The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-12-18
0. NEAR WAR IN
1913 WITH JAPAN
Representative Hobson Makes
Sensational Statement.
RECALLS CANAL TOLLS FIGHT
Southern Congressman Becomes Net.
tied over Charge That He "Sees
Things"-TeIls Committee OF Prep
arations In Philippines During Call
fornia Land Law Agitation.

Washington, Dec. ia statement
made before the house committee on
naval affairs by Representative Hob
son of Alabama that the United States
got itself in readiness for a possible
war in the Pacific in May 1913 was
permitted to go unchallenged by Sec
rotary of the Navy Daniels, although
Mr.. Hobson called on Mr.. Daniels to
deny the truth of the assertion.
Mr.. Hobson's challenge to the Sec
rotary of the navy to deny that the
government was fearful or trouble in
the far east year ago and that II
actually made preparations for war
in that quarter was dramatic in the
extreme. Mr.. Hobson was impelled
to make this declaration by the tcsti-
mony of Capt. A. G. Winterhalter. a
member of the navy general BOARD,
who intimated that Mr.. Hobson ana
many other persons in the United
States are constantly seeing visions
OF war.
Hobson Very Angry.
Mr.. Hobson, who exhibited great
anger over Captain Winterhalter's
rather facetiouss testimony, denied
that he was "sseing things" Then
it was that he made the statement.
For my own part" he said, 81 have
not been seeing things. In May, 1913,
and for several weeks thereafter our
gunners at Corregador island stayed
at their guns night and day. The
harbors were mined. Troops were
sent there. Everything was prepared
for a two years siege. Everything
had been moved there except the :,ov-
eminent which was ready to move.
have noticed other things from time
. time. do not notice them now
any more than | ever have"
Secretary Daniels and CAPTAIN Win
terhalter looked grave as Mr.. Ho5son
proceeded. The former made no di,
rect reply to the assertion of Mr.. Hob
son about the alleged preparations for
wa. on Corregador island. whereupon
WI iioboOu OASldllhCu. w ell, Ilt
secretary of the navy is here. will
ask him II what I have stated is not
true. Let him deny it," Secretary
Daniels. his face pale and lips drawn
looked Mr.. Hobson squarely in the
eye and made no reply. Turning an
grily toward Captain Winterhalter Mr..
Hobson remarked:
81 don't want people to say any
mere that am seeing things"
Land Question Recalled.
Mr.. Hobson's charge that the Unit.
ed States was preparing for war In
1915 created something of a sensa-
ton in the committee room. It was
recalled that 1t was fust about that
time when diplomatic negotiations
were pending with Japan relative TO
tho alien land law question in Cali.
fornia. The relations between the two
countries were strained, much more
strs ineH IN fact, than was generally
supposed at the time. It has been
said in we'll informed quarters that Il
WOO uuC SCly W the BOOu Offices OI
Great Britain that the situation was
smoothed over.
Figured In Tolls Repeal.
IT was Just about this time also that
tho president recommended Tho repeal
IF the free toll clause of the Porona
ccn'l act saying that unless covers
yielded to him on this ocoasio,, he
would not FnOw how to Zeal With
ether oucs.ions "nf more 49, =,
character F" It wos said toricrt .hot
administration Officials are S"ccc ing
" bitter over tho developmentc he.
fore the horse comritten en- naval Vt
fairs in the past few DAYS .ad that
as result Of todav's incident in
which there was \ frank discussion ~
question that the government would
rather have IGNORED. on e''ort nav be
made to prevent further discussion OF