The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-11-30
JAPAN MAPS OUT
BIG WAR PROGRAM
Budget Provides More Than
$150,0OO,0oo for the Navy. !
FOREIGN TRADE IS BOOMING
Country Shrewdly Casting an Eye on
Future Possibilities After War Is
Over and Expects Great
Benefit.
From the Committee on Public Informa-
ton, Washington, d. CO
Nv PATRICK GALLAGHER.

by TAt ntGN 2AGEfNGE1@e
The last Japanese budget carried,
among other naval items, more than
$150,000,000 for construction. OF this
amount about $125,000,000 is being
spent on new ships, over $21, 100000
in Improvements modifying the pre-
yious program, and more than $4,000
600 in meeting increased cost of ma
terials.
1.-THE new warships," says Yeikichi
Hidaka, q member Of the diet. will
include two battle cruisers and num-
Der Of light cruisers, destroyers, sub
marines, and specinl-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 II units in the first
line Of battle. This lack will be rem
edied by the introduction of a 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 he present war.
Training Experts.
"But, while it 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 it's nature"
The army items in the budget in
clude about $2S,O0O,0O0 for completion
of equipment, spread over six years
from 1918. An extra amount Of about
$6,500,000 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 a, very long way. The actual re-
organization of the army is proceeding
at a lively gait. Special attention Is
being paid to aviation.
Feats In Japanese shipbuiIding.
From the throne to the laborer's hut
one word is on the lips of every Japa-