EASTER WAR CLOUD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLV, Issue 270, 31 December 1903, Page 4

EASTER WAR CLOUD.

THE FEEUXfi IN JAPAN. Alderman J. D. Fitzgerald, of the Sydney Council, has returned after s visit to the Kast, including Japan. trili in the course of an interview v.uh u. Sydney Morning Herald re|>ott'r detailed some of his impresfe.oKs regaining affairs in the Kast. "1 saw the Himeji military manoeuvres shortly after my arrival at Hob*-,"' said Alderman Fitzgerald. •The number of troops ui>der arms was 10.000. They march, i through the narrow streets fully i many mounted on sturdy su.all pon*s - They wore a magnificent Uwiy <>f men, anil their marching ami •hilling were excellent. They were much taller men then we see here on the Japanese war boats. It aj>pears as if the taller men are kept lor the army, while those of shorter stature are drafted into the navy." "Is the war spirit very manifest?" "Yes; in the ranks," replied Mr Fitzgerald. "They are ready and * uger for war, and appeand to Ije strgining at the lash. They are fceM with difficulty, and as " far as 1 could judge in my short stay, the peace or prudence policy of Maquis ito, the master-mind of Japan, is •responsible for this restraint." "Has the Mikado any influence, or as Ik? merely a figurehead ?" "I gathered that he was a good Weal more than a figurehead," returned Mr Fitzgerald. "Indeed, those tvfoo are in a position to judge, rejjaixl him as a man of commanding influence and personality. The peo--s»le are intensely patriotic. When the rice crop, which was enormous, "was gathered, half of it was tender- **.! to the Government for patriotic vxpvnditure. I saw the Mikado's fcpei-ial tram on one occasion. The route along- which it passed was guai-ded by thousands of gens d'iirina. As the Mifcado passes before his subjects they bow their beads, ■and do not gaze upon him." "You had some experience with the Japanese police ?" ■"The police control was perfect. It is associated with the military control, too. I was desirous of taking soma photographs, but as we were Hearing a great fort all cameras hail to be put away. It would be ».-. well if all travellers from here X. ; :« a note of the fact that those de.irous of taking photographs run a f.vat risk of arrest. They would 3.-a.ve to make a lot of awkward explanations. I was mistaken for a .Russian spy, and speedily had four police shadowing me. "My name -was, of course, known, but the authorities in Japan did not recognise jit as that of an Australian. Wherever I went I was foreshadowed—not Obtrusively, but quite politely, and •directed to confine my attention to certain matters other than those I lias anxious to investigate. It became a little irksome at last, but 1 recognised that under all the circumstances of the war shadow someone was sure to be unjustly subjsct*d to espionage." "Has Japan any hope of holding its own and securing Korea against Icussia ?" "1 do not think so. Its energies ■will be concentrated in defence of the inland sea and the heart of the empire, aujd it can hardly attack. The \iolent society known as the Taira Doski Kai is an inflammatory **>ly. It has done its best to fo-anc-nt the smouldering war feeling, and I was told had even gone so far as to threaten to assassinate the 3lai<quis Ito. The members of it endeavoured to petition the Emperor 6ome time ago to declare war against Itussia, but they were prevented by the police. There was also a section of the press in Japan devoting its attention to inflaming *hv people some time back, but the virulence of their tone has been subdued, no doubt by authority. Jt Ibas a provocative influence, however that will not die out. When Japan Irgtits it will tight to the death. The society I mentioned considered that ilaiiquis Ito was against war He has the wisest and safest head in Japan, though." "Did you have any idea of cb-servi-ng matters from the Russian side ?" "\es, but I was deterred. I had wrerul tsjks witrti the Russiar- agent Jor the itusso-Chtncsc railwt ■ in •Nagasaki. This official toH me that Russia was going to put on a line m steamers to Australia from Vo-t Arthur. It would only be a 16<lays- journey to I'oit Arthur, and iron, there one can connect with the .Siberian railway. It is the quick, est route possible to Hie East." .. .". tiK continental line. How *i~, lV !%""£ regarding that Iho Russians certainly rushed the last piece of the line through (Manchuria, but I learned they were repaong the sleepers and rails that ervl} J*" l ™ earth without ballast toy permanent wav Pf a modern description.