New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-25

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The recent article of Adachi kinno-
suke published in The New York Tribune
June IL must set at rest in the minds OF
those who entertained it the fantastic idea
of Japan's sending an army to the battle
fields Of Europe. Mr. kinnosuke shows
clearly enough the impracticability OF such
a scheme by reason Of lack of sufficient ships
to transport an army large enough to count
and supplies TO keep it going. Even II Japan
were in any way obligated to make the sacri-
fee and were disposed to do so it would not
be practicable. At most she could send
small number of troops-a division or two
for sentimental reasons.
She could perhaps send troops to the Rus
sian front. But Russia has the men. What
Russia needs is munitions Of all kinds. And
Japan can best help by contributing them, az
she has been doing instead OF men. If Japan
should send an army TO either front it would
mean depriving Russia of the munitions
which are to her as lifes blood.
How Japan Could Help
Unlike the United States, Japans factories
in number and capacity are limited. But
there is n way in which Japan could materi-
ally aid in this war in measure beyond
what she is now doing, and this without un-
due sacrifice Sacrifice, yes-there can be
no service without sacrifice and no gratitude
for service rendered unless that service IN
wolves sacrifice. But the sacrifice need not
be undue, considering the issues at stake for
Japan as we'll as for the rest of the world.
She could contribute something of her ship
ming. some of her regular army transports
and merchant ships, to help the United States
in Transporting food and munitions and
troops across the Atlantic to France. BY
taking part in this service she is also help
ing all her allies.
The great pressing need to-day, the cry
of Great Britain and France and the United
States, is "Shps, and still more ships" 1t
is the one vulnerable point, the Achilles heel
in the armor of the Allies. Now, is it I'M
reasonable to ask Japan to do her bit in this
service?
According to Mr.. Kinnosuke, whose state
ment is based upon the reports of the De-
partment of Communications, Japan had 44'
steamers above 1000 tons. According to the
report of the United States Commissioner or
Navigation, Japan's tonnage in 1915 amount
ed to 1s65,319 tons, but Mr.. kinnosuke, pre-
sumably more accurately, places it at 1885,
s3l tons at the end of 1916 At any rate,
since the beginning of the war there has
been a tremendous development Of the Jap
ancse shipyards ard the building Of ships. as
was impressed upon me when was in Japan
last summer, so that now Japan has build
ing capacity of about 100000 tons. And, as
q matter OF fact according to a recent writer,
r. ". Child, who lately made visit to the
East for the purpose of studying this and
other questions, there is now under con-
struction this amount of tonnage. SO that
the total tonnage will soon be over the 2,OOo,-
600 mark According to the same authority
Japan has sixty ships in the class between
900 and 10000 tons and six over 10000
tons. During 1916 Japan not only built
large amount of tonnage, but increased her
merchant marine by the purchase of several
American vessels when our trans-Pacihc line
sold out