The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1936-03-12
SEEN
HEARD
around the
NATIONAL
CAPITAL
d. E:4ll II
By Carter Field i.

uOu vi Tue JdpuuCbc Auiiituiy Na0e~ ma
regaIned control of the Japanese gov
eminent after being reversed In the
recent election. there Is no serious dan
ger OF war In the Far East
Only the possibility that some Of the
same sort of "young officers" may
provoke an Incident on the border
really threatens that danger. But even
this danger, the Soviet authorities be-
lieve, Ia remote, and for two reasons.
One Is that the young officers so
much talked about are now just rush.
Ing into situations without the ap-
prevail of very much more important
heads. This Is at least the third time
this sort Of thing has occurred. though
the present Is the most fragrant be-
cause 1t denies the right OF the jap
anese voters to dictate the policies
of their government. Each time the
action Of the ''young officers" has had
the same objective-complete control
OF the government by the most fervent
saber rattlers In the military estab-
lishment.
The Moscow government, according
to reliable private advices reaching the
State department, does not believe
that the "old heads" among the saber
rattlers-the high ranking army and
navy officers really In command Of
the situation, and who really inspire
these killings occasionally by the ap-
parently irresponsible young officers
want war with the Soviet right now.
The answer Is that the Japanese
army and navy officers know perfect
ly we'll the Soviet government be-
lieves, they would be biting of more
possibly than they could chew. At the
time the Russo-Japanese war broke out
In the old days, 1t Is pointed out, Rus
sia-Old Imperial Russia 1t was then
had only 10000 men In the Far East
And they were rather poorly equipped,
In fact, there were quite few scan
dals about that element later.
Russia's Great Army
Russia Is not telling how many men
she has In the Far East now, but re.
ports from Moscow are that Soviet
officials are rather complacent wher
the subject Is mentioned. 1t is vel
known that the Russian army now hal
considerably In excess OF million
men, and that they are excelleDtly
equipped with all the most modern
war materials, expensive as they may
be. 1t is freely admitted that every
sacrifice necessary was made to at
tain this objective.
Now also. 1t ia pointed out In Mos
cow, the Siberian railroad ha:
been double-tracked all the wa,
through to vladlvostock. Near thu
latter city there are forces of bombing
and fighting planes calculated to civ,
the Japanese considerable pause
| Moreover. the Russians merely smil,
when asked about that northwart
push OF the Japanese. apparently almet
at cutting the trans-Siberlan railroad
There are plenty of Notifications, AMI
plenty Of well equipped soldiers I,
resist any japanese attempt to reacl
the railroad. There have been one o
two brushes, they mention grimly. ant
the Japanese are not unaware OF tn
Russian strength.
Also, the Russians have calculate,
on the possibility that a bombing
squadron or a quick successful pusl
Into one salient might cut the trans
Siberian line temporarily. They hav
built up stocks OF everything tina
might be needed at strategic points
Near Vladivostock they not only hav
munitions plants, but shIp-buIdln
yards. which have been very success
full In constructing submarines.
Altogether they are more concerne
about Germany than about Japan.
Case of West Virginia
Hoping that he has settled the fac
Encouraging returns from the Pin
Tree state In September's compression
al election, President Roosevelt no,
turns his attention to West Vlrginif
where the situation Is even more diff
cult. Names moral effort on Demo
cratic workers Ia the rest OF the cour
try may be tremendous. but not eve
the most optimistic New Dealer think
any electoral votes are involved there
Whereas West VIrglnla's eight elet
toral votes might easily decide who
to be President for the four years BIZ
ginning next January.
All the New Deal hopes for In Main,
really, Is to save Representative Et
ward G. Moran. No one familiar wilt
the Maine situation hopes to elect
Democrat -frutr-tffs- furtiafltf tffStTfr
where Representative Simon NJ HIM
lin was swept In on the 1894 Demo
cratic high tide.
The Brann-Moran row threatens eve
this much salvage. II promises soil
Republican slate from Maine Ia Sci
TENDER, with Its resulting word TO IN
rest of the country that the New Del
has slipped. With the full reallzatio
OF how much attention is paid
Names September elections. despii
the cold fact that as baramelf
Maine has often been wrong, lame
A. Farley has been holding COME