The Washington times., 1937-08-26
Lovers of War

- days-the Iroquos, the Sioux, the Apaches, among
others-loved fighting and killing simply for the fun
of fighting and killing; "pour lie sport"
We can explain the japanese attack on Shanghai
only on the theory that the japanese military and naval
men are the same way Here is Tor was) ancient
Chinese city international by world
u" T''''"9 consent, a stronghold of security and
Pretett peace in chaotic China Yet for the
second time in five years japanese fighting ships on
a fmsy pretext have appeared at Shanghai and dealt
out death and destruction.
The Japanese campaign in North China is under
standable enough The japanese took Peiping and
Tentsin and struck at the Nankow pass because they
wanted some more territory adjacent to the Chinese
territory they took five years ago. There mystery
about that.
But there is no strategic advantage in taking
Shanghai or in pulverzing large parts of Shanghai.
The strategy hits the other way, in fact since the
Shanghai attack has warmed up world resentment
against Japan and is expected to strengthen Chinese
resistance to Japan's encroachments.
The only answer we can figure out is
T'9"' -" that the Japanese fighters love to fight
Sport OF IL for the sport of -or that they are de-
termned to make residence in China unbearably dis
agreeable for Americans, Engishmen, Frenchmen, etc.
Whatever the Shanghai motive can't take chances
with people like that.
If the Japanese should ever come to feel that they
were more powerful than we it is good guess that
japanese ships would presently be appearing off San
Francisco and bombardng that city for the fun of de-
structon and in the expectation of ransom.
Lacking navy strong enough to fight back, we
would simply have to ransom San Francisco, and
oncie ourselves to having to buy off other raids
until we could recover naval supremacy over Japan
IF we could.
Our best bet is two ships for one-1neaning two
American fighting ships or planes or submarines for
every of such weapons Japan has
Another question you hear discussed
and more the Japan-China war
H0O0" roars on is whether the United States
would or should fight to keep the Open Door in China
or to keep the Philippines, or to keep Hawaii.
Our belief is that American willingness and readiness
to fight should stop at Hawaii. We can't defend the
Philippines from determined japanese attack, and
those islands not worth the effort to u.s. anyway.
But we should maintain our Hawaiian outpost at all
costs. The Hawaiians and the japanese in Hawaii
don't love US, do owe them any particular debts
of honor gratitude money. But for practical
sons ought to make up minds to draw the line
at Hawaii.
With Hawaii in possession We have focal point
for naval operations 2,400 miles out in the Pacific
Without Hawaii ships would have to base West
Coast points, and the possible battle line would move
that much closer to us.
We should therefore reconcile ourselves to what
Ill., n
but should make the Hawaiian Islands as nearly
mpregnable naval base and series of islands forts
they can be made, and should make up our minds
that Hawaii shall not pass from our hands without a
struggle to the death.
With sufficient power-a navy stronger than
the Japanese navy in all departments-we can be rea
sonably sure Of holding Hawaii. Without superior sea
power can be reasonably of losing Hawaii some
day, matter how strong make its land defensos
From York; Daily News