The Elbert County tribune., 1918-11-15

From the Committee on Public Informa-
ton. Washington, ID. CO.
BY PATRICK GALLAGHER.
The last Japanese budget carried.
among other naval Items, more than
$150Oo0000 for construction. OF this
amount about S125, 100000 is being
spent on new ships, over S21 ,00O,O0O
In improvements modifying the pre-
vious program. and more than $4,000
600 In meeting increased cost of ma
terials.
"The new warships,r says Yelkichi
Hidaka, n member of the diet, "wilf
include two battle cruisers and num-
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 the 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 n 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
ernments naval plans that the idea
underlying the program Is not to build
big ships so much us to provide the
navy with an ample supply of ships
for quick action. according to the les
sons afforded In the present war.
Training Experts.
"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 sent 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 S2S,OOO.OOO for completion
OF equipment, spread over six years
from 1913. An extra amount of about
$6,500O0O 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-
tions; but there are two yen to every
American dollar. and the japanese
war office knows how to make yen
go very long way. The actual re-
organization of the army is proceeding
at lively gait. Special attention is
being paid to aviation.
Feats in Japanese shipbuildins.
From the throne to the laborer's hut
one word is on the lips of every Japn-
nese-"ships." japan. is building
ships. and more ships.
In 1858 and 1854. Japan did not pos
cess a single seagoing ship. She had
scrapped a great mercantile marine
and outlawed huge Asiatic trade In
the early part of the seventeenth CEN
tury when she sealed up her shores
against contact with western trouble
For some time after the Per-
ry and Townsend Harris treaties, Jn-
pan had her hands full of domestic
problems. She had no time, spare la
Dor, nor money to devote to the build
ing or purchase of ships. She was con-
tent TO get along us best she could. and
In the wars of 1894 and 1904, she real
lied her handicap as an ipsular 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 great factor,
rot merely in the Pacific trade, but in.
roundthe-world trade. II. Funnda,
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,
Gays. "these mark new stage in the
progress of ship5uildlng in Japan,
pointing to the day when Japan will
be the second shipbuildlng country in
The world"