The New York herald., 1921-07-30
JAPAN MOVES TOCUT
navy EXPENDITURES
Will Scrap 4 Battleships, 5
Cruisers and Several
DestrOyers.
BUDGET rs CURTAILED
Period Of ConscriptiOn Will
Be Reduced From Four
to Three Years.
RETAINS 49, POLICY
Admiral Kato, Minister of
Navy, Supports Measure
for Economy.

Special Coble to The NEW YORK HERALD.
Copyright, 1927, by THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau
London, July 90.
According to what is believed to be
reliable news that has reached here
from Toxic Japan is already taking
measures to curtail her naval expendi-
lures. She is careful, however. to ex-
plain that this curtailment is with
out prejudice to the fulflment of her
'eight-eight' programme"
Following a conference between Ad-
miral Kato. Minister Of the Navy, and
Admirals commanding Japan's squad
rons and shore stations, it has been
decided to scrap four battleships, two
first class cruisers and three second
class cruisers, aggregating $4,000 tons.
besides some old coast defence ships.
including destroyers. 1t Is not ex-
pected that this scrapping will be com
plete before the end Of the next fiscal
year.
80 A~S = CAAo4 ItCUuGC0s
Among the ships condemned are the
battleships Makasa, which was Admiral
Togo's flagship at the battle Of Tsushi-
ma; the Shikissima. Asahi and Hizen
and the cruisers Asaoa. Tokiwa. suma.
Akashi and Chitose.
Also the period of conscription for
e~Vrico Jo 81 ~
to three years and the docl.yards will
be reorganized on commercial basis.
1t is considered significant that the
Kenseikal. the opposition and a strong
political party which hitherto has been
foremost in demanding naval expansion.
should now be urging reduction in the
navy budget.
At meeting held at Osaka recently
Admiral Kato expressed the opinion
that Japan in her present situation had
no need for larger army and also
could cut down her naval expenses.
japan. he added. was confronted with
the necessity for readjusting her
finances. but this was impossible to ac-
complish unless radical economies were
effected in her military and naval ex-
penditures. which. he said, accounted for
nearly SO per cent Of the total an
nual disbursements by the State He
said japan was not trying to compete
with the United States in naval con-
struction and that her eight-eight pro-
gramme was not necessarily irreducible.
Baron Sakamoto of the Japanese
House Of Peers spoke in the same strain
recently. urging general military and
navel curtailments
10 L. a =
plate which the Japanese Admiralty
ordered in Sheffield last year have lust
been shipped to Japan. No other orders
are expected here. as it is understood
that the japanese are largely increas-
Ing their own facilities for manufacture
ing armor. They have recently pur-
chased from British firms a quantity of
machinery for this purpose, and are now
equtpping 1900 ton armor plate bend
ing press. Japanese agents are now in
Sweden negotiating large purchases of
the magnetic ore which Is specially
suited for the construction of armor
plate and guns. They have already
bought and shipped to Japan 1900 tons
of this material
The japanese Navy Department has
appropriated 100000 for exploiting the
oil fields recently discovered in north
(Russian) Saghalien. Boring operations
have been entrusted to the Hokushin-
Kai. syndicate which has done much
to develops Japanese oil resources. The
now fields are believed to be very rich,
and the Navy Department has secured
an option on the entire output UP to a
certain figure. 1t has also sent out a
mission of its own to prospect for oil
In other parts of north Saghalien.
Admiral kato has expressed himself as
hopeful that the navy will soon be In
possession of oil reserves ample to meet
any emergency