Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-03-08
Ianan and Russia.

There has developed Il distaSt"ful
and pcrplrXing problem as to what Is
to bc done with Shcria.
Japan has all along had ambitious
designs against the Russian provinces
in northeastern Asia; but has not been
able to carry out those designs because
of the quiet but firm opposition of the
various great powers.
While Russia was yet one or the
great powers, helping to resist German
aggression, she was the recipient OF
immense stores of war supplies, which
were piled up At Nladivostok await
ing shipment on the trains-Siberian
n~lIT0ud:
This was the situation at the time OF
the Russian collapse.
OF the tremendous stores of supplies
most of them came from the United
States but many millions of dollars
worth of them. including more cs-
pccially guns. rifles, cartridges. etc,
came from Japan.
But few il any of the supplies had
been paid for.
The congestion uf the supplies ut
Vladivostuk arose out of the fact that
il WAS impossible to transport them
into Russia over the one single track
ed, badly equipped Siberian railroad.
Since the signing of the expected
peace by the Bolshcvik government,
and the spread of civil war throughout
Russia. the Germans have been push
Ing their way in the direction OF
V!adivostok They have been able to
do il with the help OF small German
forces cooperating with various Rus
sian elements that are opposed to the
Bosheviki regime, and which is will
ing for anything rather than the per-
mancnt establishment Of Bolshevik
power.
II is evident to people who under
stand the situation that if let alone,
the Germans might very easily organize
the whole of Siberia under Ger
man direction and control.
That Japan should feel that IL there
is Il change i'm the sovereignty over
Siberia that sovereignty might just as
well come to Japan is quite natural.
There is certainly nothing unreason-
able about the suggestion that Japan
should be most bitterly opposed to the
establishment of German power in
this quarter Of the world.
And in spite of the all important
necessity of holding down the am
bitiuns OF Germany by whatever
means that may be necessary to at
tain that end. the allies cannot he
expected to contemplate with salts
faction the prospect Of japanese
domination Of this territory.
If it were practicable and reason
ably possible to furnish allied COOP
Grafton with Japan in taking charge OF
the Siberian situation. nothing else
would be thought Of. But just now,
no one of the allies other than the
United States is in Il position to even
think Of such cooperation, and the
United States. though in a much bet
ter position than any other Of the al
lies, is not now in shape to spare any
considerable force in such an under
taking.
Japan with an army Of nearly p
90 200 men already organized. equip
ped and trained. with ample naval
and transport facilities. and 100000
more potential soldiers to draw from,
is ready to handle the situation with
out any trouble whatever.
But still the situation presents en-
barrassing problems.
There are among the Russians
thousands and thousands who belong
to the best and most intelligent ele-
ments-and who are in the fullest
sympathy with the armies OF the al
lies; but who at the same time do not
want to see any part Of old Russia
fall under the domination Of the
Japanese.
Complete allied acQuiescense in the
plan to oppose German aggression with
japanese armies. might very easily
turn former allies to enemies and
there is no question OF the fact that
the DETECTION of these former allies
would be Of very great assistance to
the Germans.
For instance suppose the most in
fiuential elements Of Russia should de-
eide that their interests be in alliance
with Germany against the former al