The Washington herald., 1918-03-12
ALLIES DEPEND ON JAPANESE
TO KEEP PEACE In FAR EAST
Russia's S Disorganization
and China's S Unrest,
Caused by German Inau-
ence, Both Present Prob
lens Which Allies Can
not Solve Without Aid Of
the Mikado.
ny C. CHARLES HODGES.


Professor Mt Washington State
College, and Authority on ths
Far East, written for The Wash
inEt0n HeraId)'
Japan is the allied policeman In
the Orient.
1t is a common phrase. But wake
up, 1t is q big. true, vital FACT, as
well as a phrase, today-luckily for
the allies.
Do you want to know Just how big
beat this policeman Of the Orient
polices, and what rows the police
man puts down?
The Mikado's Land, as Nipponese
statesmen more than once have said,
holds herself responsible for the
maintenance Of peace In the Far
East. Today. Japan has to be ready
to meet trouble from two sides.
On the one hand, Russia in dis
integration carries the meanace OF the
Teutons over-running the country
even the extension Of the Kaiser's 8
might to Nippon's front door,
through Siberia to the Pacific.
Against this is China, another revolu-
tion-torn ally who demands watch
ing.
China now has been in turmoil for
nearly q lyear-largely the regult OF
German scheming aimed at tanning
the opposition of the South to the gov
ernmental supremacy Of the North at
Peking. The object has been 10 ham
per Chinese cooperation in the great
war, and to give the allied powers
trouble in this quarter OF the world.
Here Nippon has found one task.
She is guarding against this flank at
tack from the Teutons, whose hand
has not yet been uprooted in Asia.
This is shown by the German at
tempt to control China's system Of
wireless communication masquerading
under a loan ostensibly from Den
mark. Another line on China's in
ternal trouble comes from the jubila-
ton OF the German element IN the
Huan trading mart of Chang-shG.
when the insurgent forces OF South
China gained possession.
But secondly, the armed strength of
Japan is being used to protect allied
interests threatened by the Chinese
republics instability.
The Mikado's Land occupies a spe-
cial position in parts OF North, Central
and South China, giving Nippon great
weight. Adjoining the Russian sphere,
the japanese occupation Of South Man
churia has kept disorder from the
Three Eastern Provinces OF Chinn.
Nippon's forces, moreover. are ready
for any trouble in Siberia.
Then the expulsion of the Teutons
from Shantung put Jpaan in a place
where she can act promptly were
trouble to menace Allied interests
above the Hoang-ho. Should the me-
tropolis be endangered. the Allies look
to Nippon to act on their behalf at
Itking.
Nippon largely is watching the Yang
tze river-the great S.0co-mile artery
running across the heart of China.
The Mikado's Land has troops at
China's Manchester-the three Han
tOwns-guarding the Hankow steel in
dustry from when Japan draws the
iron to make into ships and munitions
for the Allies. In Human, to the south.
Nippon has protected Allied interests
at Chang-sha. Then. far up the Yang
TIE toward Tibet, the Nipponese have
interviewed, landing marines for ex-
ample from the gunboat Toba in the
last of 1917 to protect foreigners at
Changking, in Szeehuan.
At the same time on the south
coast. japanese forces were sent
ashore from one Of the guarding