The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-06
z
SER|OUSCONCERN
over SITUATION
White House and State Depart
ment Perturbcd Over Japa-
nese Incident.
MIkADo PLAYS sHREWD HAND
With Return OF Bryan, Demand
for Arbitration Will Be
Made.
MIKADO PLAYS sHREWD HAND
Especial to The Times-b Dispatcher

Especial to The Times bispatch.l
Washington, May 5.--tf any apathy
has fallen upon the country In rela-
ton to international affairs under the
impression that the Japanese incident
has ended. that feeling is not shared
at the White House and at the state
Department.
In both OF these Offices 1t Is a simple
fact that there Is more anxiety and
more serious concern to-day than has
existed since the California land law
came up FOR active discussion
The Wilson administration realizes
now that although japan is going
slowly. she is playing her hand
shrewdly and masteifully. The Jap
ancse ambassador, acting under in
struction from the home government.
is assuming n present attitude of con-
sidcration. He has readily agreed
with the administration that things
shall remain in statu quo until MIR.
Bryan returns from Sacramento.
IT is. however, fully understood that
Mt that time the Japanese government.
through it's ambassador Will present
another and more formal protest to
the American government against the
California law. This protest will car
ry with II from the Japanese govern
ment a request or demand for arbi-
tration OF the entire matter.
Meanwhile. Sir Cecil Spring Rice, the
new ambassador of Great Britain, will
be received for the first time formally
by President Wilson tomorrow. 1t Is
given out that Immediately afterwards
he will present England's latest an
aver to tho letter of ex-Secretary Knox
and Will also In behalf of his govern
ment ask arbitration in the matter of
free tolls on the Panama Canal.
It is fully Understood that Japan
will reject President Wilson's PROPOSE
ton for the adjudication of the Cali
fornia land act by the Federal courts.
1t is. therefore. certain that both ma
lions Will base their protest and COM
plant upon the same foundation of
violated international treaties and ap-
peal on this base for arbitration by
The Hague or some international tri-
bune.
The actual passage OF the Webb bill
by the California Legislature has gNAn
a new impetus TO the discussion at the
Navy and War Departments of the
present unpreparedness of our coun-
try for eventualities.
The widely spread belief that Japan
was too poor TO go to war has received
distinct refutation in the news that
Japan has ordered the Immediate con-
struction of three battlcships.
Some of the officials declared o-day
that 1t would require three years for
Japan TO complete these battleships.
Other officials emphaticaily stated that
with rush work Great Britain can
Scupictc anu COIUpiStcu d
nought in gingle year.
One OF the best informed OF officials
said tonight: I'VE might as well
eliminate all the rubbish that has been
talked about twenty-nine battleships
for the United States and thirteen for
japan.
"The plain unpleasa fact Is that
our fght!ng fleet consists OF twenty
battleships. and Japan's lighting craft
OF big guns is fourteen. Japan actu-
ally has a preponderance of torpedo
craft, including torpedo boat destroy
ers. None OF our battleships has the
steel torpedo nets which have jus,
been tried and indicated under actual
war conditions in Japan. In their
recent war manoeuvres the Japanese
launched torpedoes with their war
heads on and the torpedoes were actu-
ally caught in the torpedo nets hung
over the sides of their battleshlps. The
United States has nothing like this In
it's navy"
The expert view OF the navy Is tina,
Japan Will have In 1914 a fleet of bat
tlcships and armored cruisers of the
all-biggun type which will be greater
than our own.