Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-11-22
Budget Provides More Than
$150,000,000 for the Eavy.
FOREIGN TRADE IS BOOMING
Country shrewdIy Casting an Eye on
Future Possibilities After War 10
Over and Expects Great
Benefit.
(From the Committee on Public Informa
ton. Washington, d. c.
By PATRICK GALLAGHER.

spent ON new ships, over 81 .OOOOOt
in improvements modifying the pre-
viOus program, and more than $1,000,
600 in meeting increased cost Of ma
terials.
1.-THE new warships," says Yeikichl
Hidaka, a member of the diet. twill
include two battle cruisers and mum
Der of light cruisers, destrOyers, sub.
marines, and special-service ships
These are to be added to the eight
battleships and four battle cruisers
previously authorized. BY tie year
1923, when the new plan is carried
out, Japan will possess IA big battle
ships. But since by that time one bat
tleship and two cruisers will be be
yond the allowable age limit, that
would leave only IL units in the first
line of battle. This lack will be rem
edied by the Introduction of further
naval program, in 1921, by which two
other first line battleships will be
constructed and the principle Of the
eight-eight squadron be maintained.
1t is clear from study Of the. gov
ernment's naval plans that the idea
underlying the program is not to build
big ships so much as to provide the
navy with an ample supply Of ships
for quick action. according to the les
sons afforded In the present war.
Training Experta e.
"But, while 1t Is the plan Of the
authorities to devote chief attention to
the construction of minor craft for at
tack and surprise. the program in re-
gard to the eight-eight principle will
not be neglected but will be hurried
forward as fast as supply of material
will permit. One Of the most impor-
tant duties demanding the attention of
japan is the training Of experts In
technical ability for the construction
of warships, both great and small.
For this reason expert workers have
been seat abroad to assist In the vast
construction work now going on In the
allied countries"
The eight-eight principle Is the pro-
gram of eight large battleships and
eight battle cruisers to each squadron
Of the line. Mr.. Hidaka explains that
1t is generally understood that the
japanese government. has In mind, and
probably in action, "a plan much
larger than that. but expediency re-
quires reticence as to its nature"
The army items in the budget in
clude about $4,000, 900 for completion
Of equipment, spread over six years
from 1918. An extra amount Of about
So. 500. 900 was tackled on for equip
ment already contracted for and being
supplied. These figures may seem
very small when compared with our
own and European military appropria-
tons; but there are two yen to every
American dollar, and the japanese
war Office knows how to make a yen
60 very long way. The actual re-
organization Of the army is proceeding
at q lively gait. Special attention Is
being paid to aviation.
fsats In Japanese shlpbuiIdlns.
From the throne to the laborer's hut
one word is on the lips Of every Japa-
nese-"ships." Japan is building
ships. and more ships.
In 1853 and 1854, japan did not pos
cess q single seagoing ship. She had
scrapped a great mercantile marine
and outlawed a huge Asiatic trade In
the early part of the seventeenth GEN.
tury when she sealed up her shores
against contact with western trouble
makers. For some time after the Per-
~ and Townsend Harris treaties, ia
pan had her hands full Of domestic
problems. She had no time, spare Ia
Dor. nor money to devote to the build
ing or purchase Of ships. She was con-
tent to get along as best she could. and
in the wars Of 1894 and 1904. she real
lied her handicap as an insular nation
with not enough ships.
Archibald Hurd and others paid
tribute to the speed with which she
set about correcting the deficiency.
The Risen Sun became a great factor,
rot merely in the Pacific trade. but in
trade. T. Funada,
an expert on ships. commenting upon
the development Of great new dock
yards north and south Of Sasaka and
Kobe and the establishment Of the
powerful Asano Shipbuilding COM
pany on the Pacific side of Nippon,
lays. 'these mark a new stage In the
progress Of shipbuilding in Japan.
pointing to the day when Japan will
BE- the second shipbuilding country in
The world"
Last year more than $50 ships were
launched. representing a tonnage Of
10000. In 1914 the total tonnage was
hut 10000; in 1915, 100000. It Is
certain that the 1918 figures will show
4 phenomenal rise. Already 121 docks
are working night and day, each dock
with slips. etc., for vessels Of over
LOCO tons. The latest estimate of
launching capacity placed the total
above 100000; but 1t is an open Sc
cret that the actual output will be far
above this, owing to the recent recip-
rocal arrangements made with our
government. The $4,000 tons Of ship
ring that Japan is supplying to us for
war needs includes the following
steamers: The Ceylon Maru (6,44O
tons). Tottori Maru (9,66O tons). Kir-
In Maru $500 'tons), Tosa Maru IT,
600 tons), Penang Maru ~ 20O tome,