The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-02-12
BOB EVANS WAR TALK.

Chicago. are certainly of interest. The
old warhorse told his interviewer this:
a few days when the Russian gov
eminent floated a loan of S250,OOO,OOo
which was subscribed thirty times
over, that was Russia's natice to Japan
to get ready for war and stay ready,
for I'm going to lick you. >
"And what is more" added the ad-
miral. Japan herself recognizes and
realizes the position in which she is
placed. The handwriting is plain
Japan can read
A number of other things of intti-
esting import. viewed from the stand
point of Bob" Evans, did the adj
miral make Briefly summarized they
are as follows:
The United States will have no
trouble with Japan.
Neither will England
When the next Russo-Japanese war
does come, Germany, France and Aus
tria will espouse the cause of the Rus.
slams. England will find herself allied
with Japan by virtue of existing trea-
ties
What the result of it all will be no
man can foresee.
In discussing purely national affahe
with reference TO the navy of the
United States Admiral Evans said:
I'VE are approaching the day do
not say it is near at hand, but we are
approaching it gradually-when the
United States will nave a fleet of war
ships so great, so powerful, that no
power on the face of this earth will
dare to tackle u.s.
"Let us look at these things as
see Them said Fighting Bob" refer
ring to Japan.
Japan has not the slightest desire
in the world to fight with her bankers.
England and the United States are
Jams banker. The Japanese are a
of what / have just said. There is a
limit to the resources even now. The
country cannot 90 on at the rate that
it is spending money now. 1t is out of
the question. Japan recognizes that a
conflict with Russia is enevitable and
the government is straining every
nerve, exhausting every effort, to put
itself in a state of preparedness.
"But the resources of Russia are
practically illimitable. Russia is anx-
ious to avenge itself on Japan, and as
said before, the floating of that enor-
nous loan was Russia's plainly spoken
notice to Japan of what the latter
might expect.
"The day is coming when the richest
nations of the earth only will weld the
power. These nations are the United
States, England, Russia and France.
Germany despite the efforts to the
German emperor, is dropping to the
rear. Germany has not the wealth.
These four nations will rule the sea-
Their supremacy will be unquestioned.
THAT is one reason why | say that
when the great conflict does come, that
Austria, Germany, France, Italy and
Germany will line up against the Jap
anese with England as the ally of the
latter. And what is more, England
knows it. The very haste with which
she is running to put her navy i'll
shape, proves, that she knows it.
Japan wants no trouble with the
United States. Japan has bigger
things on her hands now. l look upon
the trouble on the Pacific coast as
merely local issues, over which two
nations could not 90 to war if they
wanted to.
Unless the Pacific coast states pass
some legislation that is specifically
aimed at Japan, Japan cannot COM
plain. As long as those states make
it unlawful for all alien asiatics to en-
ter their boundaries, the act is not
aimed at japanese specifically. 1t is
aimed at all of the nations of the East.
But just as soon as those states
pass legislation that interfears with
existing treaties, then Japan has a
right to make protest. But if such
legislation is against the provisions of
treaties, then it is not legislation at
all, for no state is greater than the
United States"
admiral in your opinion is there
any possibility or probability of the
immediate return of the battleship fleet
to the Pacific coast?" was asked.
II think not" was the reply. "My
personal opinion with l know is
shared by many other naval officers
and by government officials, is that
there is no need of it at present. Con
gress is bound to be brought up to the
point where it will see that it is neces
sary to have not only a great battle.
ship fleet on the Atlantic coast but OH
the Pacific coat as well. Eventually
j believe there will be a fleet OF
twentyfour ships, with the necessary
trimmings sruisers, torpedo boats, de-
stroyers, Golfers and hospital ships, on
the Atlantic and on the Pacific.
''These will be divided into two
squadrons of sixteen ships each with
eight ships on each coast held in re-
serve. Then, if necessary, these reserve
ships could be made third squadron,
and with such force there is no pow
er on earth that would dare tackle the