The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-06-01
Continued from last Issue.)
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partition would be made of the con-
auered territory, and whether Japan
would hold II as a colony for her own
surplus population under regulation
colonial gubernation. English writers
expressed grave doubts as TO Japan's
ability to conduct colonies successful
ly. and were rather of the opinion that
the country should be given to Great
Britain. whose remarkable success in
India and elsewhere h. d made her the
fountainhead in this Sranch Of gov
ernment New maps of he world were
published in the most progressive
periodicals, and souvenir buttons were
sold In the streets of Tokyo depicting
a very valiant little japanese soldier
kicking Uncle Sam into the sea and
taking possession of his land. All the
world bowed down TO do honor TO the
brave little brown men," and many
aggressive powers regretted that they
had not been the a;s. to think OF
taking possession Of the United States,
which their statesmen sometimes
spoke of as being a nice little country
and capable under reasonable rule OF
becoming quite place.
The nation under discussion re-
manned in the same astounding condi-
ton Of silence and inaction. At first
It had seemed that a clash along the
Canadian border was inevitable. The
massing of such great bodies of troops
in such a position appeared almost
threat. and Great Britain in the first
instance began hurriedly concentrat-
ing forces at points where they would
be available in case OF attack: but
as day after day passed with no for
ward move and no action save that OF
preventing the passage of any person
or the transmission of any communi-
cation alarm gave way TO bewilder-
ment. Canadian secret service men
who succeeded in entering the camps
of the soldiers soon returned to report
that apparently the troops knew no
more of the reason for their being sta
toned there than did the world at
large.
In the meantime there gathered into
the sounds, bays and harbors OF for
eign ports American vessels of war.
which came 10 anchor and remained.
On board these ships were the most
disconsolate body OF officers and men
that were ever collected in hulls. The
last orders any of them had received
had been made so positive, So plain
and unequivocal, that they had no
choice other than to obey. They had
been commanded TO gain these neutral
berths and under no circumstances TO
leave them. They were not even per
mitted to assume the slate color which
betokens war on the waters, and
therefore retained their dress OF i'm
maculate white. They. too. seemed
under the ban. and like war dogs in
leash, strained impotently for action.
Nor was there an officer in all these
idle and scattered ships who did not
wish himself on the waves Of the Pa
cific. across which the enemy's fleet
was now forging.
The time advanced until the Japan
ese warships were due to arrive at
Honolulu. where they we're to report,
coal and prepare for the final struggle.
The cable between Hawaii and Japan,
now in possession of the mikado's
operators. continued its daily reports
Of most favorable weather; but still
no squadron hove In sight.
One day. two days, and three, passed
before Japan felt anxiety, or the world
began its discussion as to the cause
of the long delay. Then, when the
feet was more than a week overdue
u became almost a certainty that
some disaster had overtaken it, al.
though from no section of the sea had
there been typhoon reported or any
thing but excellent barometric condi-
lions. Ten days passed in this same
way, and on the last the report from
Honolulu was identical with that
which had been made on all those
previous: Nothing in sight, and moth
ing arrived"
Once more the world stood In ex.
pectancy, aud yainly sought the so
luton for the latest enigma Storms
were eliminated for no tempest could
have wiped out such a magnificent
body OF ships so effectually as TO leave
none TO bear the sad tidings TO the
nearest port. And then. as a full reali.
cation of what must have happened
dawned upon the watching powers.
shudder of dread passed through them
all. IL was plain that America had
some new and terrific naval strength,
some unheard of monster OF the deep,
that gave il the mastery Of the seas.
The evolution of submarines had been
rapid; but no one had knowledge Of a
craft that could steam such a distance
as would have been necessary to in
tercept the Japanese before they
reached Honolulu, engage them and
either destroy them completely or cap
ture and convey them to an American
port.
II must have been total destruction,
the world argued. because in case Of
capture great battle ships themselves
would scarcely have been able to
make the complete trip 10 e Pacific
coast on the supply OF coal they car
ried In their bunkers. Forced drafts
required great expenditure of fuel,