Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-01-03
-Four japanese Arrested and WI Be
Given Fair Trial
EEGLAED's POSITION DELICATE

VANCOUVER. B. c. Jan 2-Three city
firsu1sn. Frost Anderson and Mcdonald.
were set upon By a mob - armed japanese
yesterday az the corner OF Powell street
and Gore avenue. two blocks from the DO
Ice station and In the center Of the
japanese district
The men we're clothed in uniforms with
brass buttons and the attack Of the
japanese Is al the more serious for that
rsason-
By accident a fireman named Frost fell
against the window Of a japanese store
and smashed the plate glass. In an instant
the japanese proprietor rushed out and
many Of hts countryuen came TO Join the
fight The fircmen were ovsrpowered after
a fight. when the nesh of their faces had
been torn into ribbons by the razor-iiAe
knives which the Orientals carried.
Frost was seriously hurt, his neck was
cut, Elashed and laid open for four inches
and two inches deep alongside the jugrlar
vein. The other two firemen were fright
fully cut about the arms and breasts. but
were stim fighting over the body Of Frost
whea a squad Of police arrived. -Four
japanese were arrested and the three Ere
men were taken TO the hospital
The japanese fought Ike demons and the
knives they carried wee a foot long.
There Is no excitement. either in the
oriental quarters or throughout the city.
over the stabbirg Of three members Of the
fire department by japanese. Il is con-
sidered that the affair was primarily an
incident to q New Years celebration and
fnf1amed BY a mistake on the part OF the
japanese. who fancied the iovial fireInen
were attacking them. whereas one white
man fell against a window and broke IL
No reprisals against the japanese are eE-
pected unless Frost. one OF the wounded
firsnasn. should die. but this does not seem
prohable The two other firemen. Allen
and Macdonald. are reported improving by
the hospital surgeons Members Of the
Anti-Asiatic league DO not attach special
Importance 70 the affray. although il may
have q certain influence on the civic eicc-
tons 70 ba lassd next week No meeting
Of the Anti-Asiatic league has been called
but In any case the chief of police says
he Is sufficiently on HIS guard 10 prevent
a race riot The japanese arrested IN con-
nection with the sJabbing affray viii be
given a fair trial in the police and county
courts.
EnEIand's Delicate situation.
LONDON. Jan. England IS exTerienc-
ing what might well be called startling
awakening TO the grave problems caused
by the emigration OF Asia-ics 70 lis white
colonies The principal political topic for
n week has been the situation II the Trans
vsaL. where several thousand East Indians
and Chinese were given the alternative of
submitting to what they consider de-
grading system Of registration or Of beng
imprisoned and expelled. The reports OF
further racial rioting al Vancouver come
At a particularly inopportune tine, on
account Of the Negotiations now under Wag
between Canada and Japan and they are
very annoying 70 the British government
officials having hoped that Japan.s willing
ness substantially 20 restrict its emigration
would soften the anti-Japaneze PreJGdsoes
on the Pacific coast
Great Britaih's Problem.
II Is recognized that the race question is
more serious for Great Britain than coi
America. because the Indians are British
subjects and the japanese are its allies
The rransyaal has temporarily refrainet
from taking measures against those Indians
who have refused 20 register. other than q
decline TO renew tire traders licenses al
of which expired December 81 X Is pro
posed however. 20 execute the law IN a f-v
dass Two thousand Indians. from al
parts nf the Transvaal. net recently n
Johannesburg and voJel % refuse 20 sub
nit 20 the Law.