Japan Anxious for War.

Manawatu Herald, 13 February 1904, Page 3

Japan Anxious for War.

NAVAL'OFFICERS’ OPINIONS,

Captain Dawson, of H.M.S. Penguin, on being asked what would happen, so far as Australia is concerned, if Britain was drawn into the war, said it is probable the Australian squadron would be ordered to the East and the survey vessels would be laid up, their officers and crews being sent to vessels likely to be engaged in the conflict. The Australasian colonies would not be defenceless if the ships left, as their geographical position is peculiar. There is no grounds for fear so far as they are concerned. No European navy, in the event of war with Britain, could spare a vessel to come here. Furthermore, if they did, they could get no coal and, again, would find a hostile people to receive them on' shore. Supposing, for example, a foreign war vessel bombarded Auckland from sea, it could do but very little damage, as bora bardments from the sea, as a rule do not do much damage. They have a moral it is true, but the damage is comparatively slight. The probability is, that if a hostile vessel got so far as, say Auckland, there would be a demand for a sum of money, and they would clear off when they got it. They certainly would not bombard a defenceless town-that is against international rules of war.

Another naval officer expressed the opinion that the strength of Port Arthur is not so great as the Russians make out. He added :—“ Unless Russia has been accumulating coal for some years she cannot keep her ships running for very long. If Welsh coal is on its way to the Russians it will be seized by the Japanese for a certainty. The Russians have coal supplied from the Kaiping collieries, in North China, but the coal is very dirty and useless for naval purposes. The best coal for naval purposes is Welsh coal and after that Wesptort. I have burnt both in the vessels I have been in, and I know what they are worth. The British fleet, at the present time is looking on. You may depend upon it that British ships are shadowing both the Russian and Japanese fleets. If there is any fighting going on then they are there—keeping out of the line of fire, of course.” Correspondence between Japanese officers and Mr Napier, chairman of the Auckland branch of the Navy League, shows that as early as December a plan of attack upon Port Arthur was definitely decided upon by the Japanese Admiralty, even their particular duties being well known to the Japanese officers at that time. One writes by the last mail:—“War is inevitable. We can destroy the Russian fleet. I have been already detailed to go to Port Arthur, on the outbreak of war, to destroy the Russian battleships with my 18-inch Fish torpedoes. I shall do this very well, but cannot expect to be alive afterwards, I will be killed with the Russian shells so wish you * good-bye.’ Our officers and men in the whole fleet are very jolly and anxious for war to begin.”