Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-12-15
BY ApAcHI klhNoSukE
lin New York SUM

since she has entered the world var
has been at once q shock and a rere'
iation TO Japan. 1t has made her
feel a bit Ashamed Of her own part in
the war so far, for one thing.
Compared 10 the broad and stately
statement Of the war aims OF Presi
dent Wilson OF the United States, "
writes Dr.. Furukawa In the October
issue OF Chuwo.koron, one OF the lead
ing magazines of japan, the narrow
ness and smalIness of the vision Of our
own statesmen are indeed beyond all
RmsZement!"
Americas war activities have made
an impression upon Japan-an impress
sion profound and nation wide. All
the more so because Japan, to make a
clean breast Of II, did not believe that
the United States would do precisely
the things land SO many OF them
which America has already done
raising a tremendous army at an al.
most unimaginabIe expense and
trouble; actually sending her own
army to Europe, and, still more amsZ.
ing even than that, the United States
sending an. ARM that is really an
army, an expeditionary force OF more
than 100000 men and more on the way
constantly!
There Is a time when Japan did not
understand America.
Has Been Misreadine America
The fact Is Japan has been mis-
reading America Ind the Americans
(not quite as badly and persistently
perhaps as America has been misun-
derstanding Japan, but quite vitality
enough. Japan for years has been
luxuriating herself in that paradise OF
fool notions that in the United States
u .boothlack on a street corner 10 some.
thing OF a mechanical genius and that
every pedler along any old highway
was a potential millionaire.
But when it came to the soldier and
war business, why. America vas so
profoundly indifferent to such matters
and supremely bored and ayerse to
the mere thought OF the thing that
she vent into Rip Van Wrinkle sleep
strAightaway. 49,. -
Therefore, when the United States
declared war against Germany Japan
Rtjonce jumped to the conclusion that
America would do one and all Of the
Following things, and on a vast and
heroic scale, but not very much more:
1. America would loan almost lin.
p itiess money to the Entente Allies.
That would turn her from the debtor
nation she had been before the war
Into the world creditor and naturally
bring about the shifting of the finan-
cial center Of the world from London
to New York. =: 1s# y.
America would supply the war
materials to her allies in a much more
extensive manner than she has done
heretofore 40 neutral. That would
attract more and more wealtS to her.
-. America would take advantage
OK this crisis in the war 20 wrest the
command OF the merchant shipping
from the great sea powers OF the
world. She would create q merchant
fleet that wouid a. the close or the
war sweep. the British and the Ger;
man and the japanese flags from the
tnkr seas.
IN the process Of financing other
powers fighting Germany America
would continue to absorb more and
more OF the American securities held
~ foreign capitalists and consolidate
her position as the world banker. rs
5. She would take the advantage OF
The prevailing situation In the world
commerce -as Japan has been trying
70 90 for so long In her own meager.
and feeble fashion--to replace the
wares OF her commercial competitors
IN the markets Of the world. so that
nc end OF the world war would find
Ter IN much more favorable posi-.
non as world merchant than she
las ever been in her history.
Sendlsv Of Army Shock.
Japan believed that America would
do all these things-but to send her
own soldiers TO Europe and BY hun
dreds OF thousands. why. Japan had
not the slightest idea Of any such
thing. Where was the American army
anyhow?
have simply summarized the views
Of DR.. Horiye, one Of the many and
ceaselessly writing Japanese econo-
mssts, expressed in an article An a re-
number Of the Toiyo. 1t is, 1 be-.
~, the Views Of q large majority OF
saranese students Of America and OF
american affairs. /
sEyen II recruiting of the vast army
tft the United States works out as
lmoothly as planned. said the Osaka
Ashai as late as September, comment.
ms on the possibility Of seeing 4 great
AmeEcan army in Europe, what
about the training on the men.
Whether, America can get the ex.
pected number OF efficient men in so
short q time IL an exceedingly ques.
fionable affair
And the Asahi Ii the most popular
aewspaper in Japan; its daily circuia.
lion is more than 400 900 copies, there
tote well qualified TO take its rank
arons the great dailies or the United
Slater. 1t usually voices the popular
sentiment Of the majority of the peo.
ole by. whom IL is favored. AT any
rate, there is not the slightest doubt
mat the editorial quoted voiced the
aopular conception of large number.
of japanese people concerning the
American army. 800 . =
as japanese eeWiIdered
Then the news Of the raising of the
American army OF over 1,00o.0 600 men
almost over night came to them. Moro
Sonderful still came the story of the
magic Transformation of peace lowing