Seattle’s Japanese Neighbors Answer the Call of War

The war news from Korea is warming the blood of the Chinese and Japanese residents of the city to the fighting point, and every scrap of information from across the ocean is read with greedy interest. The Japanese are not satisfied with giving their country moral support, but will hold a meeting to take measures for sending supplies to aid their fellow countrymen in the struggle. Some of them are so aroused that they have already started home to volunteer their services and die for their country if it should will it. There are several hundred of each nationality in the city, and the hatred which the two nations harbor for each other is just as intense here as in their respective countries. The Chinese rely on the untold millions of their great empire to ultimately wear out Japan, but the Japanese trust to the progressive spirit and modern implements of warfare, in the use of which their countrymen are skilled, to overcome superior numbers, and expect to see the conquest of India by a handful of Englishmen paralleled in China by Japan.

For the purpose of adopting a definite plan of action, and at the same time obtaining the consensus of opinion, Imagira Kudo, secretary of the Japanese Y.M.C.A., acting in conjunction with C. Sasaki and Jinti Yamagiche, substantial residents of this city, issued the following bulletin, written in Japanese:

'Seattle, July 31, 1894.

'To the Patriotic Brethren: Every report and dispatch from our country printed in the daily newspapers indicates to us that war has been declared by Japan upon China and a test of the relative strength of the two countries will be made. The causes which have led up to this war need no comment. It has been brewing for a long time—many years—and we are all familiar with the time-worn dispute between Japan and China.

'Believing that the majority of the Japanese all over the world, no matter where their present residence may be, stand willing to aid our native land in its present bitter struggle, aid it with our money and if need be our lives, this call is made for all the Japanese residents of Seattle to meet tomorrow evening at 9 o'clock at the Y.M.C.A. hall on Jefferson Street. This is the opportunity of our lives to aid our native land. If we cannot go back and fight, then we can at least help those who can fight and will fight. We all regret the thousands of miles which separate us from our beloved country, for at this distance we cannot hope to accomplish much, but what little we do let us do well. Every patriotic Japanese in Seattle is requested to meet at the time and place designated and a plan of action will then be decided upon.

'By order of the Committee.'

Speaking of the meeting, C. Sasaki said last evening:

'Of course, at this distance we can't hope to do a great deal, but we all feel the position in which Japan is placed. She is fighting for civilization, for reform, for the good of Korea and the Japanese people there. For many years the feeling between Japan and China has been very bitter, and the two countries were on the verge of war several years ago, but Gen. Grant, who was then making his famous tour around the world, acted as a mediator, and for the time being war was averted. The Japanese must fight, however. It has been a good many hundred years since they have had a fight, and unless their wrath is directed upon China a civil war would probably be the result. For several years Japan has been preparing for war. They have one of the finest navies in the world, and the best officered and best drilled soldiers—soldiers that are obedient and not afraid to die. Now there is about $30,000,000 in the Japanese treasury, and it would be an easy matter to raise $50,000,000, and this is the proper time to fight. China has been oppressive for years, but never so much so as now.'

Mr. Sasaki thinks that sending money home would have little effect, and he is in favor of sending flour in shipments of 1,000 barrels. He believes this could be done, and, the example once set, the Japanese all over America would follow suit. He thinks that if the Japanese could assure the home government that America would send 10,000 barrels of flour a month it would be very acceptable. This suggestion will be made at the meeting tonight.

At least five Japanese laborers will leave Seattle for Japan and will volunteer their services to fight the Chinese. One of these men said last evening:

'Yes, I'm going back to Japan to be a soldier. I love my country, and if ever Japan needed good soldiers, this is the time. I've got only one life to live, and since I've got to die some time I might just as well die with my people, fighting for victory. Five or six of us boys will go back. Thirty Jap boys left San Francisco a few days ago at their own expense to go home and die for their country.'

Mr. Yamagiche believes that the war between Japan and China will be a long one. Said he:

'Japan has 1,000,000 soldiers ready for service, and they are all brave men and are well disciplined. Of course, China has many more, but that should mean nothing. Didn't England with a few thousand soldiers win India with its 300,000,000 people? Those Malays, Afghans and Hindoos, all big six-foot and seven-foot fellows, were strong enough to grab an Englishman in each hand and batter their heads together, but did that aid them any? In this war history will repeat itself. The Japs will win.'

The Chinese residents here are not at all alarmed over the situation in Korea. They think that China can wipe Japan off the face of the earth. Martin Ten Sme, the Chinese merchant, said last evening that the war would last about eight months, at the end of which time there would not be a greasy spot left of Japan.

'Just think of a little bit of an island like that whipping all China,' said he, laughing and holding up his hand in a circle with his thumb and forefinger illustrating the size of Japan. 'They say the California Japanese will send $50,000 to Japan to help the war. Why, that makes me laugh!' and he chuckled to himself. 'Fifty thousand dollars would only make one shoot!' Continuing, he said: 'China isn't ready to fight yet, but when they do get ready they will make things hum. What do you think about the Japs sinking a transport and killing all aboard? That boat was not equipped to fight. It was simply murder, and nothing less. Japan has only got 45,000,000 people; she could kill that many Chinamen and there'd be enough of us left to swallow Japan. Japan can easily raise 1,000,000 fighting men, and she can put 500,000 warships, costing each $1,000,000, afloat, and have enough money left to conduct an indefinite war. But China isn't ready yet. Wait till she gets through importing arms from America and then you'll hear something drop across Korea.'