The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-04-12

Y ApAN Is taking the war lightly.
with her ammunition contracts
with Russia: with prosperous
America buying her silk at good
prices; with good crops already rcnpcd
and promising, and last but not least.
with the banner of the Japanese mcr-
ch0nt marine reaching an cvcr.incrcaS-
Ing number of ports, Japan Is for the
first time In many years, If not in his
tory, Il leading nation, writes Maynard
owen Williams to the Christian Her.
aid.
Full speed ahead" Is the order of
the day in industrial and shipping cir
clcs, and what has brought death and
destruction to Europe has brought nc-
tivity and prosperity to the japanese,
whose part in the war has been done.
From Tsingtau to Tsinanfu, the mill
tary flag of japan boldly waves above
the railroad, and the fine hotels of Ger
many'S Pacific paradise are being
boosted in the tourist ccntcrS Of Nix
ko, Ilakonc, Tokyo and kyoto. They
are under Japanese management now.
The tiny Japanese cat is playing
with the ungalnly Chinese rat, wonder
Ing whether to dovour ii or to make
friends. In many newspapers there
are articles urging the ACCESSIBILITY Of
making friends with China, but with no
other motive than eventually to reap
larger profits by such methods. No
whore Is there thought of danger from
China In II direct way. II the open
door promises profits, opcn door let it
be. But there Is no consideration for
the opinion of America or Europe in
the argument. japan has the cnvlcd
but not envinble habit of looking out
for number one" whether 1t be in pub
llcity, diplomacy or commerce.
Here in the beautiful Inland sea
vulcan SwcutS and tolls that Neptune
may b" conquered. The scene Is one of
enhancing beauty. Awkward snmpnnS
nnd w~hitc-wlng"d sailing ships, dot the
blue. Green hills shoot down to the
waters edge, and detached rocks. sur
mounted by grotcsquc pines which
cling with barred roots to naked stone,
jut from many Il ~prumOntOry.
Around the Inland Sea.
In the hOllows between the hills lie
the villages, almost hidden In the deep
green Of stately trees ovcr heather
temple and humble home. Terrnced
fields, representing months of patlont
toll, Chamber up the towering hillSidcS.
RcforcStatlOn has kept mother earth
from being donudcd here as she has
been behind the ill.Smclllng smcltcr nj
AShio. Graceful volcanic peaks rise in
every direction, pointing ~hcavcnward
In some part of every fair prospect, In
which hnZy hills melt away into the
soft distance.
a white lighthouse casts its Polyphe~
mus glance from a sugar-loaf of wood
cd rock, and from shady points Of van
tage Il summer home or n picturesque
shrine dominates the view of curying
bay and craggy rock. But man has
conquered nature. In several small
harbors the rattle of compassionate
rlveters beats nm %agonized tattoo on
the hollow bulls of building ships. The
scent of sOft-coal FORCES robs the mir
of Its freshness and adds n smudge TO
the blue of the vaulted sky. Through
the dark smoke the hot ugly glare of
forge fires adds n dramatic red 10 the
picture. The idylllc scene has been
touched with the call for shlps 10
'nrry h worlds commerce, and the
fair countryside frowns at the twcntI-
eth century order, Full speed ahead"
At Kobe and Nagasakl giant cranes
rut the skyline in jagged contour, and
the EngliSh-spenking tourist Is greet
cd with signs a blind man could rcnd.
"~7,OOO-ton flOatlng dock" 1t Is the wa
that the artistic Japanese in his fair
land has responded to commerce and
publicity and modernism. Night and
day the skeletons of ships take on
form and slip from the ways To make
room for more and larger vessels.
Japan's Navigation Schools.
Yesterday, here ON deck, within sight
OF the Stars and Stripes that Captain
Bick"l has made to ropI csent good will
and friendship throughout the Inland
sea of Japan, ! Ind an interview with
K~obnynshi san, the principal.of one of
Japan's ten navigation schools. His
former students are now sailing the
seven seas. Most of them carry with
A DergOnul to mis-.