The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-15

versary who lands In the north.
MANY of the senior officers are of The
opinion that the japanese, in case of war,
only from the sea. Others, to be sure,
have frankly and freely declared them
selves to me that If war came they would
be irretrievably lost. At best the islands
could be held for six weeks In no case
longer"
The writer goes on to say. also, how
thoroughly the net work of Japanese es-
islands, where fishermen, dock laborers,
mechanics. pedders and dainty little jap
anese women are employed as spies.
Incredible reports are current through
the Islands," he says. las to the extent
OF this Japanese espionage. There Is even
said to be a secret communication estab-
lisheo between wireless stations in the
north. of the islands and in Formosa."
| You remember in my last letter I spoke of
| the formidable arrangement of the lana
and islands for Japanese approach from
| Formosa, which, according to the old
friar, was planned centuries ago.
| / am giving you the benefit of all the
| things we hear, so you may realize how
! interesting life In the Far East Is. and in
what state of expectancy Madge and
are. 1t may be that we will get no
nearer to Manila than Hongkong, as we
have decided to wait there for further en-
enlargement to come.
Here are the concluding para graphs of
the governments letter, which you may
find interesting:
ut Is openly affirmed here that tho
Japanese consider the acquisition OF the
Philippines a matter OF vital Importance.
japan needs a market for her export
goods. and a district which shall grow
her cotton. Whoever possesses the Phil
fr,,i1 nd ot co in1a 10 90 mol lie
of developing their wealth of resources,
will be political master in the waters of
southern Asia.
"Opce. in 1898, before the naval engage
ment off Cavite in which the Spsniards
lost the Philippines. Germany, as will be
remembered, was accused of wishing to
occupy the Philippine islands. In the
United States the excitement over that
episode is still quivering. 1t appears by
no means impossible that the Americans
will withdraw some day from the Philip
pines, leaving the islands perfectly free
rein Then will be precipitated bitter
and above all secret struggle for them:
since England, because of Australia, will
never permit Japan to occupy them per-
manently."
fancy there is too much human nature
in the United States ever to Withdraw
from the Philippines-certainly not when
there are so many fortunes to be made
In these favored isands-but whether or
not we will ever be Inundated by
drutting from a cute little, half-savage
nation is another question.
The prophet TIL inks that In the final
settlement of things. the Japs will be
wiped out by us, but not until there Is
terrible sacrifice of American life
and a bitter blow to our national pride
and self-respect
However, to return to Shanghai: II
fat pf 4 mil
more fattering. had We spent our time
there In visit to the Walled Chinese
city; but, as we have planned to see
all that sort of thing in Canton, we
decided it would be wise not to take
the edge off of 1t, by seeing 1t in
less interesting form at Shanghai.
We were intensely interested and
fascinated by our glimpse of the SAINT
pans and junks in Shanghai harbor.
however, and 1 am sure this was the
real feature of our firfit impressions of
China The harbor is fairly teeming
with junks and sampans, which are In
describably picturesque and mediaeval-
looking.
The water people Of China are
class to themselves Their work is al,
on the water and they are not even
allowed to roam about in the ports at
night Each little sampan--generally
no larger than a sizeable row boat
is the home of Chinaman and his fam
ily which usually consists of two OF
more hard W orking wives and a group
of oh ildren.
The junks are larger and more seri-
Gus looking affairs, and have the most
varied and markable shapes. Almost
all of them are provided with a pair
of ewes, which are painted on either
side of the prov, and no Chinese sailor
will consent to go to sea on blind
Junk. Whenever there is funeral pro-
cession OF the water people, or any
sign of death in the harbor. then the
thoughtful mariners put a curtain over
the eyes of the junk, so that the spirit
may not be saddened, and its luck hoo
dooed.
Hong KING is our next destination,
and there we will say goodbye to the
steamer which, for so many days. has
been our home. The widow has taken
heart, upon learning that the new ad-
dition to our party Will leave us al
most Immediately upon our arrival In
Hong Kong, as he is in haste TO reach
Manila. She Is fixing up many plans
for sightseeing excursions ana social
diversions, for us, and is intent upon
our staying at the same hotel with her
and making dash into the social VIII irl
OF Hong Kong. We will reach there to-
morrow morning. when this letter will
HARRIET ADAMS G4ANAHI4