Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-09-10
JAPAN ACCUSED.


w LILLIAN T. PRossER, in re
wv cent number of a we'll known
- magazine, brought against ia.
pan charges so black that the con-
tinued absence of reply by Japan pro-
vokes disquieting reflections and re-
news interest in the article. Writing
in the Pacific Monthly, a we'll and
carefully edited periodical, Mr.. Prosser
said: James j. Hill interfered with
the extension and control of China's
commerce by Japan, and Immediately
there began a series of strange mis-
| haps to the leviathans of the Northern
Steamship company.
at may be a coincidence that in
every case these accidents happened
while the vessels were in Japanese
ports. Twice, while the Minnesota was
unloading cargo in Japanese harbors,
fire was discovered in her hold. Once
the short-lived Dakota passed through
the same experience. Another time,
after the Minnesota departed from a
Japanese port, while passing out into
the ocean, her officers discovered that
the bolts fastening the iron doors in
her sides. close up to the waters edge,
had been removed The doors were
shut, and would have seemed secure
until the first great wave dashed
against them, when a flood of water
would have poured into the vessel,
with perhaps disastrous results. 1t
was only with difficulty that new bolts
were secured.
1.-THE bones of the majestic Dakota,
which for just one year piled in the
trade between the Orient and the
North Pacific coast, today lie on the
rocky shores of Japan. Her captain
stood on the bridge in broad daylight
when she piled up, the safe open sea
all about him save in one direction,
and his only punishment is a suspen-
sion from his trade. The mails of
the sunken vessel were rified by coolies
from the shore, and the debris of the
sacks was scattered for miles. 1t was
then that the Japanese steamship lines
sought to rid the Pacific of the greatest
freighter flying the American flag, the
Minnesota. Offers of purchase were
made, and rumors of an option to the
japanese were current, but the Min
nesota still serves the master who built
her.
with the advent of the Northern
Steamship company in the Oriental
trade the Japanese renewed their rail-
way activity. The coast feeder lines.
which worked havoc with the British
and Germans, were increased in the in
terest of the japanese ocean steam
ships to the Pacific coast. While no
rate war resulted, a system Of blanket
rates was promulgated, which secured
to the Japanese vessels the bulk of
the export cargoes to the United
States, making 1t impossible for Mr..
Hill to secure return cargoes in any
degree as promised when the North
ern line was instituted. Every Japan
ese is filled with a passion for the COM
mercial success of his land. Japanese
lines are favored in every possible way,
to the exclusion of American or other
foreign craft. The Americans will let
steamship mail contracts to any steam
ship lines that make the fastest time,
foreign or domestic owned, but not so
with Japan. The Japanese are like
one great family and are closer than
brothers. On one occasion a Japanese
vessel even went so far as to load,
in Japanese port, cargo for Seattle
intended to go by the Hill line. The
trick was done without leave. But
these are not the only methods used
to drive the American flag from the
ports of the far east, in which the
japanese have been successful to such
a degree that whereas a year ago there
were sixteen vessels flying the Stars
and Stripes on the Pacific, today there
are only nine"
Los Angeles and her seaport, San
Pedro, are vitality interested in
square deal for American shipping on
the Pacific, and while the flags of all
nations, including Japan, will be well
come in the harbor we would not wish
to see it filled with ships flying the
flags of all nations but the United
States The game of maritime COM
petition on the Pacific must be played
fairly, without piratical methods. The
accusations of Mr.. Prosser demand
investigation.