Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-02-03
Admiral kato Asked What Navy
Plans Are in Case of Attack
BY American Fleet
SIXTEEN GREAT SHIPS
PLAN FOR FIRST LINE
Dreadnought Remains Basic
Unit of Great NavieS, Is
Opinion of Committee
-IRr Associated Pressl

marines and two special service ships
constitute the program o. nayai build
ing for Japan for 1916. Admiral Kato,
minister for marine, explained the ma.
val expansion project before the bud.
get committee of the diet recently in
response to an Interpolation.
The battleship will be about the
same type as the Fuse and Yama.
shire, which was recently launched,
and will carry twelve 14-inch guns
and sixteen 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 sub
marines will have displacement OF
seven hundred tons each, speed of
IS 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 offense
as demonstrated in the present war,
but he believed that these facts hard.
ly affected the position of the battle
ship as an engine of war. IL the
kaiser's warships dared not venture
from their own sheltered waters ii
was because. Of the powerful British
squadrons awaiting them outside. The
absence OF any great naval engage
ment in Europe must be ascribed TO
the very great difference between the
British and German navies.
AS for submarines, however, active
" they might work, their activities
were confined within certain limits
and they could hardly be expected
to place the great battleshfps hors de
combat The minister said that equip
ment was now being provided on
ships against air attacks. He was
confident that the dreadnought re-
NAMED the basic unit OF great ma
vies.
Reveals First Line Plans.
The admiral further said that in
deciding the ornaments for new bat
tleships the naval authorities PREFER
ed the twelve 14-inch guns principle
to the eight 15-inch of the British and
German nayies because they deemed
the former more advantageous than
the latter from the viewpoint of ma
val tactics. Furthermore, the authori-
ties 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 Japan's even
tual program includes the establish
ment of q first line fleet of eight bat
tleships and eight great battle cruis-
ers.
Admiral Kato was asked particular
" by X. 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
In case OF WARRIOR instance, in case
Of war with the United States. He
asked what plan the navy had in case
the United States attacked Japan with
her naval strength twice that of the
Japanese navy.
To this Admiral Kato replied that
figures do not always decide the issue
OF 9 battle. He is quoted as having
added: IF the American navy in
vades Japan. we have only to encount-
er II with the best tactics and art of
warfare, to the last vessel and last
man, meanwhile relying on the dig
nifty OF the August emperor and the
strong support Of sixty millions ma
ton. This is the decision OF our navy
in such an eventually"
Changes In Personnel.
Simultaneous with the opening of
the diet has come sweeping change
in the personnel OF the navy. Espe-
cially noteworthy is the appointment
Of Yice-admiral Yashiro, ex-minister
Of the navy, to be commander-in-chiet
Of the second squadron; Vice-admiral
Nava as commandments OF Nal
zuru naval station; Vice-admiral MI.
rakami as commander-in- OF the
third squadron; Vice-admiral Yamaya,
who commanded the Japanese squad.
ron to the southern isles during the
war operations last year, as vice-chiei
OF the naval board of command, and
the transfer of vice7admiral Takarabe
from commandership of the third
squadron TO the command of the see.
ondary naval station at Port Arthur.
Since resigning as minister of ma
rine, Vice-admiral Yashiro, who won
the applause of the public as leader
OF the navy cleansing in connection
with the naval scandal of last year,
has been leading secluded life In
q suburb Of Kioto deyoting himself
TO the study of Buddhistic philosophy.
His appointment to, the new post to-
gether with his restoration to active
service has attracted much approval.
The changes are generally regarded
sn Toxic as indicating commence
ment of waning Of the influence OF
men of Satsuma extraction. The great
leaders IN the navy have always come
from Satsuma province, hence the.
navy power had come to be known as
Satsuma
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