THE JAPANESE AUSTRALIAN STEAMER'S.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 60, 18 March 1904, Page 1

THE JAPANESE AUSTRALIAN STEAMER'S.

Regarding tbo Japanese line of steamers trading between Australia and Japan, the Nippon Yusen Kaisha, which has ceased running since the outbreak of hostilities, a merchant interested in Chinese and Japanese trade expressed the opinion that the company's vessels trading to Australia would probably be re-registered at Lloyds under, say., the Dutch flag By this means thoy would escape the attentions of tbe Russian cruisers, and be on tho same footing as the vessels of neutral nations with regard to contraband. Some flag other than the Engliph would be seleot3d in case England should be drawn into the war — a contingency that he did not for one minute anticipate. Ho strongly expressed the opinion that the war would not have the slightest effect on the trade between Australasia and Japan, and pointed out that in addition to the Nippon Yusen Kaisha there were three other steamer lines, not owned in Japan, engaged in the trade. His opinion on tho war was that the wise policy for Japan to adopt was to thoroughly defeat the Bussian fleet, and then seek to come to an arrangement with the enemy. A land campaign would probably prove disastrous to the Japanese. The Kussians would play a waiting game, which in war was a very expensive ono, and which would probably result in Japan's bankruptcy.