The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-03-24

rumor to the effect that within the n
sand, including infantry, cavalry, field
the Hawaiian and Philippine Islands.
WASHINGTON, March 17.-Japan
could easily take possession Of Amer
ica's Pacific islands, under existing
conditions Major-General Nelson A.
Miles, retired, formerly ranking Gen
eral of the United States army declar,
ed tonight.
General Miles was discussing the ar
ticle by Count Ernest Won Reventlow
in the New York American" this
morning, and it's prediction of war
in the not remote future between ia
pan and the United States.
Replying to the direct question IL
the Japanese could take possession Of
the Philippine Islands, General Miles
said:
YES, they could. The Philippines,
Hawaii, Guam, in their present condi-
ton are a source Of weakness to us.
But the instant they were seized war
would begin.
cts character can be judged by
the mettle shown by the yellow men
seven or eight years ago and what we
know the American soldier is.
''The instant war was declared" he
continued, "everv machinist, iron
worker, steel worker, skilled and UNI
skilled laborer from one end of the
country to the other, would start to
work on war munitions, additions to
the fleet and whatnot, the scope OF
which would stagger experts in the
profession of war"
General Miles is not among those
who believe that japan will go to war
with the United States.
"There is no earthly or sane rea.
son." he said. "for Japan's going to
war with America"
Referring to the 'jingoes" with a
smile, he said, however, that one
could never say what the future would
bring forth.
A warrior whose gallant achieve
ments in the field of battle have filed
many pages Of history, Miles is yet q
man of peace.
"More Than One Port Arthur"
"Wars are not wanted nor needed,
he said, ''but they are a weakness d
the human race" he added, "ant
must come. trust that l may never
see a contest between this country
and the island kingdom of the Fa'
East"
"But if it does come, in the even
that Japan landed an army on the Pa
cihc Coast" he was asked, would the!
be able to remain?"
Patriotic fire glowed in the eyes @
the man of peace as he replied:
"The Japanese army and navy woulc
find more than one Port Arthur
there would be five, six, seven y
more. each defended by an army 0
capable men splendidly differed, witt
six trunk lines carrying supplies an
ammunition across the Rocky Noun
tains as fast as the best developed lc
oomotives in the world could travel.
"The taking of the Pacific strone
holds, such as San Francisco, Por
land and other ports, would not b
the task that Port Arthur was. Japa
would be up against different propo
sition entirely"
"How quickly could an army be mo
bilized for real war;"
an three or four weeks the Unite
States could place an army Of 1000
600 men in the field, properly equil
ped and effectively differed, wit
generals commanding them that al
by no means defective in the art
war" he answered.
"The nucleus would be from the rel
ular establishment-and this regula
establishment is not the organizatio
some would have the American peopl
believe.
: 1T is amply provided for the horr
BILE, desolating purposes that it VIZ
created for"
what effect would the British-Jap
nese treaty have on war with Japan
"None whatever, in my opinion" :
answered, although I am frank
confess / may be mistaken"
CAS- I interpret the treaty, neith'
party can or will become the ally