A VISITOR FROM JAPAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12544, 11 April 1904, Page 6

A VISITOR FROM JAPAN.

VIEWS ON THE WAR.

SOME JAPANESE CHARACTERISTICS. The Rev. Father E. A. Kelly, of St. Cecilia, Chicago, is making a trip round the world, and is at present the guest of Dr. Leniban, Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland. The Rev. Father is a typical American, and holds several public positions in the States. About the middle of February, so he informed a representative of the.Herald in the course of an interview, be arrived at Yokohama, in the steamer America Maru, trading between San Francisco and Japan, and remained in the interesting island of Japan for close upon four weeks. At the time of his arrival, hostilities had been commenced between Japan and Russia, and fearing that the boat would be attacked the captain took the precaution of going 400 miles out of his road, in addition to sailing for two nights without lights. On arriving, orders were received from headquarters for all passengers to quit the boat and this order was duly carried out at eight a.m. At four o'clock in the afternoon the whole of the cargo had been discharged, and the steamer had been taken to the dockyards, where she. was converted into a protected cruiser right off.' " And in order to give you an indication of the secrecy of all movements," said the visitor, " 1 may here point out that the captain and chief engineer, and others, who of course were British, -were not allowed to accompany the boat to the dockyards, and were ordered to remain at Yokohama. No foreigner at all was allowed near the yards."

EARLY STAGES OF THE WAR. In reply to questions by the pressman, Father Kelly stated that the country from one end to the other was fermenting with excitement. He saw the soldiers gathering at different points of rendezvous, and preparing to go to the front. There is one long railroad, the property of the Japanese Government, and this was placed entirely at the. disposal of the army authorities for tho transportation of tho troops, the ordinary train schedule being abandoned while the transportation was going on. Nobody, however, could get any information. At Tokio he met some 25 correspondents for British, American, German, and French journals, oil waiting to get permission to go to the front. They were put off from one day to the other, on one pretext or another and when lie finally left they were still detained in Tokio. Of course the smallest messages, giving only meagre details of encounters, were read with avidity by the people, who were greatly worked up. However, all messages were being carefully scrutinised by the War Office. As an instance of how the troops were cared for while on their journey to the front, Father Kelly pointed out that temporary sheds, large and commodious, were erected alongside the railroad foi the men to eat their food in. and every mealtime this is what would happen. The train would be pulled up, and a temporary shed (not of a substantial character) erected. The enthuiasm of the people was evidenced by the fact that all along the railroad there Would be crowds of adults and children lustily cheering the soldiers as they passed by packed in the trains.

ULTIMATE VICTORY FOR RUSSIA. " What is the prevailing opinion as to the ultimate result of the war?" queried the reporter. Well, the majority of people who Laval visited the country and whom 1 have met are of the opinion that while Japan has succeeded admirably at the out-set on sea, in the end the Russians will win. Most- of the people hold that opinion. If the war lasts any length of time Japan has very little chance, because Russia, will lie able to get the services of the men under her jurisdiction, end send hordes down, to the scene of battle. Whilst Japan may give a good account of herself, she will be so outnumbered that she will lose all she has gained, and eventually will be completely conquered. I don't know why it is, but that is the general view taken.'' THE YELLOW RACE QUESTION.

I . " I think victory for Japan would be awkward for Europe," stated the rev. gentleman. "The Chinese are. leaning very much towards Japan, and those who knowmost about the nations consider that if Japan is victorious in this war it will be scarcely a generation before the Chinese are thoroughly equipped and well drilled, and with her immense horde of people, about. 400,000,000, the yellow race will become a menace to Europe; at least she will so soon as she acquires any real knowledge of her strength." AMERICA'S POSITION. " What about America's view of the position?" " Whatever nation wins. I don't think America will be affected. America, is more interested in the integrity of China, than in the result of the Avar, and so far as her sympathies are concerned, I think they are merely the sympathies expressed by the few who admire the Japs because of the progress the nation has made in the last few years, because* she is tlto smaller nation, and because more is known of the nation lhau is known of Russia. From my own point of view the Americans should not turget the gratitude due to Russia, who has in America's darkest times, no matter what were her motives, shown that she was a friend of our nation,"' JAPAN'S COMMERCE IX JEOPARDY. "Are Japan's commercial affairs likely to be in jeopardy?" "The war is certainly injuring the commerce of Japan, and very much so. The general opinion so far as I could find it out was that, unless the war is of short duration and decisive, it will be ruinous to .Japan from a. commercial standpoint. BRITAIN PREPARED. " One thing 1 noticed, however," incidentally remarked Father Kelly, " was that Britain's navy in all parts has its war paint on, anil is reach- for action. j, This I sawin Hongkong and the other places, and Britain has a fine fleet in the East." JAPANESE GETTING SAUCY. Referring to the life of the Japanese, Father Kelly remarked: "So far as my observations go 1 have concluded that the Japanese are getting very independent and very saucy, and they are showing their hatred I'm the white man. While in Tokio I saw several Japs pull two or three, people out of rickshaws, and kind of maltreat them tor a while, the police having to rescue them. The innate hatred the yellow race has for the white race is very apparent. But, of course, they are now in their glory, and have been looked down upon, by the white people. They are, however, a- quiet people in a way, but not so when they get together in a mob, when they arc very demonstrative and noisy in going through the streets. They present a smiling face, but that does not mean very much. It is a national characteristic, and by this pleasant exterior appearance they hide the feeling? of rage boiling within. RELIGION IN JAPAN. "Most of the people I have met who have visited Japan and who have bad an opportunity of studying the character of 'the Inhabitants, agree that the country has not a very high standard of commercial honesty, and so fur as morality is concerned the standard is very low. As far as religion goes the majority of the educated Japanese do not believe in. the practice of any religion, and they are absolute atheists. Here and there a few Christians are to be found, but the percentage is small. The want of religion is shown by the large number of suicides, which has increased enormously, and is still on the increase."