The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-02-12
L|NEV|TCH'S HOT
SHOT FOR JAPAN
Russian General Warns America
of Her Peril In the Pacific.

russian Generai warns America
of Her Peril In the Pacific.
SEES NO WAY TO AVOID IT,
Declares Our Commercial and Military
Supremacy Is Seriously Threatened
War With Japan, He Believes, Would
Be Most Awful Experience America
Could Undergo.
When General Nicholas I.ineyitch,
commander in chief of the Russian
military and naval forces during the
war with Japan. was recently asked
by the st. Petersburg correspondent OF
the New York American to express his
opinion on far eastern politics in gen.
eral and on the mutua! relations of the
United States and Japan in particular
he said:
Having spent great part of my
life in the far east, do not hesitate to
comply; all the more so because con
slider that what have to say is in the
interests of all white men
America made two grievous mis-
takes In her far eastern policy, and
both these mistakes have had the eff
feet of weakening her position in the
Pacific. First. America favored Japan
during the late war: secondly, she en-
gineered the Portsmouth peace The
United States could lose nothing from
the increase of Russias authority in
east Asia. America went there for
trade only. and Russia was not trade
rival. The continuation of the war
would have seriously weakened Japan
commercially and politically and for a
generation delivered America from a
powerful rival in the Pacific. But Mr..
Roosevelt first helped Japan to victory.
and then helped her to reap the fruits
of victory, rs if American patriotism
consisted In making Japan one of the
greatest powers on earth.
| consider that this powerful new
Japan now threatens Americas exist
ence as Pacific power. She will de
stroy American trade. Her subjects.
II allowed to settle freely in American
| possessions. will undermine the eco
nomic prosperity of the white Amer
leans. During my long residence IN
east Asia had opportunities for study
ing the effect Of Japanese immigration
The Japanese regarded Russian terri
tory as sponge to be squeezed. They
took low wages, spent not kopeck;
many even brought with them boxes
OF rice for their own consumption
America can suffer even more from
Asiatic settlers. as the standard Of liv.
ing is high.
OF course America can exclude Jap
anese from the Pacific coast. but from
that must arise political danger.
am convinced that any action agains
Japanese interests in America, wheth
or on the part of the federal govern
ment or Of the local authorities or cit
liens, would be prelude to war In
which America could gain nothing and
would probably lose much. The Phil
ippines she would inevitably lose. AL
Japanese statesmen desire their acQui
sition, and the Japanese denial Of this
based on the pretense that the climate
is too hot for cOlonists, Is untrue
However. 1t Is a mistake to assume
that Japan would necessarily concen
trate on the Philippines In the even
OF war. More likely she would no
shrink from the risk Of attacking thu
American fleet wherever 1t might b,
found and of directly menacing tn,
Pacific coast
!. The United States Is not at presen
In position to resist such an attack
A war with Japan would be the mos
awful experience America could I'm
dergo. Americans rely too much OF
their feet. I admit that America hal
new and first rate battleships goot
sailors and just as patriotic spirit al
Japan. but these do not insure victory
Victory depends upon the skillful ant
experienced handling of fleets. Mum
bers and weight have much less impor
lance on sea than on land. The Jap
anese could probably cope with an,
fleet in the world. They are master
In the use of the torpedo. They un
( derstand the tactics Of coast and por
q fighting. and there are reasons for be
lievfng that they will handle the sub
marines OF the future better than 9th
/, err nations. l refuse to believe tina
the superior American feet would sci
tie the war In one big battle
On land. whether in the Philippine
or at home. the United States coul,
effect nothing. Americans do not un
derstand that men, patriotism an,
money do not constitute military az
ton. Americans have had no expert