23. JAPAN IN THE WORLD WAR. When in 1859 Japan emerged from her long iso lation into international interests and affairs and became a trading nation, she made it her policy to keep open the paths of communication with Europe. It was with this idea that, immediately after the war in 1905, she sought peace and co operation with Russia. One visible demonstra tion of this desire is seen in the erection, by the two nations, of a handsome memorial at Port Arthur, in honor of the victims of the siege, both Muscovite and Japanese.. Further more, several treaties, amounting almost to an alliance, offensive and defensive, were made be tween 1905 and 1914. Envoys of either country, visiting the capital of the other, were received with marked demonstrations of joy. Strenuous efforts were made in Japan to bend all energies to developing the resources of the empire, dur ing the era of peace which was now expected to endure for a generation, at least. The invasion,' in 1907, of Shantung province and the erection of a German colony and naval station with for tress, garrison and railway penetration into the interior of China, on which $100,000,000 have been spent, seemed to menace these plans. Yet few suspected at that time that this occupation would so soon breed complications. Like a sudden growl of thunder, while the sky was blue, portending a storm, came the news, in July 1914, of impending hostilities in Europe. As soon as war was declared by Germany against Great Britain, the ambassadors of the Entente Allied belligerents, then in Tokio, met to confer concerning the part, and the sphere, of Japan's operations in the war. In compliance with the terms of Article II of the Anglo-Japa nese Alliance renewed in July 1911, Japan was ready. By exchange of notes between Tokio and London, it was agreed that Japan should take charge of naval matters in the eastern seas and make conquest of the German colonies in the Far East and the Pacific Ocean — the ques tion of ultimate possession being left to the con gress of nations after the war. According to Article XIII of the Constitution of 1889, ((the emperor declares war, makes peace and con cludes treaties,D on 23 August Japan declared war against Germany. It was not expected that she would send an army to Europe, but she must eliminate Germany from eastern Asia and the Pacific islands. Virtually the whole guard ianship of the area east of the Atlantic Ocean was put under her care, so that every available vessel owned by the Entente Allies, armed or unarmed, might be released for activities in western waters. The Red Cross Society of Japan acted with promptness, and dispatched three relief corps of trained men and women, with remedies and surgical equipment; the staff for England being 20, for France, 29, and for Russia, 13, these numbers being increased later.
The outbreak of the European War, in which Japan and Russia were now Allies, was the signal for intense activities, carried on night and day, in the arsenals and factories of Osaka and other cities. Artillery and munitions, espe cially shrapnel shells, over a million rifles, boots, shoes, clothing and most of the requisites of an army in the field were made during the war and dispatched, by way of Vladivostok, to the front. It was these supplies that enabled the Russians to win signal advantages over the Ger mans, just when the Allies were hard pressed at Verdun and along the western front.
The detailed program of co-operation be tween Japan and the Entente Allies looked to the reduction of the strong German fortress at Tsingtau in China, the possession and occupa tion of all German colonies in the Pacific, the clearing of the seas of German commerce-raid ers, the convoying of French transports from China (with laborers) and Annam (with sol diers), and the British and colonial ships, with troops from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, and the sending of a fleet of destroyers to the Mediterranean. The successful execution of this plan resulted in the uninterrupted dis patch of reinforcements to the western front, the freedom of commerce, assistance in putting down a mutiny at Singapore, and the release of nearly the whole of the Siberian army to aid the Russians in Europe on the western front. The dispatch of three divisions. with the block
ading fleet (20,000 men with 162 guns) under General Kamio, to Tsingtau, compelled the sur render of that fortress on 7 Nov. 1914, and the occupation of the German area in China, with a garrisoning force, was made under General Otani. One by one the German colonies in the Pacific were taken over by Japan and the seas cleared of raiders. The torpedoing of a Japa nese destroyer in the Mediterranean and the landing of 80 corpses at Yokosha, for crema tion, brought home the realities of war on the waters. The casualties suffered by the Japa nese,. down to 1 September 1915 totaled 3,000. One effect of the war, following rapidly, was the creation of a vast system of shipbuilding, which brought so great and sudden influx of wealth to Japan as to disturb seriously the social equilibrium and raise up a class of millionaires, who seemed to have the worst traits of the vul gar new rich. With the distribution of this world's goods so uneven and the pernicious activities of speculators in rice, food continuing, inspite of warning and a large im portation of foreign ce, nation-wide food riots occurred in August 1918, on the very eve of the departure of the army of intervention. The upset of old conditions in Russia, first by the revolution and then by the Bolsheviki, caused the accumulation at Vladivostok, over acres of area, of stores imported from Japan which it would require months to remove. To protect these stores from loot and deterioration the Japanese government ordered a small guard of marines to be landed. When, amid the turbu lence in Siberia, several Japanese lost their lives the popular wrath at home flamed out. Hitherto it was the government rather than the people of Japan that was actively interested in the ewhite man's war? It was difficult for the average Japanese to see why the nations that had per sistently refused admission of his countrymen to either their home lands or their colonies, should ask help from Japan. Why must Japa nese make sacrifices to support a war in remote regions when taxes were already so onerous and the standard of life was kept low by mili tary and naval burdens just when new wants were felt and fresh ambitions were awakening? With less than a score of submarines, very few aeroplanes and much of her armament made obsolete by the new applications of science, Japan could not, even if finances permitted and she was especially invited, send a large force to the western or other fronts, and Russia never called for aid in war. When, however, under the Bolsheviki regime, virtual anarchy in Si beria and the release of 300,000 German prison ers presented a menace that was nigh at hand, as well as of world import, both people and government in Japan were one in zealous read iness for co-operation and intervention by the Allies in Siberia. After assurances given that Japan sought no territorial advantage, desired to keep friendship with the Russian people, and would abide by the ultimate decision of the Allies, three divisions were at once dispatched by way of Vladivostok, Korea and Manchuria under General K. Otani. Junction was promptly made with the Czecko-Sovaks, the Americans and other allied contingents. The United States Ambassador, Roland S. Morris, followed and held conferences with the heads of the pro visional governments arrayed against the Bol sheviki. The new cabinet in Tokio, under Kei Hara, laying stress on friendship with Russia, disclaimed any idea of • intervening in the domestic situation. Otani landed 19 August, fought a battle on 24 August, and by 5 Sept. 1918 had moved his army 420 miles and cap tured Khabaravosk. By 12 September the allied forces entered Blagiovestchensk, capital of the Amur province. Chief of Staff Uyehara of Tokio, having telegraphed thanks and compli ments to the American Colonel Morrow, the latter praised General Otani, declaring that "the union of the Japanese and American armies will still more closely unite the friendly nations.° By 22 September the Japanese cavalry, having overcome the enemies' resistance, took pos session of Rufulor and other points 300 miles farther. Consult Jones, The Fall of Tsing tau) (1915) ; Coleman, 'Japan or (1918) ; Ozak, 'The Voice of Japanese Democ racy) (1918).