The Washington herald., 1908-04-05
By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

Special Correspondence The Washington Herald
Tokyo, Feb. 2O.-Japan is making the
most extraordinary expenditures on its
army and navy ever undertaken by any
nation Of like resources IN time of peace.
The United States is sending TO the Pa
cife Ocean the most powerful armada in
the history Of navies. Despite the assar-
anees from Washington and Tokyo that
there is no serious quarrel between the
two powers, these are concrete facts, for
the acceptance of which it Is not neces-
sary TO take any ones word.
Does this mean war?
The investigator will encounter many
people willing TO assure him that trou-
bic between the two countries is inevi-
table. and just as many more who pro-
test that all this talk OF clash is mere
mooishine. At such time one must go
beyond the assurances Of diplomatists.
because 1t is their business to preserve
amity by the subtieties OF fine speech
and friendly representation One must
also disregard the belligerent mouthings
of the jingoes. for their utterances Of
rancor and Wild alarm are as unwarrant-
ed and dangerous as they are undignified.
Since Japan determined to put aside
its old civilization and take up the ways
Of the Occldent, # has fought two wars.
The first was with China the most popu-
lous and second greatest in contiguous
area OF the nations Of the world: and the
next was with Russia, the greatest in
area and the second most populous of
slI the nations. In each Of these con
fiicts Japan was the victor. not alone by
the bravery Of its magnifcent fighting
men. but by its preparedness before each
war began. In the year before the war
with Russia, Japans total military and
naval expenses were 81. 100000. Last
year the japanese government spent $40
504,t51 on its war establishment. and this
year 1t will again spend nearly as much
II it was prepared for the war with Rus
sia. what viii it not be prepared for now
that il is spending more than twice as
much annually as it did prior TO that
conflict?
on the other hand. critical examina-
tion of Japan's national resources and
present financial status re~eals such d
sorry condition OF affairs that even the
suggestion Of war with a power like the
United States seems to be the height of
absurdity. No matter how well Japan
may be prepared for war IN a military
way, in other respects It is not at ali
prepared. Modern war means spending
money and in order to spend money one
must have resources. Japan is poverty
stricken and almost bankrupt It's total
wealth is but one-twentieth of that OF
the United States. although It's popula-
ton is more than half as great.
II every vestige Of wealth I'm Japan
could be turned into cash. the whole
amount would not be enough 10 buy the
clothing and furniture used by the people
Of the United States The entire income
of the japanese government is not as
great as that of the United States Steel
Corporation. The total annual expendi-
lures for education IN the japanese en-
pire not only fails short Of that OF many
OF our American States. but is less than
the city Of New York spent on its public
schools last year The japanese peas
ant welcomes the opportunity 10 hire
himself for twelve months for S16-a sum
earned by capable American shop girls
In one week The japanese bricklayer
is one Of the country's highest paid
artisans. his wages for a day Of twelve
hours being 81 cents. Compare this with
the American briCklayer's pay OF s. for
eight hours work. and one has a strik-
ing illustration OF the vast difference be-
tween the potential wealth of the Two
countries.
This abject national poverty Is the To-
suit Of the intense congestion Of the Jap
anese people. The entire empire OF the
Mikado is no larger in area than the
State Of California. aad only 13 pc. cent
OF it is susceptible Of cultivation. That
portion Of Japan which must supyort ali