THOSE SPIES.

Feilding Star, 5 April 1909, Page 4

THOSE SPIES.

♦ IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY ',I'he following letter, written from a local hotel by Gintaro Mizhaia. ap. peared in Saturday's Hawke's Bay Herald (Napier): — Sir. — As a native of Japan and a visitor to Australia and New Zealand, I wish to enter a profebt against the publication of such paragraphs as that appearing in this morning's issue of your paper, headed "Japanese Spies" and subheaded ''An Australian Sensation." 1 declare that nothing more foolish or showing greater ignorance of the means adopted by my countrymen in acquiring information about any country coxild be penned. Japan has already provided herself with all the necessary information regarding, not only Australia, but also every country in or about her own vicinity; which is surely the duty of every progressive and up-to-date nation. As a startling instance of this fact, I would point to our recent terrible struggle with one of the most formidable Powers in the world, and claim that the success of our operations was not duo to a paltry and comic opera-like knowledge of the distance between ivaterlioles, or oF the eeceu- , trie windings of bush tracks, but rather to a broad and comprehensive knowledge of conditions prevailing for some thousands of miles, both by land and sea. While admitting that such articles appearing in Australian papers (probably inserted to enhance- the sale of same) induce in mo no kindly fueling, I can afford to smile at the concluding line of the report: "A careful watch is now being kept of their movements. " If Australia's system of defence extends no farther than to the careful watching of three or four wandering showmen in the back-blocks, then I fear the Commonwealth is simply invitinc trouble, which is not more likely to come from Japan than any other Power. In fact, just now Japan has quite cuoilfeh troubles of her own to prevent even tho contemplation of a dash for more territory though the prize be far more tempting.