as military
strstegist knows that in wars between
maritime nations. especially nations
whose territories do not come in con-
tact, victory depends upon the COM
msnd OF the sea. and the navy decides
this command. II Spain had held com
mand OF the sea IN 1888 we should
never have landed a soldier in Cuba,
IND Cuoa viii still be a Spanish
colony. Without the command Of the
sea which Dewey secured in the Orient
AZ one brilliant stroke the Philippines
would never have fallen into our hands.
Unless Japan had boldly snatched the
command Of the sea from Russia by
barring onslaught at Port Arthur and
neld il without intermission thereafter
sr-ss
In Korea or Manchuria. without the
command OF the sea from the outset
gapan would have been defeated in her
war with Russia and might have been
compelled 10 cede some Of her territory
Ia her foe. IL was nothing but the
nmand OF the sea that enabled little
J4Dan to triumph over her gigantic
adversary.
ID was said years go that the Pacific
Ocean would be the theater Of the
worlds next great wars. and the state
ment was true To the Pacific we must
look for the leading international de-
Nelopmcnts ~ the present century.
However bclligerent Japan may be-
come during the next decade, she VIII
never attempt TO attack the United
states She cannot do so with any
hone 81 success for the simple reason
thar the United States navy is almost
Twice as strong as the japanese.
or course, the personnel Of a navy is
as vital a factor OF its efficiency as its
material Here it may be said, frankly
hnd without any silly sentiment, that
The personnel Of the Japanese and Of
the American navies are equal in quail
lty. The japanese officers and men
are as highly trained as well drilled,
rs good marksmen, as good navigators,
as patriotic as ours. They are as
courageous. as daring, as dashing as
ours. with such qualities, combined
with their experience in naval war
fare on a large scale. they may be
considered as our equals in every re-
Epect no candid American naval Of
hcer is likely 20 deny this.
During the early days OF the develop
nent OF the Japanese navy along Occi-
hental lines the wise japanese Govern
tnent sent its young officers 10 Europe
And 70 America for their technical
training. Some went 20 England, few
to France and Germany and others 10
the United States. Congress over thirty
years ago passed an sct permitting
Japanese students 20 enter the United
states Naval Academy at Annapolis.
ind Up 10 the present year there have
teen japanese mioshipmen at that in
Ntution learning their profession side
Nv SIDE with the American youths who
chose the navy as their profession.
with few exceptions, the Japanese were
remarkably bright, apt scholars, some
bf them even standing well toward the
top OF their classes. Those who went
to European naval schools also made
fine records.