Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-03-15
OFFICIAL JAP PAPER.
CONTINUED from page ons.)

(Continued from page one.)
American feet conceivable would be
helpless in such an immense area OF
operation as the Pacific ocean with
out advance bases so that capture of
these bases by Japan would render
that country undisputed mistress of
the Pacific.
Could Hold Islands Now.
There can be no doubt that Japan
is now in a position to seize islands,
because either they are unfortifed or
insuficiently fortified, and the sufh-
cient protection of the American feet
is impossible. The sudden seizure OF
these islands is neither impossible
nor improbable. 1t must be remem-
bered that the time is rapidly ap-
preaching when Japan will be COM
PEELED to defend her political and
commercial condition under less IA
vorable circumstances, and so that
reason operates in favor of the earli-
est possible seizure of Americas Pa
cifc possessions. That American Of
ficials realize this is shown by their
feverish haste to fortify the Panama
canal.
"a significant sidelight on Japan's
attitude toward the use of the Phil
ippines as a naval base is afforded by
the fact that large floating dry
dock, conveyed to 0longapo under
difficulties developed leak in a most
inexpllcable manner and sank. This
and many circumstances kept quiet
show that Japan is almost ready to
J deprive the United States of her
: naval base before the American fleet
, grows to such an extent that It's
superiority over the Japanese navy
would be overwhelming"
, Japan Ready to Strike.
; The article criticizes Americas
, failure to properly fortify its Pa
= cific possessions, and refers to the
! fact that Admiral Dewey, immediate
J ly after the Portsmouth peace con
, ference, said that Japan would soor
be too powerful for America.
: Count Won Reventlow asserts tha
l Japan was hard at work preparing
for war when the American fleet was
> sent to the Pacific, and that this pro
: duced temporary tranquility" bu
) that Japan is now ready to strike.
l In conclusion the count says:
"The seizure of the American Is
: lands in the Pacific would be essen
t TALLY defensive act on Japan't part
: Notwithstanding its aggressive char
! acter 1t is a question of life witt
= Japan, and there is no doubt what
: ever that her rulers are fully aware
OF this truth"
; IndOrses His Views.
t Washington, March 15.-Discuss
, ing Count Won ReventIows state
ment of the preparedness of Japal
and the United States for war, Fred
erick Huidekoper the noted miitar!
expert, today said:
"That is the sanest statement o
the real situation I have read
There are. about $4,000 Japanese IL
, Hawaii, all veterans of the Russian
war. There ere armed Japanese
, there working as menlals. Within
three days after word was given they
could be organized into an effective
fighting corps, otficered and armed
"It would be the best thing for US
If we should have war with Japan
that the first year we should be bent
en-. do not think any nation in the
world could ultimately beat the
United States. We would be- beateI
the first year, but after that the
United States would wake up and be
ready. England is in the same posi-
ton. She never is ready for war
and always has been beaten at the
outset, because she never has beer
= prepared We are worse off thar
England"
--o
q,