The Washington times., 1908-01-16
WAR WITH JAPAN
COMING QUICKLY,
SAY INSIDERS"
Point to Recent Actions
OF Administration as
Significant.
Trip Of Fleet Said to Be
Precaution Against
Surprise.

Surprise.
That war between the United States
and Japan is really more imminent than
anybody outside the inner official cir
cles realizes or believes is declared by
people whose opinions are well worth
consideration.
They say that If the crisis Is avcrted
at all it viii be because of the prompt
action Of President Roosevelt in send
ing the battleship fleet 10 the Pacific.
The feet, it is added. will not stop on
our Pacific coast but Will unquestion-
ably go on TO the Philippines.
Here are some Of the facts which
come from the naval. diplomatic, and
legislative circles suggesting the grav-
ity Of the present position:
The fleet was sent TO the Pacific be-
cause the President did not propose to
be caught in the position that Russia
was at the opening of her war with
Japan, with the preponderance Of naval
power on the other side OF the world.
The exchanges between the diplomatic
agencies Of the two governments are de-
clared TO have become largely perfume
tory indicating a purpose Of killing time
on both sides.
Dry Dock Guard Doubled.
The military and naval guard OF the
dry dock Dewey at Manila has bees
doubled and the greatest precautions
are being taken for its protection.
The work of strengthening the fortih-
cations Of the island is being prosecuted
with the greatest vIsor.
The harbOr of Manila is mined with a
th0TOughness and care that would never
be attempted unless war were fairly in
sight.
1t is claimed that there are 10000
japanese in the Hawaiian group, large
Is veteran soldiers.
The japanese government will within
the next six months put seven new
battleships in commission.
The pretCnse of national poverty Oh
the part OF Japan is a misrepresenta-
lion IL IS declared that Japan's war
chest has reached the total Of over
thTee-quarteTs OF a billion dollars, which
means that for purposes of prosecuting
waT II would so two or three times as
lar as ike amount % money would
90 for this country.
Inc Japanese are assured that their
treaty with England viii keep that
counTys good viii and cooperation on
tslelf side IN case OF trouble.
Bryce as an Emissary.
The trip Of British Ambassador Bryce
10 England relates 10 the situation be-
tween the United States, in its rela-
tiOn 10 Great Britain. II is said on
one side that he goes 10 inform his
government of the American attitude
toward JaTan and. on the other hand.
is al hat he
stoned 10 undertake some adjustments
between this country and England as
10 the relations which the TWO great
Anglo-Slxon powers would sustain In
case of an Americana japanese comet.
u Is declared on the authority OF
members Of The House Naval Affairs
Committee that shat body has almost
completed work on the naval bill for
ll4ls session. This Is many weeks ear
Tier than such a stage would ordinarily
nave been reached, and when asked the
occasion for the haste il was said:
because members OF the committee
KNOW JndL relations with Japan are so
near crisis as to make il necessary
especially 10 hasten work"
THESE are only a few sample bits OF
me evidence which IS adduced by per-
sons inclined TO the alarmlst view OF
conditions They point out. for instance.
Fhat the discovery that Subig Bay was
untenable from the land side, and there /
an elaborate scheme of terrifying it
was received by the military and naval
authorities as matter Of the greatest
concern.
President Was Calm.
When the President was informed Of
the condition, instead Of showing ex-
cited concern, he sat in thought for |
some time, accepting the Information as /
final turned to the group OF officers
and said
Very well. gentlemen; then what is
TO be dOue2''
Assurances from the official diplo- |
matte, ana executive sources were !
never more reassuring than now. II is /
said that the two governments are ]
making progress with the negotiations /
and expect 10 reach satisfactory adjust /
ment
Military and naval people frankly |
do not accept these statements as aC- /
CIrate. They say that they have good /
reasons for the belief that no progress /
is made, and that the situation is less
satisfactory than heretofore. Certain /
IL is that a most uneasy feeling has
been caused in legislative circles BY the /
rumOrs lately heard on all hands
japan is said to be working immense |
forces in her arsenals; but details OF /
what she is doing, as usual with Japan,
are not 10 be had though il is declared /
10 be a certainty that Japan now mas /
complete and accurate information /
about American naval and military af- !
IA ira