The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-04-06
DIRE CAlAMITIES PREDICTED.
FRENCH ADMIRAL FEARS AMER
ICAN-JAPANESE WAR.
I'm Memoirs, Issued Last Night I'm
Book Form, Vice Admiral Fournier
Discusses Possible Conilict-ATl
Europe May Become Involved.
With German Emperor Occupying
Centre OF Stage.

Centre OF Stage.
Paris. March 31.-The memoirs of
Vice Admiral Fournier. commander
of the Mediterranean squadron Of the
French navy, In which he discusses
particularly the possibility of war
between the United States and Japan
and the resultant danger of dragging
all Europe into terrific conflict,
were Issued In book form tonight.
The memoirs have caused something
OF sensation In political and diplo-
matte circles.
Admiral Fournier accords the star
role on the stage Of international pol
itics to the German Eemperor not
only In Europe, says the write, where
the Emperor is trying desperately to
break the league Of Powers against
him, but also indirectly as an infiuen-
til factor in the relations between the
United States and Japan.
Continuing his examination of in
ternatlonal politics in a series Of pa
pers now being published. Admiral
Fournier says II is useless to deny
that there Is possibility of war be-
tween the United States and Japan,
as result OF popular irritation in
America should Japan's demands or
Japan's policies of absorption prove
intolerable to Americas excessive e
1self-esteem or interests In the far
East.
These interests the admiral adds,
are antagonistic to those OF Japan,
which pushed on by fate to expand
In the Aslatic continent by conquest
or diplomatic victory. seeks to be-
come predominant In the very re-
ssions which the United States pro-
tects In supporting the integrity of
China and the policy of the open
door.
The admiral declares that Japan's
great fear Is that the friendly rela-
-tions between the United States and
China will culminate In an out and
out alliance. and thus In event of
war the United States would have q
base of operations and general re-
sources vastly superior to the Philip
pines. Japan's increased ornaments,
therefore, are explainable, not as q
menace to Russia. but in prepara-
tion to combat before IT is too late
the peril contained in Americas poll
-cies.
Admiral Fournier thinks the naval
strength OF the United States will one
day not only exceed that of Japan,
but probably will equal that OF Great
Britain. In spite of the effort of Eng
land to preserve her supremacy of
the seas. and Japan's inferiority
would obligate her ally. England, to
come to her aid in the event Of a
conflict with the United States.
In case of a hostile coalition of the
United States with the triple alliance,
49, Aoi nViiCNts II rance would be
forced to supplement the forces OF
England. Japan and Russia. He
doubts. however. that the German
Emperor, although devoured by a
desire 20 smash the league, and
adopting a diplomacy as unscrupu-
lous as that of the Iron Chancellor
would enter on the perilous venture
OF such a war, which would offer lit
lie chance OF victory on land or sea.
without the Intervention in Eu-
rope Of the navies OF the triple al.
lance In a way TO help the American
fleet at the moment II was seriously
engaged In the Atlantic and the Pa
cific. the decisive superiority In that
struggle" declares the admiral
would rest with the forces of Japan
and England. Under these oondi-
tions. which spell defeat. the United
States would undoubtedly resist the
temptation TO settle her differences
with Japan by an appeal to arms"