The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-01-28
NAVAL PROGRAM FOR
JAPAN FOR COMING
YEAR A STRONG ONE
ONE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, TWO
CRUISERS, ONE DESTROYER,
THREE SUBMARINES AND TWO
SPECIAL SHIPS ARE PLANNED.
81 AssocIArED PRrss.

Toxic, Jan. 27.-One superdread-
nought, two cruisers, one destroyer,
three submarines and two special SER
vice ships constitute the program of
naval building for Japan for the COM
ing year. Admiral Kato, minister
for marine, explained the naval ex-
oansion project before the budget
committee of the Diet yesterday in
response to an Interpolation. The
battleships will be about the same
type as the Fuse and Yamashiro,
which was recently launched, and will
carry twelve 14-inch guns and six
teen 6-inch guns. The two cruisers
will have a speed of % knots. They
will probably be in the nature of light
scout ships. Their armament has not
yet been decided. The submarines
will have a displacement of seven
hundred tons each, a speed of 18
knots on the surface and 10 knots in
the water and will carry one gun.
Admiral Kato expressed the opin-
ion that the war in Europe would not
necessitate any considerable altera-
ton in the naval armament of the
great powers. He fully recognized,
he said, the effectiveness of aircraft
and submarines as weapons of of
fence as demonstrated in the present
war but he believed that these facts
hardly affected the position of the
battleship as an engine of war. If
the Kaiser's warships dared not ven
ture from their own sheltered waters
it was because of the powerful Brit
ish squadrons awaiting them outside.
The absence of any great naval en-
gagement in Europe must be ascribed
to the very great difference between
the British and German navies. AS
for submarines, however, actively
they might work their activities were
confined within certain limits and they
could hardly be expected to place the
great battleships hors de combat. The
minister said that equipment was now
being provided on ships against air
attacks. He was confident that the
dreadnought remained the basic unit
of great navies.
Prefer 14-Inch Guns.
The admiral further said that in de-
Gliding the ornaments for new bat
tleships the naval authorities pre-
ferred the twelve 14-inch guns prin-
ciple to the eight 15-inch of the Brit
ish and German navies because they
deemed the former more advantage
Gus than the latter from the view
point of naval tactics. Furthermore
the authorities believed that there
would occur no change in the shape
and size of warships and naval guns
in the near future. The minister's
remarks brought out the fact that Ja-
pans eventual program includes the
establishment of a first line fleet of
eight battleships and eight great
battle cruisers.
Admiral Kato was asked particul-
arly by <. Kobayashi, member of
the committee, as to the comparative
strength Of the Japanese navy and
those of Great Britain, Germany and
the United States. The member also
wanted to know whether the naval
authorities were confident of victory
n case of warrior instance, in case
of war with the United States. He
asked what plan she navy had in
case the United States attacked ia
pan with her naval strength twice
that of the Japanese navy. To this
Admiral Kato replied that figures do
not always decide the issue of bat
tie. He is quoted as having added:
eff the American navy invades Japan
we have only to encounter it with the
best tactics and art of warfare, to
the last vessel and last man, mean
while relying on the dignity of the
august Emperor and the strong sup
port of a sixty millions nation. This