The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-12-21
FIRMLY INTENDS TO
RJLE TIE P1CE6
Japanese Empire and Its People Coafi-
dent that With the Opening Of the
Panama Canal, Nippon VIII be the
Center of the World.
tBy P. Beckwith Davis)

Toxic, Japan. Dec. 2o.-while it. is
true that the Japanese statesmen do
not anticipate war with America or
any other nation of the world il is none
the less true that the Japanese people
from the emperor down to the lowest
class are firmly convinced that with
the opening of the Panama canal the
island will be the center of the world.
And what is more, Japan expects con-
fidently to be the controlling power in
the Pacific. regardless of any designs
the United States may have toward
that end. In fact, the supremacy OF
the Pacific is being taught all Jap
anese as being the portion of the ISL
and in the new developments now near
ing consummation
Japan is forging ahead at very
rapid rate; and every change, whether
political, commercial, or even circum-
stantial but lends her greater assur-
ance for the future Japan's supremacy
on the Pacific may be taken as a ma
tional ambition, and her predominant
ing policy for the future. 1t is a faith
inherited from Of old and some day
may be realized. The whole course of
history is regarded by many inte1li-
gent Japanese as leading up to this
great consummation Japan must
therefore, be prepared to take the
place which fate assigns her on the
chessboard of time. The nation ex-
poets within the next so years to be-
come the center of world communities
tions. 1t is an avowed conviction of
Japanese statesmen that this position
| will give her a supreme advantage
over all her competitors in the race
for sea power on the Pacific. The COM
pletion of the Panama canal and the
| double tracking of the trans-Siberian
/ Railway are expected to take place
! simultaneously in 1915. The compile
! tion of these two most important lines
OF world communication will place
Japan in the center of Pacific influence.
Looking back across the tide of human
history. Japan notes that there was a
period when the Mediterranean was
the center of world communication In
time the center of power shifted to the
+ Atlantic, and the natural course of
/ would now be the turn of the United
States to become the center of world
! thought; but Japan does not so read
/ history. She occupies on the Pacific
/ the same position that England does
on the Atlantic. Japan cannot hope to
rise to the height of her ambition and
! enter into her inheritance if. lacking
+ in the defences essential to guarding
her position Consequently. enormous
sums are being appropriated TO the in
crease of her naval strength and
great activity is observable all along
the line Of naval expansion. This ad-
vance in naval development She IN no
way regards as a menace to peace, but
rather as the best guarantee of it. but
Japan is not depending altogether on
naval force to give her the position she
covets on the Pacific. The peculiar
genius of her race and civilization are
supposed 10 add much to her chances
of supremacy on the Pacific With her
patriotism is religion, and the en-
peror is more faithfully and devoted1y
served in Nippon than the Creator OF
the world is in other countries. Her
unity of race and unanimity of ambf-
ton also lends strength to her pros
poets for a triumphant future The
only nation that gives concern is the
United States. But on that score Japan
is willing TO take her chances. She
does not anticipate trouble from across
the Pacific, but if 1t comes, she IS moi
going to be unprepared. Her policy
however. on all sides is tactful and
bent on peace. Her biggest foreign
problems at present are those of immi-
grafton and the prevention OF Occi-
dental predominance IN China Al
home. in spite of poverty. the nation is
renewing its strength. and everything
in Japanese eyes at least, points to heI
future supremacy on the Pacific