1940-12-04 — Page 29

THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 4, 1940.

GIRL WAS FALSELY HELD, GETS £80

JAPAN WEIGHS QUESTION: DARE IT CHALLENGE U.S.?

THE ANNOUNCEMENT of Japan's agreement with the Axis powers comes at a time when Japan A fifteen-year-old do- realises that the United States is in process of build- mestic servant who claim- ing up a mighty military machine afloat and ashore, ed £50 damages for false with the further possibility that Singapore will be imprisonment from four made available to the United States fleet, police officers had her claim increased to £80 by Judge A. Caporn when he gave judgment for her at Dudley County Court.

He described tha methods adopted by the police officers in Investigating the disappearance of a handbag as "highly im. *proper, and dangerous to the

course, of justice.”

The fact that the girl was an infant gave him power to increase her modest claim.

of

Bag Never Lost Vera Turier, of Robert Street, Lower Gornal, sued Police-Inspec- tor Felton, who is in charge the Sedgley (Staffordshire) Po- lice Section; Police-Constables Williams and Plant, and Police War Reserve Constable Bicker:11.

She complained that after а woman had missed a bag

con- taining £22 she was taken out, of bed at her employer's house at midnight, taken to the police station and severely questioned.

"Twice next day she was again taken to the station and questioned, but a subsequent search. revealed that the hand-¦ bag had never been lost,

The Judge held that the girl was taken to the station against her will, and that normal police investigation would have reveal ed that there was no ground for the conclusion that the bag had been lost.

Japan, while not definitely committing itself, has hinted that the appearance of United States ships at Singapore will be considered an act of war, Since therefore it has generally been the policy of Japan to strike first and declare war afterward, it would appear that now would be a psychological time for Japan to wage war, if it could, on the Unit- ed States.

But is Japan in any position to For its part, the United States commence hostilities with Ameri- is faced with making a decision ca at the present time? There as to the attitude it will take in are good reasons for supposing it response to the newly announced is not.

pact.

be

The Japanese Navy has never Immediate action can be taken. been under are by a first-class or further developments can navy, and the successes attained jawaited.

can

position has engendered a hazain controls in the past against mediocre op- Immediate action, while Brit-

the Atlantic, condition of self-suff-take the form of secretly dispat- ching a heavy naval force to

+ardous ciency.

would

This procedure would definitely unmask Japan. All too often Jap-

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OF INDIA, AUSTRALIATM

AND CHINA. Incorporated by Royal Charter, 1853.

Present Navy Untried Singapore, and upon its arrival. impose a total embargo on Japan. Japan's navy has not been ac- The British Commonwealth tively engaged in the China affair; be expected

can this course of action would be the to impose similar possibility that some unexpected only light craft and some obsolete embargoes, and some South Ame- turn might deprive Great Britain cruisers have been mentioned as 'iican countries may also take the of control of the Atlantic. having seen service. Some observ-some action.

Singapore of itself is helpless to ers have voiced the opinion that The

presence of the United | stem Japanese aggression. It navy hotheads

welcome States force at Singapore would merely affords base facilities for the opportunity of demonstrating presumably deter the fancied prowess of their Navy, seizing the Netherlands Indies ofl necessary pressure.

Japan from men-of-war that can apply the Britain does and might precipitate an incident, flelds. Or if Japan were reckless not now have ships available 10 However, wise counsel should enough to consider its presence a put a heavy naval force in Asia prevail, because Japan hopes to casus belli, the force would be tic waters. If a show of power is Fain three advantages before adequately based for carrying out to be made, the United S.ates throwing down the gauntlet to the offensive operations.. United States; possession or domi-

Navy must supply the means. nation of the oil fields in the Netherlands Indies, denial of Sin-an has made faces, and when, no THE CHARTERED BANK gapore to the United States Fleet, opposition was encountered, the and Axis successes that will force procedure has been to inch along the United States to maintain a to another objective and make! considerable naval force in

more faces. With a sufficiently strong United States naval force properly based in the Far East, Japan would have to tight or back down.

And if back down were the an- swer, it

would be a long step toward securing peace in at least one part of the world. With a people whose' rulers advocate the ruthless use of force,. the only argument they recognise is force. If the decision is to await fur ther developments, there is the danger that Japan would definite- ly state that the dispatch of Unit-Alor Star ed States ships to Singapore would Amritsar Hurbiu .be considered an act of war, in Batavia which event Oriental regard for Bom.dey loss of face would preclude a re- Calcurts traction.

Atlantic.

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Would Put Onus

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SAVINGS ACCOUNTS. also opened in necessitate certain Austrauan. Local Currency and Sterling with in poris being visited.

terest allowed at rates obtamable on The prmcipat disadvantage of application.

might

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B. A. CAMIDGE, .

Manager.

THE MERCANTILE BANK OF INDIA, LTD.

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