The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-03-18

London. March lit may or may not
be significant that the German press IS
still harping on the possibility of a war
between the United States and japan.
In an editorial which deliberately ignores
the trend Of recent events and clings 10
the issues OF the past month, the
Vossisehe Zeitung says such war IS in
evltabie. the only question being the tine
which the japanese viii regard as most
opportune for its commencement
II would be Americas interest to post
pone the conflict whereas the sooner it is
Begin the more favorable are Japan's
chances. The undoubted results Of such
a war at the present moment would, says
the Vossisohe, be the certain loss for
America Of her Pacihe squadron and Of
her East Asiatic colonies. as well as the
ruin of her East .Asiatic trade. and prob
ably the devastation OF her Pacific Coast.
On the other hand. Japan cannot under
take a war without money, and the Lib
erql organ can hardly conceive Of Eug-
land taking steps TO support a confiicl in
itself deplorable enough which mig.is in
volve her in a world war"
Japan might. however. be induced to
undertake a war with America, even at
the risk Of totally demoralizing her
finances, while Russia is unable to take
a prominent part in the solution Of the
Pacific question. The Liberal organ con-
cludes; which consideration viii have
more influence on japanese decisions we
shall soon learn. Whatever the decision
may be, it seems TO us almost inevitable
that Japan viii commence war before the
Panama Canal is ready
In a recent article on the same subject
/ the Conservative Reichsbote said that the
1 United States had no alternative but 10
give way momentaFily on the California
question. but although this issue was
anticipated. the spectacle OF eighty mil
4 lions trucking to the yellow ISLANDERS
merits the most serious attention" The
/ Reichsbots considers that. the situation
viii become still more complicated when
/ Australia is placed in the same position
as the United States toward the Japanese
question.
It also fears that German interests IN
I the Pacific may come in conflict with
/ the japanese expansion movement, for
the Marianne and Caroline Islands are an
a
IReichsbote consoles itself with the thought
! that for the present Japan desires TO
remain on a good understanding with Ger
many, for the sake OF the latter nation S
/ technical and financial services, but IL is
Of opinion that Germany's best policy Is
! to accelerate the building Of her feet as
much as possible. so that she may be pre-
fpared when the moment Of danger ar
Tives.
The Shakespeare commemoration at
Stratford-on- Avon this year viii be car
ried out upon a scale unsurpa ssed since
/ the time of the famous Tescenfenary
/ festival Most Of the eminent actors and
actresses of the day have promised TO
assist at the dramatic performances,
which viii extend over three weeks, and
be given under tie direction OF F. r.
Benson. In the Memorial Theater. Twelve
Of Shakespeare best known plays win
be produced Including a revival of
Loves Labors Lost'). together with two
or three old English comedies and Gar
rick's version Of The Country Girl"
] Other ARRANGEMENTS include a Shake
! spearcan costume ball-the first fancy
dress ball held in Stratford for over forty
I
decoration. together with a varied pro-
gramme of old English sports and
games, maypole and morris dancing.
water quintain, and river sports. There
viii be the usual floral procession to the
church. and the decoration of the poet S
tomb on his birthday, and the lord bishop
OF Derry will preach tho Shakespearean
sermon in the parish church on April =.
Seven different committees working un-
der the direction of the Shakespeare Club
have the commemorauon programme well
in hand. Valuable additions have re-
Gently been made 10 the permanent col
lection of paintings in the Memorial Pic
tuTe Gallery.
It is reported from Vienna that seventy
nine Ruthenian students imprisoned al
LemDerg during the past month on the
charge of having Joined In excuses
against the Polish University authorities
who refused TO admit the use OF the
Ruthenian formula of the academic oath
have decided to commence a Starvation
strike" unless they are set at liberty
pending the completion of the investiga-
ltion against them. The students began
their starvation strike" by refusing
prison food. The president of thu Cali.
clan supreme tribunal. whom they peti.
Itioned, refuses 10 take account Of the
strike"
Tho agitation in favor of the students
is growing In Vienna and other Austrian
cities. and the demands of the press that
the government shall intervene are ex-
pected to compel the Polish authorities
to Ii5eraee the students, the majority oil
whom are probably innocent, and none OF
whom has yet been tried
Official confirmation is now given tc
the report that the French government
is about to sign a contract with NM. lie.
baudy for the construction Of three mors
Siderable balloons for military purposes
They viii be on the same lines as the
, Patrie, but with certain improvement:
suggested by the trials Of that balloon
The French war department, Il is said
has so high an opinion of the military
value Of the Patrie type Of balloon thai
it has decided to attach one of them Il
all the principal fortresses on the eastern
frontier OF the two already cor structed
} the Patrie will go to VerduB and tbs
Jeanne to Toul
REWARD SECRETARY SEIBOLD