1938-04-28 — Page 11

THE CHINA MAIL, APRIL 28, 1938.

JAPAN'S NINE-MONTHS START Ahead Of Britain And U.S. In Naval Race

Japan Foresaw Present Position

The blue chips are on the table in history's greatest naval game, and Tokyo experts, both Japanese and foreign, claim Japan is holding most of the aces

at least, to-day.

They make two contentions:

1. That while England and the job of crossing 5,000 miles of water, United States were warning Japan with Hawaii as the one re-fuelling they would build ships over the point, and fighting an offensive 35,000-ton limit, Japan had already | campaign.

laid the keels for such super-ves sels, and now has a nine months' head start in the race.

2. That, because of her geogra- phical position, Japan does not need as many of these modern monsters as the other naval powers.

"UPPING THE ANTE”

Last February 5, the United, Sta- tes dispatched to Japan a note con- taining the following

statement,

Japan, meanwhile, would hope to do what she did against Rus sia, thirty years ago. The Rus- sian fleet came clear around the the world to meet the Japanese fleet at the Straights of Tsus- hima. The Japanese ships were in perfect trim, waiting prepared, having chosen the field of battle

---none

REVISION OF STATE POLICY DEMANDED IN JAPAN

Tokyo, To-day.

Several leading newspapers yesterday simultane

ously demanded a complete revision of the whole policy of State, to be concentrated first of all on ending of the conflict in China, and in the meantime, avoidance of discussion of any other questions that might waste valuable time. The "Hochi Shimbun" claims to have learned that the Japanese Government has realised the ne- cessity of a fundamental change of the tradi- tional foreign policy which more or less aims at meeting the wishes of all countries.

of which advantages ALLEGED NAVY

were possessed by the Russians. She would do the same thing with The American government

has the United States fleet. She would As the therefore decided that it will be wait in the South Pacific. necessary for it to exercise its right American skips came out, they of escalation (building bigger would be harassed by submarines ships) unless the Japanese govern-jand probably airplanes, trying, in "whittle the can satisfy the American boxing parlance, to government that it will not, prior big man down" to the little man's to Jan. 1, 1943, lay down, complete, size. or acquire any vessel which does not conform to the limits in ques-

ment..

without informing the American

$0."

A poker player would describe this as "upping the ante."

HONG KONG

tive limitation become clear.

JOYRIDER IN

BAD SMASH

"With the passive and compliant foreign policy," writes the paper,— "such as has been followed in the

one could not ar- last few years, rive at any result in view of the complete change in the whole world's position.

"The main praxis in the Japanese foreign policy must be put firstly on China and Manchukuo but after that as well on the relations with

A NAVAL STOKER NAMED Germany, Italy, Britain, América GEORGE HOGG, OF EMS and Soviet Russia, where the ex- PARTHIAN, IS ALLEGED TO isting Embassies must be maintain-

HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR A SERIOUS MOTOR

TO A JOYRIDE."

ap-.

with

led.

"On the other hand, Embassies

At this point, the reasons - why SMASH IN THE EARLY HOURS in France, Belgium, Turkey, Po- tion (of the London Naval Treaty) Japan wanted quantitative limita- OF THIS MORNING, AS THE land and Brazil should not longer government of its intention to dotion and America wanted qualita-DISASTROUS TERMINATION be maintained.

“In this regard-it is furthermore If the United States has enough Hogg is being charged at the important that the projected China vessels, she might attack from two Central Magistracy this morning Department should be reorganised directions. One fleet might Japan promptly replied, a week

and placed directly under the Ja- Trans- panese Foreign Office. later, "Unfortunately, the views of proach via Alaska and the Aleutian

Ocean the Japanese government are not Islands, while the other came due (2) driving without a licence.

west from Honolulu. Thus, the (b) driving a car without the shared by your government. The

permission of the owner. Japanese government is of the opi-advantages afforded Japan by being nion that the mere communication on the defensive, might be balanced

(c) malicious damage to the car. of information concerning the cons by sheer weight of numbers.

Should Japan fight England, The wrecked vehicle belonged to the same strategy with HongDr. Lee Ping-sum, and it had been kong and Singapore as the points left parked outside No. 156, Hen- of her original attack-probably nessy Road. would be employed. Japan would seize enemy territory, and then wait for the enemy to cross thousands of miles of water to try to recover it.

truction of vessels will... not con- tribute to any fair measure of dis- armament. and regrets that it is unable to comply with the desire of your government on this point." This started the race officially.

JAPAN'S LEAD

Actually, experts believe, it had already begun. While there is no

smaller

Hogg is alleged to have driven the car off towards the Central Dis

2 tram trict and collided with standard in Des Voeux Road Cen

BRITISH MEDICAL UNIT IN CHINA

London, To-day. "The position remains unalter- ed," said Mr. R. A. Butler, Under- the House of Commons yesterday Secretary for Foreign Affairs, in

when asked by Mr G Mathers (Labour) whether he had received the work of the 2 report on

China

A big ship can travel further tral outside the Supreme Court. official confirmation, naval obser-without refuelling than a

It is alleged that he abandoned vers are fairly certain than Japan ship. If Japan fights a defensive the vehicle and tried to escape, but foresaw the present situation war, her feet would never have was arrested by two Chinese con-English-speaking medical unit în and started, last summer, buil- to travel very far. For that rea-stables after a long chase..

Later. ding dreadnoughts bigger than son, naval experts claim, she does

He learned privately, however, 35,000 tons.. Hence, she has a not actually need the superships. The case was adjourned for 24 that the unit had established head- lead in what is, at best, a three- Neither, for that matter, does. Great hours for an estimate of the dam-quarters at Changtsua, and was year job.

Britain, with bases all over the age to the car, which is extensive working in close contact with the Japan and the United States world.

The damage to the tram standard Chinese Government Health Ad- clashed on a fundamental question

is put at $60,

ministration.-Reuter.

JUST GEOGRAPHY

of how to disarm some years ago. As a result of this dispute, the But both Japan, and Britain and, Japanese withdrew from treaties the United States as well, will restricting naval armament. Now, build bigger vessels, because only the sky is the limit.

a big battleship can withstand the America advocated "qualitative" battering of another battleship. limitation—that is, the quality of The Japanese are counting heavi

a warship, its size, armament and ly on submarines and airplanes, in general efficiency.

the next war. But they do not be Japan upheld "quantitative" lieve either a torpedo or a 2,000 limitation-in other words quan-pound bomb can actually sink tity, the total number of battle capitalship. What they would ex- ships (or total tonnage) that any pect these units to do would be to one nation could possess.

Each side was mixing practical- ity with idealism.

TSUSHILA STRATEGY

cripple the bigger boats.

Even so, they would not attempt to pit lighter craft against a 46,- [000-ton, or a 50,000-ton · dread- Japan's strategy in case of war nought, with its heavier guns, with either England or the United heavier armour, and longer range.. States is fairly well known. If So they will build some super she fights America, she will quickly dreadnoughts but not as many as seize the Philippines and Guam, England or America will build. and then sit and wait. The Amer- They plan to let geography take ican navy will have the colossal care of the rest.

Here's Luck!

DRINK

EWO

BEER