Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-03-18
AMERICAN NAVY
 EXPANSION IS SPUR TO JAP PAN
Vice Admiral Sato, Declar- ing Japan Friendly to U.
 S., Urges More Ships.

D., urges MOIe 0IllpS.
 Correspondence Associated Press
 Tokio, Feb. 21.-The strengthening of the American navy has been wide ly commented upon in Japan. Opin- ion is general that it should spur Ja- pan to augment her naval forces which are felt to have fallen lament- ably behind in recent years. Several writers profess to see in the Ameri- can increase menace to Japan.
 Of the comment, perhaps the most representative is an article by Vice Admiral Tetsutaro Sato, who speaks with his authority as director of the Naval Staff collefe at Tokio. He was formerly vice chief of the naval board of command. He calls his contribution: "The Future of the American Navy"
 Admiral Sato declares that peace 5 the motto that controls the doidgs of the United States. Japan, he says, seems to be misunderstood in vari- ous parts of the world as warlike nation. But nothing is more er- roneous than this misconception. He added:
 "The Japanese dislike to take arms against other nations for a question of selfish rights and interests. Every time Japan went to war it was be- cause her honor and dignity had been injured by the other. In short, Ja- pan never resorted to arms until her patience was tried to the last, as his tory shows Hence, i' is the height of folly to dream that Japan will wage war on American or harbors a hos tile intention towards America
 Superficial foreigners might in- dulge in such foolish dream, he re- nese entertained such absurd views. He continued: "Of course, the Jap1- nese would fight America if forced to do so."
 Should Work Together.
 But Japan and the United States, the writer continued, have the great destiny and mission to act as the pro tectors and preservers of the peace of the Pacific in Harmonious CO., operation. Though commercially there may arise difference and dis sension between two peoples, there cannot and must not be any collision between them in other respects. But if there is a wide disparity in na- tional strength and wealth between any two nations and the spirit of mu- tual love and reverence cannot be established between them, the possi- bility of war between those two na- tions cannot be absolutely denied. 1o miral asked, when a wide gulf is created in the naval strength of the two countries? He continued: Fortunately, or unfortunately. the United States, awakened by the Euro pean war, has launched a gigantic expansion scheme of her army and navy, more importance being attached to the expansion of her navy. 1t seems clear that the American naval expansion program is not framed to compete with any supposed enemy but is intended simply as a defense scheme for maintaining Americas po,- sition among the world powers, es pecially in view of the results of the European war, which has impresse1 l the United States with the unsound- ness, unreliableness and uncertainty of international relationship and the frequency of misunderstandin E among nations"
 The officer expressed his admira- tion for the enthusiasm of the Ameri- can people in backing the naval ex.- pansion but asserted that, when completed, it would lring about a great disparity in the naval strength of Japan and America This might sound as alarming to the Japanese nation, but he believed it unjust and l inadvisable for Japan to suspect the United States of any unfriendly in- tention toward Japan on account of this.
 What fool" he exclaimed, would conceive of the United States intend ing to attack Japan CT what fool would think that Japan has de- sign to invade the United States? However, it is most important to both countries that they should strive to maintain the peace between them by solidifying their respective naval strength lest they should be sighted by each other as well as by other na- tions. Therefore, Japan should steadily increase her navy"
 If, he declared, the undesirable crops up the blame must be placel on Japan as the destroyer of peace, because of her negligence of ore paredness." He concluded:
 History illustrates how many weak military powers have broken the silver cordon of reace between nations ill the past. The Japanese people should be ashamed of ther neglect of necessary preparations when they realize how devoted and loyal the Americans are for main- taining the cause of peace"