The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-02-15
by ii. Lee CiOtworthy,
Who Wae tho TimaS rnnracaptati

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with the battleship fleet on
its trip to Japan.
1t is coincidence, at least wor-
thy of mention, that the national
government, during the present al
legged crisis, incident to the threat
ened anti-Japanese legislation of
the Pacific coast states, finds it.
self in the same state of military
unpreparedness as obtained at the
time when the San Francisco
school trouble threatened to dis
rupt the friendly relations of the
two nations.
The entire battle line of the
navy is ON the Atlantic, and the
sixteen fighting ships constituting
the battle fleet, just completing
its Communicating cruis e,
should, IL their efficiency is to be
brought up to the highest stand
ard, be Immediately dispatched to
navy yards to have tons of their
present cumbersome top-hamper
replaced with skeleton fighting
tops and improved deck gear.
The Pacific coast Notifications
are manned with skeleton COM
panies without supporting forces.
and the incompleted Notifications
at Honolulu and Manila, on which
millions have been expended,
would offer but slight resistance
to a determined enemy.
At first glimpse 1t would appear
QIinida oil tn hororsA n clash xrrifh
enemy occupying such STRATEGY
cal position as does Japan upon
the Pacific.
1t is also worthy of mention in
this connection that the national
government is attempting to
cOerce California into submission
to Asiatic assimilation, with the
same bugaboo, National Mill
tary Unpreparedness, which was so
successfully employed at the time
of the San Francisco school
trodble.
There is no more danger of war
with Japan eventuating from the
acts Of the California legislature
than there was danger of war be-
ing precipitated by the San Fran
cisco school board.
The arrogant attitude assumed
by Japan at the time the school
squabble threatened Washington
with an epidemic of hysteria was
speedily abandoned as soon as the
battle fleet reached the Pacific.
Despite all official denials, it
was the general knowledge of the
flag officers of the fleet, that the
entire movement of every fighting
ship of the navy to the Pacific
and the Mediterranean coincident
with the dispatching Of the bat
tie fleet to Asiatic waters was the
result Of the gigantic bluff made
by Japan at the time of the school
dispute.
1t was not until the fleet had
reached Australia that displomatic
exchanges between the two gov
ernments showed that Japan was
not spelling for a fight, and the
armored cruisers, torpedo boats
and scout cruisers Of the Pacific
fleet were returned to their sta
lions and the intended movement
of the battleship squadron mob
ilized on the Atlantic was aban-
doned.
Japan agreed to restrict emil
grafton of her coolies to this
country, and with the exchange of
notes between Secretary Root and
Minister Takahira, went on record
before the world concerning her
purposes toward China.
While the defenseless condition
of our Pacific coast and our Pa
cific insular possessions, evidence
a national military folly, which is
la constant invitation for an ag-
gressive nation to wipe out our
prestige on the Pacific, yet for
tunately Japan, through the legacy
of debt, inherited from the Rus
sian war and the critical politi-
cal situation facing her ally, Eng
land, in the far east, is prohibited
from engaging in any military en-
terprise, however much her war
party might wish to precipitate a
conflict at this time.
Cannon cannot be loaded from
empty Golfers.
Japan is practically bankrupt.
England is not only Japan's
Tally. but also Japan's principal
banker. 1t will be noticed that
the official press of England has
been distinctly "anti-Californian'
in its discussion of the threatened
|anti-Jap legislation.
1t is but a natural attitude,
though at heart England is sick
|of her unholY Asiatic alliance.
The entire agreement Is direct
ed against Russia.
Official England would never
dare to assist Japan in q war with
this country. The English people
would never tolerate such q crime
against the common race, and all
|of Australasia would secede from
the empire IL the home govern
ment gave even sentimental aid to
Japan.
Japan cannot fight without
British gold, and the fact that
there is danger that Japan will
be forced to default on the inter
lest payments on part OF her war
debt, has not tended to open the
doors or the financial marietta a