TRIFLES THAT MGBILISE FLEETS.

North Otago Times, 27 December 1907, Page 1 (Supplement)

TRIFLES THAT MGBILISE FLEETS.

Japan has "turned nasty" because a few Japanese children have been denied admi.-sion to the Californian public schools, and forthwith America has decreed that her Atlantic fleet must be transferred to the Pacine, and there make a demonstration in force.

To do this the ships have to steam south along the eastern coasts of the twin continents of North and South America, round Cape Horn, and then north again, crossing tho equator twice.

It seems a stupendous journey, and a vast expenditure of money, for a very small cause. Vet events equally trifling have mobilised fleets in days gone by, and Sen sent them hovering round the coasts of friendly powers, just as in the present instance.

Because, for example, a handful of French officers wfcre found by Kitchener at Fashoda, in 181)8, when he entered the place after smashing (be Khalifa at Onidurmaii, a special "Flying Squadron," fully equipped for war was sent careering up and down the English Channel, and into the Ray of lliscay.

In ISSO, again, a half-naked, wholly-savage chieftain named Mataafa, started kicking up a bother in tho Samoan Islands. Immediately Germany, America, and Great Britain, dispatched squadrons thither in hot haste, for Somoa was a disputed "sphere of influence," and each nation was jealous of what the others might achieve there. Better, as it happened, had they kept their warships at home; for hardly had they cast anchor in Sar moan waters ere there sprang up one of the most terrific hurricanes on record, with the result that six of them—three American and three German— were driven ashore at Apia, on tho island of Upola, and destroyed.