The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-02
SEES UNITED STATES
WAR WITH JAPAN
European Diplomats Look
Forward to Fight.
RUSSIAN FINANCES IMPROVE
Strength of Turkey Feared-Admiral
Warns Russians to Prepare for
Turkey to Down CHar-Marriage
Tax in Gutenberg Arouses Women.
by FREDERICK WERNER.

Berlin. April 1.-During the last three
weeks the diplomats of Europe. with no
urgent International problem on their
hands, have occupied their minds almost
entirely with events on the Mexican from
tier.
In Germany the return of Delicasse to
power in France, which momentarily Gre
ated a great sensation, was forgotten.
Most statesmen here are inclined to think
that what has just taken place in Amer
lea is merely a forerunner to the great
crash between America and Japan, which
is considered inevitable, and Count Err
nest Reventlow, one of the most expert
and talented students of International pol
itics, has voiced the general opinion in
diplomatic circles in an article in which
he asserts that the statesmen of Japan
are convinced that absolute, naval su-
premacy can only be assured by great
naval victory over the United States.
For the moment, the material well-beinE
Of the Russian. empire is a source OF joy
10 every patriotic subject of the Gar
The finance minister is in raptures. The
permier is delighted The Douma received
the tidings with deafening cheers. Two
the other. have fed the population and
filed the imperial treasury with gold.
The budgetary committee of the Douma
has balanced the outlay and the income,
with a surplus of about 100000 rubles.
which may possibly be used to pay off
part of the national debt. The expendi-
ture on cultural needs has grown sensi-
bly,. Three years ago tie amount spent
nNO
This year it is 100000.
II the coming harvest turns out as
plentiful as that of 1910, Russia will
work wonders. The finance minister an
t!cipates that at the end of the year the
free balance will reach the total of
100000 rubles.
The amount available for imperial de-
fenses is accordingly growing. Three
years ago the needs of the army absorbed
407, 900 rubles. This year the state is
spending 100000 for land forces, and
does not feel the burden.
Turkey Plans War.
Many are calling Tor formidable |
army. Among them is Admiral Skryd- |
lof. twice commander-in-chief of the !
Black Sea squadron. A few days ago he |
uttered words of warning in Odessa,
which were flashed across the wires to |
every nook and corner of Russia, and ,
will certainly move the government of
the Gar
Look at Turkey he said. land draw
practical conclusions from what you see
there. The Turks have no surplus in
their budgetary estimates. They have no
such heavy cultural items in their expen-
ditures as we have. They lack hard
cash. But none the less, they are de-
termined TO create a fleet and to get the
needful money by hook or by crook And
they are doing it. too. They are prepar-
ing for a war. not with Greece or Crete.
but with Russia. They look upon eau
casus, with it's f1ourishing Moslem popu-
lation, as part of their lost and unre-
deemed dominions.
The growth of the Austrian navy $
proceeding perceptibly. At the same
time the Turkish feet is increasing 1t
is the same as the link between the move
ments of Japan and the seeming quies-
cence of China. The two Mongol states
are using each other and cooperating
against Russia.
Austria steers clear of an armed con-
test with US. but she is egging on Tur-
by Austrian intrigues, the TURKS are
eager for the fray. It behooves us to
make haste If the Ottoman empire is
not formidable at sea to-day the balance
OF naval forces may have changed to
our detriment Tomorrow
For the second time il has been my
lot to come forward as a prophet. Two
years before the japanese campaign I
was in minority of one in military coun-
eli. ] warned the viceroy of the fari
East, and of the calamitous result of
our unpreparedneSs in the Pacific Now |
deem II my duty to come forward and
point to the countless horrors that will !
overtake Russia if she be cntanCled
In another armed conflict. unless she has
made ample preparations and left moth
ng to chance"
Turkey is in truth bent upon creating
fleet which will upset the balance of
laval power in the Black Sea. Whether
Ter motive is furnished by the necessity
II self-defense or by a desire to act
lpon pressing advice and make herself a
worthy mate of her Teutonic friend is a
question which will be answered different
V by different people As the govern
nent lacks the funds necessary to realize
he scheme, private initiative is coming
o its assistance. a national navy
eague has been formed like that of Ger
many, and the ways and means 1t en-
i
nination to achieve success.
Women Object to Tax.
A furious controversy is raging In
)ldenburg over the project to tax all
Unmarried persons. The project Is be-
ore the committee of the Landtag. to i'm
ose a supplementary income tax on in
ONES of the unmarried which exceed
100 year. Only persons between thirty
nd fifty years of age will be subject to
he tax
Hitherto all such taxes have been i'm
osed on men alone, but the chfvalrous
)ldenburg legislature proposes not to
pare women. This is the main cause of
he opposition. Opponents of the tax de-
lare that women are usually not them
elves responsible for their unmarried
lessedness, and they ask how can a
overnment decide whether a woman has
one her best to get married or not
Mr.. Mittler, a fierce enemy of the prof.
ct, declares that IL the law passes the
overnment will have itself to act as a
larriage agency. In the interest OF jus-
ce IL win. be obliged to give every
oman chance Of refusing a husband
efore 1t taxes her for obduracy.
III the State provides tolcrable WOO
rs" says DR.. MIttler, every woman will y
larry, and the tax will Yield nothing: VI
lille IL IL taxes women merely because .
icy have refused repugnant or undesira- Il
e courtiers, II will be committing an =