The San Francisco call., 1909-04-07
JAPAN'S WAR
WILL Be WITH
RUSSIA -HANS
No Prospect of Conflict With
United States, Says the
Rear Admiral
Sea Fighter Favors Twenty
four Battieships for
Each Ocean

Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans re-
turned to this city yesterday, not as
the commander Of fleet but as sove-
reign citizen and lecturer The i'm
preston made by the famous old war
rior last May when the bsttleships
steamed into the bay and its gallant
commander hoped on his crutches into
The St. Francis hotel was not forgotten.
There was no laundering OF cannon
nor blazonry OF military equipment to
announce the return of the retired ad-
miral yesterday. but the lack Of these
official manifestations in no wise damp
ened the enthusiasm Of the welcome
As the admiral entered the dining
room Of the St. Francis on his crutches
he was Immediately recognized Cheers
and the clapping OF hands and the wav-
ing Of napkins and handkerchiefs
greeted him. The admiral smiled his
appreciation. He was attended by Mrs.
Evans and Henry 7. Scott.
The crutches are merely temporary.
An operation on the right foot a month
ago has made them necessary for a
time. Otherwise. Evans is much i'm
proved in health. He has gained about
20 pounds in the last 10 months and
looks hale and hearty.
AS was 10 be supposed the lighting
spirit is still strong. He hates his
crutches.
I intend TO mutiny against the in
structions OF the doctor he said yes
terday. and throw the blamed sticks
away. although 1 have been told that I
should use them for a month yet
You people have an awful amount
OF pluck" he added. looking out of a
window in an apartment on the tenth
floor, the same apartment. by the way,
that he occupied during his stay in the
city last May.
You have builded a new city within
2 year"
Naturally, Evans was prevailed upon
TO speak about the proba bility Of con-
fict with Japan and the necessity for a
strong navy in the Pacific
No PROSPECT OF WAR
There is not the slightest prospect
OF war between the United States
and Japan japan is preparing for war
with Russia and such .eonf1ict is in
evitable. It is making friends instead
OF enemies. 1t is natural that Japan
should prefer TO have US as bankers
rather than foes. The war on the Pa
cihc with Japan will be of CONNER
ciel nature. 1t is a conflict between
dollars and cents and is already on.
We start beaten. In refusing to suhsi-
die the merchant marine of the Pacific
our government has practically said to
Japan: You can have the commercial
control OF the Pacific; we do not care
for tt
Tt is game OF roulette. The Japan
csc are doing the banking. The break
ing of the American marine is only a
matter Of holding out so long as the
odds viii permit. Ship subsidies is the
only sensible view and the only solu-
tion Of the commercial mastery Of the
Pacific
MORE SHIPS NEEDED
AS have often declared. a strons
navy is the surest guarantee of peace
We need more ships. We asked fol-
four ships in the last congress thai
We might retain our position of second
rank in the naval strength of thu
world. We only got two and conse.
quently Germany passed into second
place. the United States dropping int
third place.
England herself is responsible fol
Germany's naval strength BY build
ing the Dreadnought. it put both ma
tions on a square footing. 1t levelet
England's superiority. Many of III
navy men could see no reason for Eng
lands action. She weakened her nava
strength by building a ship OF sucl
tremendous tonnage
The United States needs % battle
ships on the Pacific and "a on the At
lsntic. Sixteen OF these ships shouI,
he in commission on drill on eithe
coast and held in reserve. In cas-
OF trouble we could mobilize the s il
reserve on the scene OF the threatenin,
conflict and put up a front or 80 ships
And then ! guess we could make then
all sit up and take notice.
I have advocated the building o
ships OF from twenty-six to twenty
eight thousand tonnage, capable o
bearing good number of u and i
inch guns. We came pretty near th,
mark in the last two ships we built
the Delaware and the Dakota. but
doubt that we viii get the twenty
eight thousand ton ships that w
need"
CARNEGIE's NONSENSE
Andrew Carnegie came in for :
rather severe toasting because of hi
recent utterances concerning the dis
armament of nations.
Carnegie made millions out of steel
Evans said, and is now ready to quit
He never talked such nonsense TO me
and / am friend OF ms. The millen
MUM is far away and it is better. /
there is any fighting to be done, tina
the other fellow should receive th
hard knocks"
without being irreverent. the retire
admiral remarked that the peace tall
Of the preachers was silly. and he sug
gested that the shoe maker stick to hi
last.
He refused to discuss the necessity o
further coast defenses.
1T is a matter Of etiquette that
navy man do not discuss the affairs o
the army and the army not interfer
with the affairs of the navy he re
marked.
Evans left last evening for Yosemite
where he will remain five or six days
He will lecture on April IL at Dream
land rink on with the Fleet fror
Hampton Roads TO San Francisco an
on the 18th on Our War With Spain.
AS a parting word the admiral re
marked:
II feel as fit as fiddle II I ha
beep as well last May [ am now
would have finished the trip aroun