Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1909-01-28
JAP WAR SCARE
IS TAKING FORM
Menace Is Seen in Seriously Dis.
turbing Facts That Have
Come to Light.
COAST IS AT MERCY OF FOE
President Is Concerned and Seeks
Speedy Isolation of Cali
fornia Question.
COAST IS AT MERCY OF FOE

Washington, Jan. 23-Out OF the
haze of rumor and report, the Japa-
! nese war scare is taking shape and
! form.
| Seriously disturbing facts that have
come to light point to the existence of
a danger, not a scare Just how
menacing this danger will grow de-
ponds upon the legislature of the
State Of California, according to the
| White House view
That the California coast Is at the
| mercy of foreign foe is the asser-
ton contained in a report made to
congress by the general staff of the
army.
What Japan Could Do.
Japan IS not named in this report,
which primarily has to do with the
| defenses CT San Pedro harbor. The
omission of the name makes what fol-
; lows all the more sinister. The re-
, port dwells upon the richness of the
country adjacent to the harbor, where
1t is declared Japan could land an
army of 100000 men unopposed.
That country, says the report, could
support population of 1900, 900.
, More than that, the general staff de-
| clares that Pearl harbor is within
striking distance of San Pedro har-
Dor and could be seized.
Maps are submitted to bear out the
claim Of the general board that it
would be practically impossible for
the United States to regain possess
sion of the Pacific coast after the oc-
cupation by the certain Oriental
power" The country is hemmed in
by mountains, the passes through
which could easily be rendered i'm
pregnable.
Roosevelt Is Concerned.
President Roosevelt talked eau
| t1ously with some of his congression-
;; al visitors yesterday He went so far
as to say that he thought nothing
pending in congress nor any of the
differences between himself and con-
gress were of half the Importance of
the Japanese-California question.
Although talking with great DELHI
| GRAFTON and care, the president still
recognizes the existence of deep
, founded antasoristic sentiment to the
Japanese in California. and the wis
| dom of placating that sentiment so
as to end the agitation with as little
delay as possible. Because of the al
most unanimous sentiment in the
state, the president realizes the re-
sponsibility upon Gov. Gillett in using
! his influence upon the legislature to
stop legislation at this session and
wants to do all he can to share some
| OF that responsibility. 1885,
CaIifornians Not Pleased.
Senator Flint and other Califor-
mans have told the president pretty
plainly that, while they are willing to
help him, they do not place much con
/ tidence in the figures Of the govern.
ment as to the decreasing number OF
Japanese in this country.
''The facts dispute the figures
! they declare. and add that the Japa
nese are taking possession of whole
towns.
The president advised his Califor
MIA visitors that he would like to see
a fair trial given to the promises O.
the Japanese to decrease the number
of their citizens in this country. ant
If this trial shows that there is M
decrease, then he will no longer use
his influence, even after he goes ou
!, of office, to prevent hostile legisla
ton,