The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-01-16
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lighters that we're to provide coal, and
accompanied by transports conveying
an army of men, steamed away to the
land of easy conquest. In the hope Of
striking terror into the hearts of those
they would subdue, the Japanese an
nounced their purpose, and gave q
somewhat exaggerated account of the
forces being sent. The newspapers
of the world teemed with stories Of
the sailing of this monster fleet, told
how all Japan had shouted "Banzai!"
described the flower garlanded maids
who sang gay songs, and pictured the
remarkable modesty and valor of the
admirals in command.
In some quarters Of the globe great
sympathy was expressed for the
United States, which apparently had
no chance whatever in such an un-
equal contest, and was foredoomed to
calamity and dissolution. The WISE
acres of European powers rose as a
unit and told how for more than so
years it had been repeatedly pointed
out that the oversee colossus was
facing destruction through neglect of
her navy. Monarchical adherents saw
deeper into the cause of a nations
obliteration, asserting that the proof
had again been given to the world
that a republican form of government
was one which, by its very lack of
cohesion and unwieldiness. could not
exist.
Other advanced thinkers, who
looked far into the future, began q dis
.cussion as to the final outcome, what
partition would be made of the con-
quered territory, and whether Japan
would hold 1t as a colony for her own
surplus population under a regulation
colonial gubernation. English writer's
expressed grave doubts as to Japan's
ability to conduct colonies successful
ly, and were rather of the opinion that
the country should be given to Great
Britain, whose remarkable success in
India and elsewhere had made her the
fountainhead in this branch of gov
eminent New maps of the world were
published in the most progressive
periodicals, and souvenir buttons were
sold in the streets of Tokyo depicting
very valiant little Japanese soldier
kicking Uncle Sam into the sea and
taking possession of his land All the
world bowed down to do honor to the
brave little brown men," and many
aggressive powers regretted that they
had not been the first to think of
taking possession of the United States.
which their statesmen sometimes
spoke of as being nice little country
and capable under reasonable rule of
becoming quite place.
The nation under discussion re-
manned in the same astounding condi-
ton of silence and inaction. At first
it had seemed that a clash along the
Canadian border was inevitable. The
massing of such great bodies of troops
in such a position appeared almost
threat, and Great Britain in the first
instance began hurriedly concentrate
ing forces at points where they would
be available in case of attack; but
as day after day passed with no for
ward move and no action save that of
preventing the passage of any person
cation alarm gave way to bewilder-
ment. Canadian secret service men
who succeeded in entering the camps
of the soldiers soon returned to report
that apparently the troops knew no
more of the reason for their being sta
toned there than did the world at
large.
In the meantime there gathered into
the sounds, bays and harbors of for
eign ports American vessels of war,
which came to anchor and remained.
On board these ships were the most
disconsolate body of officers and men
that were ever collected in hulls. The
last orders any of them had received
had been made so positive, so plain
and unequivocal, that they had no
choice other than to obey. They had.
been commanded to gain these neutral
berths and under no circumstances to
leave them. They were not even per-
mitted to assume the slate color which
betokens war on the waters, and
therefore retained their dress Of Inn
maculate white. They, too, seemed
under the ban, and, like war dogs in
leash, strained impotently for action.
Nor was there an ofiicer in all these
idle and scattered ships who did not
wish himself on the waves of the Pa
cific, across which the enemy's feet
was now forging.
The time advanced until the Japan
csc warships were due to arrive at
Honolulu, where they were to report,
coal and prepare for the final struggle.
The cable between Hawaii and Japan,
now in possession of the mikado's
operators. continued its daily reports