The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-03
Japan May Seize the Pacific Slope

from neutrals, the time would speedily come when the Japanese fleet, in it's integrity. in perfect fighting condition, could issue forth and destroy the rem nant of our shattered fleet. leaving the sea in absolute control of the Japan csc.
 This would lay our mainland open to invasion.
 An expedition would Immediately seize the Aleutian Islands and Alaska, where there could be no substantial re- sistance, and would establish base in Southern Alaskan waters. ~This base and Hawaii would be the assembling points for the armies of invasion. The latter place could offer superior ad- vantages for subsfstenee, and would probably be selected for.s the main force. but the Alaskan base would be d source of endless trouble to the coasts of Oregon and Washington, and would draw on our strength from the coast of California, where the main landing of Japanese would probably be ef- fected. Recent Japanese inspections of the harbors of Southern California in- dicate that one of these harbors has been selected for the landing.
 It is not necessary to examine in detail the conditions of our fortifica- tfons to see their insufflciency, espe- cially in men. Such Notifications as be Hdso are Onlt luStalIe0 10 oppose the attack of warships. All that ex- fists could be easily taken from the rear by a land force. The Japanese fleet would probably make Q diversion off one of the fortified harbors, while the landing was being effected with little opposition at an unfortified point.
 The average American is inclined to scoR at the idea of an invasion of our mainland territory. It will come as ! ahna1x n nf n nf the sea. Japan could land in force, overpowering any force we could gath CT in opposition, and could rush rein- forcements to the scene faster than we could. Furtherfore, Japanese and Chinese swarms coming fin wake of the army could possess themselves of the country, permanently driving the white cade Mountains.
 Americans have been sitting back contemplating the Yellow Peril with indifference, imagining that 1t Is but nightmare. belonging to some distant day, and that should 1t ever come, Eu- rope would be the continent to face at first. We forget that. with the sea open, water is infinitely more advan- tageous than land for an invasion. and that the yellow man has shown prow- ess on the water fully as great as on the land. We fail to grasp the signi- ficance of the persistent yellow immi- grafton toward America. It shows the direction of sociological gravitation. The Yellow Peril Is here. 1t is Amer ica's peril first; absolute control of the Pacific Ocean is our only safety.
 Many will feel inclined to challenge the statement that Japan, in control of the sea, could effectively Invade our mainland territory. We have grown up with the feeling of absolute secur- t&k ktz.n |uxr Fxy11n nxa the ocean was al insuperable barrier against invading hosts. It will be valuable lessoon. if we can learn the truth and appreciate the fact that neg feet of national defense means grave national peril.
 The Japanese are past masters in hiding from the world their military activities, but 1t is now known that since the war with Russia they have added four line divisions to the army and have made proportionate increases in technical unit.
 At the close of the war the Japanese army consisted of fifteen line divisions and one guard division, with nineteen reserve infantry brigades.
 In October, 1905, sixteenth line di- vision was added their new division together with the fourteenth division, being stationed at Manchuria, the thir- teenth and fifteenth divisions being as- signed to Korea.
 The seventeenth. eighteenth. nine- teenth and twentieth divisions, all new, have now been created, making the to- tai twenty divisions of the line, form ing ten army corps of two divisions each.
 The new regulations for military service or a two-year basis brings to the colors 100000 recruits yearly in the infantry alone. and will add 800 men A-. 1n.th s.f al vision.
 Not counting the prospective in- creases, the army of Japan today con- tains over a million of trained men. who have served in war, consisting of about 250, 900 men in the standing army and about S00.O0o trained reserves and militiamen.
 The apportionment is about as fol- lows:
 one guard division with one
 reserve brigade .. ..... 10000 Ten army corps .. ..s.....s.. 500.000 Twenty reserve brigades of
 eight battaIions each .... 1so,OoO Fifty-three reserve regiments
 second line .. ........ 16o.oOO Twenty reserve regiments of
 field artillery ..... ...... 12.OoO Twenty-Five battaltcns of fort
 artillery .. .. ........ I1.OOo One Formosa division .. .... IS.0O0 Three railroad regiments 7.500 One airship division and one
 telegraph battalion ...... 1900 Troops guarding possessions
 and communications .. .. 12O.0oO Militia .... .... ............. 10000
 1.o5s.70O Coolies .... .,.. ............. 15O,000
 Total .... ...... ......1,2oo,7 700
 It Is conservative to conclude that