The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-07-08
Armyand Navy Keenly
on Alert About
Situation.
If Japan Is Sincere, She
Cannot Object to
Fleet, They Say.

The war spirit IS growing. Naval and
army officers are using the japanese
situation as almost the sole topic OF
social discussion. Opinion is divided
as 10 the outcome OF sending the feet
Of battleshiDs 10 the Pacific.
If Japan thinks that she can whip
the United States" remarked a prom
inent naval officer today. 7 should NOT
be surprised II she were TO regard The
projected movement OF the battleship
feet 10 the Pacific as a hostile act.
IF. after measuring her own strength,
financial and physical. she decides that
she might get the worst OF il. she viii
accept the movement as It Is Intended
by the United States and viii make no
fuss over IL
Friendship Growing.
But the traditional friendship be-
tween the two governments has been
broken They Will never again. IN ny
opinion. be on the same close terms as
heretofore The incident VIII ranlle-
And. some day. especially II the United
States should become involved with an
other power. the feeling aroused now
may burst out into open enuity.
1T Is ridiculous" continued this Of
hcer. who. like all others in the service.
IS prohibited By regulations from lend
ing his name 70 discussions on the
meaning OF naval movements. especially
when they may have a diplomatic bear
ing. for Japan 70 see any overt act IN
this transfer OF the feet, just as II was
for her people 20 try 10 make a grave
International question out OF the riotous
acts OF mob IL san Francisco. Japan
can take exception to this disposition
OF the American ships. only in case she
herself has sinister designs II she IS
really friendly. as believe she is. her
susceptibnities viii not be aroused
Jap Squadron Visit.
II see that a Tokyo dispatch recalls
that when. in January. Japan proposed
to send a cruiser squadron to San Fran
cisco on a friendly visit, an indirect
hint from the United States that It
might not De opportune, on account OF
the recent excitement over the school
question. caused them to change their
plans. The inference IS that a SIMILAR
hint onght 10 prevent the sailing OF
Admiral Evans fleet to the Pacific. II
is hardly necessary 10 point out that
there is no parallel in the two cases.
" G are sending our SnlpS 70 our own
waters; Japan was intending 70 visit
Us"
Continuing. he said that he deprecated
the sensational public prediction Of the
possibility OF war with Japan, first, be-
cause they might be taken too seriously
as representing the real sentiment OF
this country. and, second. beacUse they
were liable 10 strengthen Hpa 1ingOeS OF
Japan and weaken the existing friendly
administration OF that empire
Duplicate 0Tegon's Trip. ~
1t appears that the famous trip OF
the Oregon. during the Spanish-Ameri-
can war. when she sailed from san
Francisco TO Key West IN sixty-thr6e
days. is TO be duplicated BY the battle
snip fleet The sixteen ships are 70
make a demonstration 10 the world OF
the speed with which the American
navy can transfer its fighting strength
from one ocean 70 the other. With this
point IN view, there Will be few. II
any. stops 10 pay visits OF courtesy at
the capitals OF the South American
states. What stops are made win be
for the business OF cOaling. II IS under
stood that the ships viii sail in four
divisions OF four each. with a day or
two interval between each division.
The rendezvous viii probaiy be in Mag
dalena bay.