Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-22

ASSOCIATED Press Correspondence
Toxic, Jan. 2o.-Strongly expressed opin-
ion both for and against sending a Japa-
nese army to Europe is found in the
Japanese press.
The Osaka Mainichi remarks that al
though it has repeatedly drawn attention
to the imposibilty of sending japanese
troops to Europe it is 10 be regretted
that there are still not a few who seri-
ously favor the project OF actively help
ing the allies. The paper continues:
What most troubles US, however, is
the apprehension increaS .ngly entertained
in England and in France as to our mo
tives in the event OF our assisting the
allies. This apprehension is largely due
to the reckless and imprudent manner
in which some Of us have INSISTED on
Japan sending an army to Europe.
ITO our thinking, those who consider
it necessary TO help the allies at the
present moment do not represent the rea!
opinion OF our people and ignore the posi-
ton which We occupy in our re.atlon to
other nations. Should the allied nations
really be in need OF. our arms, their re-
spective governments Will communicate
formally with our government. II is not
the attitude of patriotic people, with the
peace of the world at heart, TO cause III
feeling among our friends by insisting
on the necessity Of assisting the al.es
Japan is confronted with several iEpor-
tant questions relating TO the Far kas,
which await urgent settlement and the
allied nations would do well TO re:nein Der
that she cannot afford to send ner troops
to Europe
The TOXIC Yorodzu, on the othe. hand,
prints an editorial in the French Ian
guage and points out that Japauese par
ticipation would be accepted with Joy oy
France which mas never ra.sed or trou
bled itself with the question OF races.
England and Russia, far from opposins
the scheme, thought the newspaper,
would be equally naply at japanese as
sistance. TAe writer auds:
''On the day We uec!de to act in Eu
rope We will receive from the allies =
formal guarantee OF advantages wAiLu
will indemnify US ion al sacriIces. AS
TO the question OF transports that las
certainly already been settled tor the
Anglo-Jaranese al lance has always
venton IN India as an ally OF Treat
Britain
The journal points out that Japanes-
partlC patton would hasten the end OF
the great var w.lcn is 50 terrible even
for neutral counties where slagnat.o..
OF business increases from day TO day
and general misery is Filing up.
1t concludes that the military lnteryen-
ton OF Jal an is not on.y possible Dut
necessary Tor the good o: Japan anu the
good OF the world.
Meantime considerable interest has
been caused by the ISSUANCE of a mani
festo by the promoters OF a mo eIuent
to dispatch a volunteer corps. The ..I..bi
ton is TO SEND an army corps compr.s
ing two infantry divisions and one ,.r,.l-
lery corps as wei. as cay alry-aoout 49, 0
in all. The promoters claim TO have Az
a call for funds.
What is said to interest the Allies, how
ever, is not the question of q volunteer
corps, but the dispatch of an army OF
100000 or $4,000 by the empire, and This
question is still an open one.
The manifesto OF the volunteer promo
tiers follows:
Peace is coveted by all nations of the
world; war is the object of universal ha-
tired and is curse to the world. The war
in Europe has turned the who.e EURO
pean continent into a great battlefield
and the disasters occurring from the con-
fiagration are spreading unavoidabl
calamity to humanity in every nook and
corner of the world. Each and avery
living soul who is anxious about the
peace of the world and the welfare OF
mankind is worried about this state of
things. Great Britain. France, Russia
and Belgium are fighting for the common
object to extirpate the root of the mem
ace to the worlds peace and reinstate
the world in the condition of happines "a
and tranquility.
we, japanese, who are bound with
them by alliance or by convention. though
living in distant chimes and of different
race, cannot but entertain profound
sympathy with those nationals, who are
bravely fighting for the cause of humani
ty and civilization. History furnishes
many noble examples of patriots who
helped other nationals fighting for the
lofty cause Of dependence and liberty
such as Lafayette in the American In
dependence, Lord Byron in the indie
pendence Of Greece and GaribaIdi in the
Franco-Prussian War.
I'VE, the sons of the land of Yamato
ian old classical name for the Japanese
nation) have been and are known as
nation Of chivalry, loving justice and