East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-10-01

: Yokohama, oct. Although the
date set for the arrival of the Amer
lean fleet is still more than two weeks
distant, the preparations for the glo-
dious half-million dollar celebration
in honor of the Yankee tars are about
completed. Manufacturers of flags
and bunting have been working over
time for the last few weeks to supply
the demand for American flags
which will be displayed side by side
with the banner Of the mikado dur
ing the stay of the fleet.
The circumstances surrounding the
original dispatch of the American
warships to the Pacific ocean give to
the Japanese visit an especial pollti-
cal significance in the popular eye.
The difficulty i'm California over the
exclusion of japanese children from
the schools, the former predominance
OF the Japanese fleet in Aslatlc wa
ters and the unprotected state OF the
western coast-all gave color to the
general conviction that the fleet was
sent to restore the balance of power
between the two countries, and to
offset the rapid naval and military
growth OF Japan. The extreme cor
diality of the reception In Australia
was generally recognized as due to
the feeling in that country that the
two English speaking races in the Pa
cific. had a common political and
economic cause against the aggressive
and commercial and industrlai policy
OF the new eastern power.
The overcrowding of old Japan and
the tendency of its citizens to emf
crate to English-speaking countries
where the wages are higher, together
with the unwillingness of those coun-
/ tries TO let in labor with a lower
/ standard Of living, has made an acute
question which remains to be settled.
The character of the protectorate,
moreover. which Japan has main
| tanned over Korea, has not tended to
concillate American and Australian
shipping and commercial interests.
In the face of this situation the
japanese have said little. smiled
much, as Is their custom, and calmly
prepared for an entertainment OF the
/ fleet which will cost over $500. 600.
land will doubtless furnish more nov
elites and surprises than any thing to
which the men have yet been treated.
Every officer and man Of the visiting
Americans will receive a silver SOU
vcnir Viscount Ita said: "Tne com
/ ing OF the great American fleet to
| Japan will he one Of the most strik-
/ ing events I'm our history. We must
extend to II our most sincere well
come 1t will undoubtedly tend to
| bring the nations closer 10 eac1l other,
and VIII likewise prove Of the great
| est benefit TO both the Japanese and
American navies. The coming of the
American fleet is at our invitation,
and although it is impossible to re-
coive it with the entire japanese ma
Wy as many vessels as are available
should be asseEhled to pa~ our re-
spects to the visitors"
The report that the American sail
ors had objected to visiting Japan,
and that they had contemplated
measures to resist orders to that ef-
feet, has not been confirmed and Is
not generally believed in Japan,
As the American battleships. 16 in
number and headed by the flagship
Connecticut, near the coast Of Japan
they will be met by the vessels Of
Japan deployed in such wise that one
japanese warship viii escort each Of
the visiting ships. Then, for the first
time will the best that Uncle Sans
navy can boast have a. chance to com
pare visualTy and at close range the
fleet of its one and only rival in the