The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-12-17

fense, but what is worse, or would
seem so TO any man with red blood
in his veins. is the humiliation i'm
posed upon the Americans by their
home government. To an impartial
observer it would appear that nothing
but madness could dictate such pol
icy. The facts of the case are as fol-
lows:
although trouble had been eX-
pected with Japan by every reasoning
inhabitant Of the islands for many
moM'Eo, the government at Washing
ton apparently made no attempt what
ever to strengthen its position, and,
on the contrary, seemed rather en-
dcavOring to weaken it. AS the whole
world knows, there have been im
mense and costly Notifications under
progress of construction in the ISLANDS
for the last ten years. More than 30
days ago. by official order, work on
these defenses was summarily stopped,
the wOrkmen discharged and the en-
gineers ordered home. This was the
ippnes.
Immediately following this incom
prehcnsible action all war vessels in
waters surrounding the islands and on
the Pacific station were ordered to
ports in Europe, where they rendez-
voused in what can never be anything
but neutral territory. And there they
are at this moment, thousands OF
miles from the scene of conflict. in
capable of either offense or defense.
Had the government deliberately
chosen to put itself out of touch with
the whole war. it could have selected
no more effective method. Your cor
respondent has had the honor of an
intimate friendship not only with the
civil officials of the islands, but with
the men of the army and navy as well,
and is therefore in position to give
trustworthy and detailed information
of what at this time seems little less
than an infamy.
1T had been known for some days
that orders of a most remarkable ma
ture had been received by the govern
or of the islands and the commanding
general. What these were, hewever,
remained a secret until that memor-
able day of May.
"At ten o'clock on the morning of
May 81 cloud of smoke became WIS.,
ible on the horizon, and when within
range of the glasses it was discovered
that in the offing f1oated two cruisers
of the first class and one battle ship,
flying the Japanese flag and cleared
for action. The officer in command
| Of the fort at once communicated this
| fact to the governor, and a consulta-
ton was called, to which all officials
OF both branches of government were
summoned. Inasmuch as the gravity
of the situation required the absolute
concurrence of all concerned, the con-
sultation was not confined to men of
high rank, but included every com
missioned officer from the army and
every official of standing in. the civil
government. The mem wondering at
InlS SIIduSe Cdli' anu o"o'o Ih"'
something unexpected had happened
responded to the summons and re
paired to the governors Office, where
they seated themselves silently, and
waited for that executive to address
them. He, man grown gray in the
diplomatic service of his nation, paced
up and down the room as II loath tc
speak. M.
Gentlemen he began, 1t is moi
within my province to crlticise the
acts of the department which ! repre-
sent nor to find fault with Its desires
and yet l have before me at this mo
ment the most humillating instructions
which in more than fovty years OF life