The Tomahawk., 1917-04-05

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 reaped
and promising, and last but not least,
with the banner of the Japanese mer-
chant marine reaching an ever-increas-
ing number of ports, Japan is for the
first time in many years, If not in his
tory, a leading nation, writes Maynard
Owen Williams to the Christian Her
aid.
Gull speed ahead" is the order of
the day in industrial and shipping cir
c,es, and what has brought death and
destruction to Europe has brought ac-
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 centcrs of Mix
ko, Hakone, Tokyo and Kyoto. They
are under Japanese management now.
The tiny japanese cat is playing
ing whether to devOur it 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
where is there thought Of danger from
China in a direct way. If the open
door promises profits, open door let II
be. But there is no consideration for
the opinion Of America or Europe in
the argument. Japan has the envied
but not enviable habit Of looking out
for number one," whether it be in pub
licit.y, diplomacy or commerce.
Here in the beautiful Inland sea
Vulcan swcnts and tolls that Neptune
may be conquered. The scene is one Of
enhancing beauty. Awkward samPans
and white-winged sailing ships, dot the
blue. Green hills shoot down to the
waters edge, and detached rocks, sur
mounted by grotesque pines which
cling with barred roots to naked stone,
Jul from many Il pFOlHOllOiy.
Around the Inland Sea.
In the hollOws between the hills lie
the villages, almost hidden in the deep
green of stately trees over heather
temple and humble home. Terraccd
fields, representing months of patient
toll, Chamber up the towering hillsidcs.
Reforestation has kept mother earth
from being denuded here as she has
been behind the ill-smelling smeltcr at
AshiO. Graceful volcanic peaks rise In
every direction, pointing henvenward
in some part of every fair prospect, In
which hazy hills melt away into the
soft distance.
A white lighthouse casts it's POlyphe-
mus glance from q sugar-lOaf Of wood
cd rock, and from shady points Of van
tage q summer home or picturesque
shrine dominates the view Of curving
bay and craggy rock. But man has
conquered nature. In several small
harbOrs the rattle of compressed air
riveters beats an agOniZed tattoo on
the hollow hulls Of building ships. The
scent of sOft-coal FORCES rObs the air
Of it's freshness and adds a smudge to
the blue Of the vaulted sky. Through
the dark smoke the hot ugly glare Of
forge fires adds dramatic red to the
picture. The idyllic scene has been
touched with the call for ships to
carry the worlds commerce, and the
fair countryside frowns at the twcnti-
eth century order, ''Full speed ahead"
At Kobe and NagasaN giant cranes
cut the skyline in jagged contour, and
the English-speaking tourist is greet
ed with signs a blind man could read ::
"7,OOO-ton floating dock" It is the way
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
Bickel has made to represent good will
and friendship throughout the Inland
sea of Japan, had an interview with
KOhayashi San, the principal OF one OF
Japars ten navigation schools. His
former students are now sailing the
seven seas. Most Of them carry with
them q personal Introduction to mis-