The Daily News. TUESDAY, JANUARY 31. JAPAN AND THE PACIFIC.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 227, 31 January 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, JANUARY 31. JAPAN AND THE PACIFIC.

Vice-Admiral Sperry, commanding "the j United States fleet that paid u visit to Australasian waters a couple of years I ago, on one social occasion prophesied that the great events of the immediate future would he enacted in the Pacific. The United States of America, according to the latest census returns, contain a population aggregating one hundred and one million souls. The great country has become one of the world powers, not because of her invulnerability, her increasing navy or her more or less efficient army, but because of her enormous commercial enterprise, her immense riches, and the dependence on her by many outside nations for various supplies. America has given less attention to fighting than most other great nations, possibly because she has been so deeply occupied with her commercial affairs; but recent utterances by her leading statesmen show that there is a distinct feeling of unrest in their ranks about the palpable inefficiency of her fighting forces. The future of the Pacific is indissolubly connected with the ambitions of Japan. President Taft lately showed how very necessary it was becoming for America to increase coastal fortifications, to reorganise and strengthen the navy, and to do something more up-to-date than to leave internal defence to volunteer soldiers. What bitter and splendid fighters the citizens of the United States can be when called on has been demonstrated in the War of Independence, and the most bloody of all modern wars, in which father fought son and son brother. In a recent cablegram it was shown that Mr. Humphreys, speaking at Michigan, said that Japan could seize Tacoma, Portland, Seattle, the five transcontinental railroads, and the Bremerton Navy Yards before Uncle Sam could get a small army of 75,000 men to the Pacific coast to try to stop her. The cheerful prophet likewise intimated that Japan would be able to fortify the great mountain passes before the States could do anything in prevention. The fact that the Anglo-Japan treaty expires in four years' time, and the assumption lately voiced by an American navy man that Britain's troubles would be America's troubles, are interesting ones. In Australia eminent students of the positions are agreed that Japan intends at no distant date to dominate the Pacific. It has been shown that Japan, as a preliminary to domination, will endeavor; to take possession of the Philippines. The tremendous activity of clever Japs at Manila, the establishment of a naval base at Formosa, the minor victories of Japanese diplomacy in her relations with the United States, all tend to indicate that Japan's ambitions in the Pacific must force armed contention. Enormous numbers of Japanese are going to New Caledonia, and in the Hawaiian Islands there is already a Japanese army. Australian military opinion shows that it is believed in the Commonwealth that in armed conflict with the United States the Jap might be successful, and that his success in obtaining indemnities would increase his ability to wage further war in pursuit of Pacific domination. Tn effect, Australian military opinion is convinced that there could be no let or hindrance to the occupation by Japan of the Philippine Islands and Honolulu, but this opinion is possibly based on the supposition that the United States will not in the time at its disposal before the expiration of the Anglo-Jap treaty make preparations sufficient for the safety of those places and the Pacific coast generally. The opinion has also been expressed that if the exigencies of the case necessitated it, Japan would not hesitate to break the existing agreement before its currency had expired. In such a case there seems to be a possibility that the quarrel would spread and that the United States and Japan would not be the only powers involved. Indeed, it is possible that such events might precipitate the AngloSaxon union that will be effected by no other means than war. The position, as far as Australasia is concerned, would be extremely interesting, and military service would become the most popular business in both Australia and New Zealand. While opinion exists that the defeat of the United States by Japan is a foregone conclusion, it is possible to believe that Uncle Sam contemplates idleness during the coming years, or meek submission even when the Japs smite the Pacific coast. The resources of the United States are infinitely greater than those of Japan, her Treasury has not been depleted by war, her population is enormous, and her spirit absolutely national. American statesmen have shown recently that there is real concern in their country as to the possibilities of the future, and if the American eagle is the kind of bird it used to be, it has a couple of talons left for any eventuality. An opinion of Lord Kitchener is probably sound. He believes that within a decade Russia will attack India in order to divert attention from internal affairs and to counter possible revolution at home. It has been shown that Germany and Russia might combine to prevent Britain assisting the United States in her dealings with Japan, although why Russia should love her old enemy to such an extent is difficult to see. Another quaint position has also been constructed by the exports, who show that Japan might be so deeply engaged in crushing the Pacific under its iron heel that it would have no time to help John Bull in India—supposing this tremendous programme of events takes place before the expiration of the treaty. It cannot be plainly seen why Japan, which presumably desires to add Australia and New Zealand to her programme of conquests, should bother herself with helping in India if she hank- i ers after British territory in the Pacific. Tt is a cheering prospect! America figiiting with Japan, Russia invading India, and giving moral help to Germany to prevent intervention! Germany at war with Britain, a possible revolution in

Russia, and China waking up to the knowledge of the lighting power contained in a population of four hundred millions! We are at the moment boasting that "New Zealand has reached the million mark!"