Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-05-30
Japan Has Strengthened
Port Arthur and Da|ny.
Official Glasses Reserved As
TO Visit Of American Fleet.
Pessimistic Story Of Prominent
Englishman Back From Orient.

Vancouver b. c., May &c. c.
| bruce, former mayor Of Oxford, Eng
| land, secretary OF the Botanical So
ciety OF Great Britain ana curator of
the Hcrbarium Of the University of
! oxford who has just arrived here from
| the Orient after an extensive tour
| of China, Coreo and Japan, gives a
! highly interesting but somewhat pes
simistic account Of Japan's military
ana political activity in the Far East
and HE effect of the visit of tn" Amer
lean Eattieship fleet to that part Of the
world
"Whilo the official classes are re-
served, HE japanese are not the least
pertulbcd over the dispatch Of the
American EattIeShips to the Orient"
said Mr. Drucn. "Of course everybody
in the Far East except the diplomats
associate the demonstration of Amcri-
can naval bower Win the Mancnurian
trade question. The famous open door
policy advocated by all the white races
is in rcaliiE j nudity"
Ja0an, dacGsre5 Mr.. bruce, has COM
plctcly reversed tne open door" policy
in ManChuria excepting to her own
people.
With the arrival of the American
battleShip fleet in the Pacific and the
tall, of trouble with the United States
in the future, japanese statesmen, Mr..
Druce believes, are preparing for an
emergency. Port Arthur, the former
Russian stronghold is being made viz
tua!ly impregnable, while the forti
iication$ ut Dalny, seaport and the
railway terminus on the main line,
now occupied by the japanese, are be
ing rushed to completion with haste.
Mr.. bruce gives it as his opinion that
a clash with the powers over 4 con-
tinUarcc of q discriminatory policy
now being carried out in favor Of Jap
anpsc subjects in the Orient is in
evitable Even if Japan is compelled
to back down he believes her surrender
will brin: its advantages.
"Sincc Japan took possession Of Man
churia," said Mr.. bruce, 'shc has han
dicappeG all her competitors by q
system of duties on imports which do
not apply to japanese citizens. The
issue is live one in the Orient today
and unless l am misinformcd there
will he some developments ere long.
Every European trader or commercial
'''-'Nt't,i met lltiG lile Sttiiic Attiy "
relate of the methods adopted by the
..., anese To- Keep European goods out
of ManChuria
Japan, although poor, is an asgres-
sive nation which will not surrender
hcr advantages won by a successful
war. even against Il united front unless
she gets some compensation. japan is
in Manchuria to stay. The coming of
the American fleet has not been over
looked by her statesmen, who believe
in preparing for any contingency which
may arise in The next few years.
Port Arthur which withstool q long
siege before. its downfall. is made al
most impregnable. 1t is Il second
Gibraltar. During my visit there | saw
evidences Of great military activity.
New batteries We're being built every
where. If Port Arthur was strong dur
nG the russian occupation it soon Will
he rendered doubly strong. Dalny is
also being fortified with almost fever
isll hastee. Hitherto it had few defences
and was abandoned by the Russians
early in the same war. Dalny is the
great port of entry for Manchuria. 1t
is now q japanese city. In COrea we
heard many complaints of the tyranni-
cal oppression of the natives by the
Japanese"