Evening star., 1927-06-29
I'm the matter of defense. the first
/ thing to do is to consider those.
whose interests may conflict with


when the clash does come, as clashes
will, it is invariably between those
whose interests conflict
In preparing for defense, the FIRST
| consideration is the possible strehgtn
| that the enemy may exert. america
| does not have to search long to f1nd
the yardstick which should be ap-
piled. Our interests are wide hunS
and there is the usual chance for dis
agreement and friction between US
and any one of 10 nations. But there
| is one in particular whose interests
are so Numerically opposed to those
of America that, without the slightest
disposition toward jingoism, we may
and should heed and scrutinize her
present and potential air strength.
On the far side of the Pacific is
small but very powerful nation-a
people who embody all the fatalism,
the stoiciSm and almost the fanaticism
of other Oriental nations, and yet with
reaction that is distinctive, quick
and Occidental. India has deep hates
and grave lassitude; China has ances'
tor worship and local prejudices; the
Turk, the Arabian and largely the
Slav respond to new things merely
with curses and hate: Japan, on the
other hand, leaps toward comprehen-
accomplishment. Japan is a combined
unit, a worshiper of their Emperor.
of his ancestors, of the governments
traditions, and yet Japan is one of the
quickest of all nations to seize the
momentary advantage.
Visit to Training Ship.
A Japanese training ship was in
San Diego harbor last Summer The
writer visited with the friendly and
keen students on that ship. He asked
one of them to see his text books on
navigation and mathematics. They
were all in English! Made that way
purposely so they had to learn
English. A skilled navigator on one
of our own largest battleships ex-
amined one of these text books and
found it an exceedingly clever and
comprehensive collection of the best
from the texts of American. German
and French works on the subject.
1t is said the Japanese are initiative.
They are. but they are more than imi
tative. They are so skilled in gather
ing the most effective points of every
practical argument that their ability
and adaptation is almost genius.
1t Is interesting to note Japanese
| reaction to new methods and new
machines and new ideas during the
last 80 or 40 years. Whereas most
nations require generations to change
their national policy, Japan appar.
emily can swing her people into a
| new stride within half a decade.
When the Wright brothers made
the first successful fight in the air
the world had ever known-only two
years later the Japanese flew success
fully in his own country
Aviation Is Furthered.
Up to 1914 Japan had had few
opportunities of close observation of
the new art of flying, but in June
of 1914 civilian air circus was held
| near Mount Fuji. 1t attracted wide
attention and created a tremendous
| impression. Almost Immediately the
Imperial Aviation Association was or
ganized, which soon had a member
| ship of 5000, and raised a million and
| one-half to further aviation in Japan.
In the next year an aviation corps of
the Japanese army took part in the
world combat, and successfully aided
| in capturing a German garrison with.
| out the loss of a single pilot or
observer. During the years that fol-
| lowed, British aviators visited Japan
| and opened a school. American stunt
flyers stirred the populace with wonder
and admiration. French and German
pilots instructed army flyers. A mail
route was esta blished, and funds were
appropriated to stimulate civilian in
| terest in commercial aircraft.
But the big interest in the stirring
call to aviation reached Japan when
the American round-the- world flyers
landed on the sacred island in May,
| hn ~. % L \
| been widely heralded. Permission had
been asked of the japanese govern
ment that they might land. At first
the permission was automatically de.
clined; later 1t was suggested by the
imperial government that the planes
be manned by Japanese aviators
while flying over Japan, but finally
permission was given to the aviators
to land when and how they pleased.
The news Of the world was filled with
the exploits of these daring airmen,
and their coming was keenly awaited
by all Japan.
Significant Incidents.
Two incidents Of this flight which
are very significant are mentioned by
Kennedy Young in the Aero Digest,
the first, showing Japan's military
turn of mind:
These Yankee flyers came after
long delays and heralded by the
stories of their heroic exploits in
crossing the Bering Sea in May, 1924
They were welcomed much as the
Norsemen of 1000 years ago crossing
the Atlantic might have been received
If a modern American had awaited
them. To the first little town on the
main island where they were
scheduled to land, the people came
from miles about and the local gov.
ernment officials prepared big feasts
in their honor. The mayor of the
town presented a testimonial to one
| OF the American officers stationed
there in advance Of the flight, declar'
ing that the people considered the
| ARRIVAL or the flyers tantamount to the
advent of Commodore Perry to Japan
In 1851 and asking that the town
should be recommended by the air.
men as the future air center of Japan.
Shortly after the planes had come
| TO rest near the shore at the airport,
one OF swarm of press photog-
raphers that greeted the American
avfators had the temerity to venture
out in boat and approached within
a few hundred feet of one of the
fankee planes to focus his camera
on it. He was detected by the Jap.
anese officers. who were at that mo-
ment talking to Lieut.. Nelson on the
pier. They notioned Immediately to
the police to throw the man into the
sea, but to their great astonishment
Nelson told them that he was per-
1ectly welcome to come as close as he
wished. The officers had simply
taken it for granted that the Ameri.
can planes were to be kept secret.
DO you mean to say you would
let us examine your machine?' one of
them asked
". Certainly said Nelson. .
And shortly afterward the lama.