JAPAN'S SILENT WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2430, 8 April 1915, Page 6

JAPAN'S SILENT WAR

HELPING THE ALLIES

SUPPLIES OF WAR MUNITIONS

(By Dr. J. Ingram Bryan, in the "Sydney Morning Herald.") ToKio, March 1. Though Japan's war against Germany and Austria, since the fall of Tsingtao', is for the most part an indirect one, it is none the less pursued with energy and effectiveness. While her warships are yet scouring the waters of South America, she still seems to be busy in the South Seas, in spite of reports tliat the islands she occupied there have been handed over to Britain to guard. Her greatest results at present, however, are achieved through assistance of the Allies by sending supplies to Europe. Japan has now nullified her conventional tariff with Gormany and Austria, to take effect on April 1, after which the enemy's goc«ls will bo taxed at the rate prescribed in the national tariff schedules. Upon the severance of diplomatic relations-with Germany and Austria, Japan declared her intention of •taking this step, but the date for putting her purpose into effect was postponed so as not too greatly to inconvenience certain of her domestio industries hitherto dependent on imports from the enemy countries. Now that all the orders for skins, dyes, paper, and machinery have arrived the full tariff is to be enforced; and it is expected that the effect will be to lend impetus to domestic industry, especially in such lines as tanning, chemicals, and machinery. Munitions of War. Still more effective is her assistance of the Allies in supplying them with munitions of war. At this moment thousands of Russian troops are attacking the German trenches with rifles and bayonets from Japan, .and though there is not a Japanese soldier in that country, a considerable proportion of the casualties are caused by Japanese bullets and shells. The feet of Russia's fighting men are also being protected by boots made in Japan.- It is perhaps saying somewhat too much to assert that no Japanese are in Russia on the fighting line; for it is understood here that some Japanese officers are with the Russians, and may bo taking a hand in the direction of operations. Thus, in addition to supplying the Russian troops with millions of boots and millions of yards of khaki cloth, as well as abundant ammunition and arms, Japanese experts are on hand to lend every assistance to Russian officers in solving the problem of tactics and strategy. In dissimilar but no less effective ways Japan is also assisting France and England. In Addition to orders for khaki cloth and boots, Japan is filling demands for foodstuffs and forage. Indeed, these orders are such that her resources are being taxed t-o the utmost, and already market prices have seen a phenomenal rise. Thousands of tons of peas and beans have been shipped, to say nothing of big orders for flour, and numerous other orders await execution. The bean market is experiencing abnormal activity, which is very important in a_ land of such extensive bean .consumption. Orders for rye, barley, oats, and buckwheat are being filled with air expedition. More than 60,000 tons of food for man and beast have left Japanese ports during the last two weeks on the way to Britain and France, valued at something over 8,000,000 yen. This tiade in foodstuffs and forage promises uninterrupted activity for months to come, provided Japan's resources do not bccoino somewhat overtaxed. It is a conservative estimate to assume that Japan has taken orders from the Allies to the extent of 100,000,000 yen since the war began. This of course has a marked effect on financial conditions, and there 1 is already talk of lowering the rate on fixed bank deposits, which now stands at 6 per cent. It is significant, however, that a report is current that certain leading banks have refused to accept Russian paper money.