The Hawaiian gazette., 1910-09-23
THINKS JAPAN WILL
CONTROL THE PACIFIC
English Writer Points to America
as Example Not to Be
Followed.

Holding the gradual disappearance of
the American merchant marine from the
Pacific MP to England as a dreadful ex,
ample of a criminally apathetic nation,
a writer in Fairplay, the great English
shipping journal, warns his country that
she must consider the shipping Of the
Pacific as field of vast Importance
and look to it that her ships are not
driven off of that field by the Japanese.
Commenting on Americas loss of
the Pacific trade, the writer says:
The first round in the fight between
Japan and America for the commercial
performance on the Pacific and far
East has resulted in win for Nippon
Some years before the Russian war Jap
an had mapped out her course of com
mercial enterprise. This included the
predominance of the Island Kingdom in
Pacific waters and her predominance in
far eastern commerce. To these objects
the helm of state was set, There was
no Ignorance as to the possibilities con.
sequent to that act; but having set the
helm there remained the resolution to
keep the course in spite of every oh.
stacle. The first possibility was that
of conflict between Russia and Japan.
That was the first obstacle and big
one. Every one knows how well the
course was kept. The second possibility
was conflict wish the United States,
not necessarily enforcing an appeal to
arms, but nevertheless, stern warfare;
a commercial conflict entailipg the con
troll of the Pacific.
Underestimates Pacific.
''In this country we are rather apt
to underestimate the Importance of the
Pacific. Not SO America and Japan.
The supremacy of that ocean is well
worth struggling for, if only because of
the possible future of China ports, But
then, of course, there is the West of the
American continent eastern Asia and
the overland of western Europe. Well,
America laid her plans for an over
whelming conquest of eastern markets.
China was to be the happy hunting
ground, and the Pacific was the cradle
to bring to vigOr American shipping.
These plans were fostered by the State
and financed by many multi.millionaires
with the usual optimism. Japan also
had far eastern commercial plans,
which, curiously enough, also included
revived shipping in the Pacific.
"'Several very fine and very large
ships were built by American railway
magnates; Seattle and other west Amer
lean ports were opened; congress was
asked to grant subsidies; illustrated ar.
ticles dealing with the history of Amer
lean shipping and wildly condemning
the British actions of many years ago
were accepted and published by respon
sible magazines. Newspapers tried to
infuse into the criminally apathetic pub
lie some interest in shipping. The ex
ploits of American clipper ships were
recalled. Military authorities found
that Japan could capture the Philip.
pines quite easily, so Luzon was strong
ly fortified in hurry.
Japs Increased Subsidy.
''In reply to this, the Japanese in
creased subsidies and continued to build
ships. Also, with amazing ingenuity,
they Disseminated against American
ships in the Manchurian trade. But
curiously enough, at the same time Jap
an was very friendly, and courteous in
their dealings with Americans. At the
time when passengers were not allowed
to land with cameras at Toxic, young
German, not knowing the regulation,
took a camera on shore. A Japanese
official walked up good humOredly to
the German and put out his hands as
if he would like to look at the camera.
1t was handed to him. He took it
gently and, with great good humor,
smashed it to pieces on the quay.
"Mr. Hills fine vessels hardly ever
went out of port with full cargoes-
they were much too large for the trade,
and consequently they lost heavily on
every voyage. The finest vessel in the
trade was lost, and misfortune seemed
to dog the others. Gradually Japanese
vessels began to take the place of
Americans, even in the home ports, and
American ships were laid up with moth
ing to do
cit was very calling to San Fran
cisco and Puget Sound to see their own
lifeless fleet, and then watch the Jap.
anese ship bursting matches. Therefore
the recent anti.Japanese measure be-
come understandable. At the present
time the far eastern shipping is in the
hands of Japan and Great Britain, the
former with subsidized lines and the
latter mostly with tramps. Having dis
posed of America, is it likely that Nip
pom will allow us to carry muchi There |
are already rumors that japanese coast
ing trade is to be forbidden. We must |
necessarily retain an interest, and
very large interest, in Pacific waters. -
-@A
JOHNSON AGREES