The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-19

met at the threshhcld by an over- whelming show of force in opposition.
 In the case of Korea. Japan has gfv- en conclusive evidence of the skill and force with which she win provide for her necessities. It is pointed out that the virtual annexation of the hermit Kingdom has involved the absolute ne- gation of every solemn pledge Japan gave to the world regarding that coun- try.
 The power of opposition in China to Japan's course of aggression in Man churia is vastly greater than that of Korea. The lesson of Japan herself Is being learned with astonishing rapidity In the middle kingdom. The Chinese are waking up From their centuries of long 1ethargy.
 Two points of entrance for the Japa- nese wedge have been found by her statesmen already in Manchuria--a railway concession andI a boundary question. With the diplomatic skill demonstrated by the Japanese either is sufficient to be developed into casus bellL The whole effort of the Chinese Is to forcstall such a development. And while they work to that end they are turning more and more hopefully to the United States for the support that shall give them ultimate success.
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 Three battleships and eight powerful armored cruisers are waiting for Ad- niiral Evans on the Pacific. and three more. the newest and most powerful battleships in the navy, w!il soon start from the Atlantic coast to join them. By the early fall there will be assem- bled in Philippine waters thirty ships of the line flying the Stars and Stripes, great squadron of cruisers and gun f0 rxtfll Ao v~aa arx fn Noyrx~ and extensi.~ preparations have been made for their reception and care in Manila Bay. More than iS5.000 tons of coal has been sent to Manila all ready. and more is to go. Stores of munitions of various kinds have been shipped. and more are to go. Fortiff- cations at the entrance of Manila Bay are being pushed with all speed, and a new company of coast artillerymen has just been ordered out to take charge of them. Guns are being mounted and others are being shipped to be mounted later. The base has been changed from Suhig to Manila Bay. and Congress Is preparing to appropriate s6.0o0.000 or s7.000.o00 for further fortiflcations in the Pacific.
 or course, it is question whether the emergency will arise which will put this country in the position of having to meet forcibly the crisis brought on by Japanese aggression. To admit it beforehand would only make 1t inevita- ble and precipitate the crisis which otherwise may yet be avoided by di- plomacy. For any responsible official of this government to say openly or even in confidence that all this prepar- ation was against a possible Japanese contingency would be tantamount to an unfriendly act toward Japan, and she would be justified in so regarding 1t, but that does not after the facts as many declare them to be.
 And when. in the early fall. China, pressed to the wall by Japan, as she now seems certain to be by them, turns directly to this government with a re- quest for aid. the United States State Department will be in an entirely prop CT position to address another note to Berlin. London. Paris, St Petersburg, Rome. and even Tokio asking what is the understanding of those govern mants as to the agreement they made with the United States in 1900 regard ing the preservation of the @territoriaI and administrative entity" of China.