Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-04-28

shore, where they might expect a rea-
sonably warm reception from such a
densely populated and hostile locality
as the Pacific Coast is known to be to
the little brown men of the Far East
Congressman Hobson assures us that
japanese are shopping into every hole
and corner of the United States, TAX
ing photographs, making drawings
and shorthand descriptive notes of
everything that we have done, are do
ing. or expect to do in generations to
Santiago Bay fame has moi circulated
widely the fact that the United States
Government makes business of
knowing, pretty nearly every day, the
location of every Japanese ship that is
suitable for transport, and any move
ment to concentrate 100 of these ships
would be known for many days before
they could be assembled and leave the
Japanese Coast for the lively and gen
dSSJeSSlNe L l.
cific Coast. Considering the time re-
quired to mobilize 10000 American SOL
diers in Texas, it is quite easily I'M
agiHahle that long before the hostile
Japanese forces could reach the
American Coast it would be swarmed
with trained fighting men, backed by
countless thousands of volunteers
Concerning the vulnerable front which
an armada of $50 ships would present
in any sort of formation. this sensible
Japanese gentleman has this to say:
Even landlubber may correctly pic
ture the enormous front they would pre-
sent If they travelled in column and
each was allowed 1000 feet sea room, they
would make line "a miles long. If they
sailed in double column the line would
be II miles. If they Travelled in a mass
the 30 battieships must be distributed in
an attenuated line. rendering the whole
pregnable to attack.
A Western exchange. the Indianapo-
lis News, treating this subject calls
attention to the fact that the effective
American battleships now outnumber
these of Japan almost three to one.
and that their aggregate rate of dis
tance effectiveness of fire is even great
er than that: the fact that Japan
would, in reality. have a difficult I'M
dertaking to find $50 ships suitable for
transports and Golfers. and the fact
81, - H.,
would crush the whole movement, are
not touched on. The extra burden
that is laid on such an invader even
though he reach his goal. must also
be considered. The Beers did not even
have so much AS a steam launch to
intercept the British, and the latter
had bases at which to land Still their
required the transport of
25O, 900 men, loaded 81, 1000, 600 indebt-
edness on Great Britain. and practical
ly broke down the government. And
at no time did the Beers and their
sympathizers number half million,
or their arms more than seventy-five
thousand.
1t is true that there are two other
views to be taken OF this possibility
of invasion. One presupposes an en-
gagement of the American and the
japanese nayies before invasion and
the defeat of the Americans. Here it
must be pointed out that Japan is
hopelessly distaneed in the number of
battleships and the effectiveness of its
gun fire, and is at least equaled in eff
ficiency of the men. The second view
presupposes the seizure of Hawaii, but
that still leaves POO nailes of ocean to-
be crossed by the fleet. Furthermore,
there would be 93,O00,o0o people to be
met. Could Japan expect any better
results than the British realized? Our
as that of the Beers, and better
equipped.
Back of it all is the sordid matter
of finances. Has Japan $500, 900, 900 or
perhaps billion dollars to risk on
such campaign?-with an outcome so
unfayorable in prospect that no SEN
sible Japanese could be expected to
consider it for a moment AS a COM
parison of conditions, we might say
that we are more than double the
population of Japan. We have a much
larger aud more powerful navy. We
are Infinitely more wealthy and our
resources are boundless in comparison.
Yet no American has yet been crazy
enough to suggest that we could cross
the thousands of miles OF Pacific Ocean.
defeat little Japan in a war and take