New-York tribune., 1921-04-21
Japan Forcing
" ar Upon U. S.,
Hobson Warns
Sees Seizure of Philippines
and Hawaii After Blowing
Tn of Panama Canal
and Isolation of Fleet
Press Shifts Its Attitude
Harding's Cabinet Martial,
Advisers Level Headed.
Saws Hero of the Merrimac

laran Is seeking war with the
United States, in the opinion of Rich
rond 2. Hobson. The hero of the
v.rrin,ac declared here Yesterday that
.nne morning Americans Will read at
.,s breakfast table of the seizure of
.sa Philippines, Hawaiian Islands and
Guam.
The investment of the Pacific island
,ossessions of the United States. ac-
.ording to the former Alabama repre-
sentative in Congress, probably will
follow the dynamiting of the Panama
Canal. With the Isthmus water pas
SAGE destroyed, he said, Americas s
feet would be divided and helpless
hsfore the Japanese navy. Then, he
.aid. would come the formal declara-
zion of war by Toxic.
War may come within a year. he
said. or certainly within five or six
years unless America adopts a naval
trol Of the seas.
Calls Possession Of Yap Vital
"The Island of Yap is vital to the Jap
scheme for conquest of our islands in
The Pacific" said Mr. Hobson. "They
wanted to cut across Americas line Of
communication with the Philippines.
From the very inception of the war in
Europe they had their eyes on zap
ard all the German islands in the Pa
cific.
They are after the Philippines and
Hawai-. They woke up late and found
that the white races had possession Of
most of the earths surface. Now,
however, their plans are far reaching
and far sighted. 1t is Rome and Car
thage over again.
woods trip to the Philippines, in
ny opinion. will focus, legitimately
and properly, the attention of the
United States on our obligations to the
Filpinos. You know there is a feeling
among some Americans that we should
scuttle out of the islands.
perhaps we could escape trouble
that way, but know this nation never
will surrender the Philippines to any
militaristic power. The Japs are treat
ing the Coreans barbarously. In For
mosa they have murdered 10000 help
less natives. Are we going to turn the
Filipinos over to this sort of thing?
nc AOIIQIs OI OOI6d anu f OIDlO Sa
should turn the thoughts of America
from any idea of Japan ever possessing
the Philippines.
"If Japan does not contemplate war
against us, how are we to account for
her naval building activity? The eight
eight plan OF the Japs is the most
gigantic war program that any coun-
try ever undertook. 1t means war, and
war very soon, and we are the enemy.
Would Blame United States for War
"The Jap diplomats are maneuvering
aow to get the moral position with the
world, and especially with the Japanese
people. They are shrewd enough to
know they must avoid having the onus
Of seeking war.
"Dight now the Japs can get war
OF. Of the zap situation. BY sending
an undiplomatic, unyielding note in
this controversy they can force the
American State Department to take a
firm stand. and there you are. The
United States will be made to appear
in the wrong, trying to take something
from Japan that she won at the peace
conference.
"We are fortunate in having level
headed men at the head Of the War
and Navy departments, for Weeks and
UehDy are ieVel neaQeQ.
they know military situation when
they see one. I really think that Har-
ding has chosen war Cabinet-chosen
it deliberately As q Cabinet it tran
sends any political lines. Hughes is
a man who won't bluff and can't be
blufed. Hoover is an engineer with
the engineers method Of approach to
al problems.
when Japan has seized what she
wants from us, she will simply invite
US to come out there close to her base
and conduct our lighting"
The man who sank the Merrimac IN
the entrance to Santiago Harbor dur
ing the Spanish~American War de-
clared that America must keep naval
supremacy from the Japanese by adopt
Ing slxteen-sixteen program where
the Japs have an eight-eight. These
hgures represent the numbers OF super
oreadnoughts and battle cruisers in the
building plan.
Maybe I'll be laughed at" said Mr.
hobson, but, remember, they laughed
~hen | introduced into Congress a
constitutional amendment providing
!or prohibition. l was laughed at in
1874, too, when I wrote 8 magazine ar
Iieie on The Coming War in Europe
SAID then 1t would be Central Europe
against the wings of Europe, fight
Tor new balance of power. l was
'oio oy one statesman then that there
ls'er would be another European war"
$4,000 Boys to March Here