Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-03-16
JAPAN'S WAR PLANS.
No Doubt Now But What Japs Are
Preparing.

Washington, d. c., March 49,
japan is preparing for war. No doubt
any longer exists In administration
circles as to that fact. What the &C
tivity of the mikado's government
may mean is far less certain. 1t may
indicate one OF the several eventual
tiles; but as to the main question
there Is no doubt.
Information reached this govern
ment months ago that Japan was ex-
ercised about the trip Of the great
Atlantic fleet to the Pacific. OF
course, the diplomatic exchanges be-
tween the American government and
Japan concerning the trip were open
ly friendly and amicable. Japan
even went so far as to express graft
fication that Admiral Evans fleet
was to visit the Pacific and perhaps
call at some Japanese ports.
1t has been evident, however, ever
since the fleet started on it's long
cruise that the Japanese were watch
ing its movements closely. The ORR
entail suspicion was aroused. The
eastern nations Enthusiastically are
always looking for 1.-The bug under
the chip" The Japanese particularly
never take anything for granted.
They have to be shown. Suspicious
by nature and willy by instinct they
always are on the lookout for the
thing they would be likely to do in
the same set of circumstances. Abso-
lutte frankness Is unknown to them.
Until within week or two, how
ever, the japanese government con
sistently could do little without
arousing an apprehension that 1t en-
tertained sinister regard OF the
American fleets movements. Then, the
Tatsu Maru incident gave it just the
opportunity for which 1t had been
cropping. With great flourish
about a possible war with China, the
japanese hurriedly began military
and naval preparations. It's navy
was placed on a war footing, i'm
mense quantities Of ammunition and
supplies were placed on board all
vessels; its army began to whip it
self into shape for any result that
might come; and various important
war-ships were dispatched under
secret orders.
1T is incredible" said an Official
of the state department, that all
these preparations should be making
for possible trouble with China over
an incident like that of Tatsu Maru.
1t was mere customs case which,
doubtless. could be adjusted without
friction China will have to apologize
and perhaps pay an indemnity; but
there really is little Is little chance
of serious trouble over the case. The
incident has afforded Japan an OPP
portunity, however, to get itself in
readiness to meet any situation that
may arise in Pacific waters concern
ing the visit Of the American fleet
That appears to be an imperial
view Of the mater. Japan is pre-
pairing not so much for China as for
America. The chances are that no
trouble will arise, but the shrewd
Japanese do not propose to be caught
mapping If difficulty should arise sud
denly. They recall, for instance, the
fact that they themselves, took the
Russians unawares, at the beginning
Of the Russo-Japanese war, and they
do not propose to be caught in the
same trap. Their preparations prove
simply that they do not, and cannot
understand the American way Of do
ing things.
In the view of many diplomats
here, the danger, II any exists. lies
in that very fact. With their suspi-
cions on wire edge, the Japanese
might conclude to take the initiative
in the making Of trouble, although !
the consensus Of opinion among Dip
lomats in Washington is that no diff
ficulty is likely to result from the
cruise of the American fleet to the
Pacific unless it should be precipitat-
ed by an unfortunate and unforeseen
incident.