Evening journal., 1921-04-16
JAPAN AIMING TO HOLD CHINA
CONTINUED from First Page.)

Continued from First Page.)
upon her position in China and else
where on the continent of Asia
America, many here in Japan be-
iieve-whether rightly or wrongly
makes no difference for the mo-
ment-has constantly crossed her
path in recent years, opposing Japan
ese plans. Looking ahead, they fear
America may oppose Japan in Asia
particularly in China
So 1t is that Japan's building pro-
gram, as outlined by the "Jijrs" ma
val expert. was frankly analyzed in
opposition to that of the United
States instead Of as against that of
any other country.
Eight, Eight and Eight
Japan's program. spoken OF COM
monty as the Eight and Eight
meaning eight dreadnaughts and
eight battle cruisers always in the
first line-really ought to be called
and was, in the beginning-the
"eight-eight otherwise
eight dreadnaughts and eight battle
cruisers, none more than eight years
old.
Naval experts will see the differ
ence at once. Under the eight and
eight" the same vessels might do first
line service for Is or 20 years and be
ready for the scrap heap when finally
taken out. The three-eight schedule
means constant replacements with
brand-new ships in the First Line"
while the ships more than eight years
old go back into Second Line
where they would be almost as good
as new.
In the United States from - to IA
years is considered the useful life OF
battleship in the First Line" from
so to rs per cent. longer than the
Japanese eight program
allows.
Size Unlimited.
Another point generally overlooked
is that the new ships may be OF any
size and speed, and of any number
and caliber of guns.
Furthermore-and this is consid-
cred the most important point OF all
by those who foresee Japan forcing
her adversaries to fight her on her
own ground, OF close to home-the
auxiliary ships are to be "in proper
ton" in other words may be as nu-
merous as desired and OF whatever
style deemed most advantageous.
Destroyers, submarines and such
vessels may be turned out to the ca
pacity OF the yards under the exist
ing program big advantage in the
event Japan should wish to bar the
/ 20 af hsr oil 90 No N
tween the islands stretching from
Kamchatka to South China.
According to the "Jiji" expert. ia
pan now has FIVE dreadnaughts less
than eight years old. These are the
Fuse, Yamashiro. Ise, Hyuga and
| Nagata.
Japan's Drcadnaughts.
BY 1928 Fuso will he sent into
Second Line" and Mutsu. Kaga and
Tosa will go into commission, tota
OF seven dreadnaughts.
BY 1927. the end of the present
building program. Yamashiro, Iss
and Hyuga will be retired from tho
first line making way for Xii, Owar
and Nos and s (names not an.
nounced). This makes a total o.
eight dreadnaughts as called for b!
1927.
or battle cruisers, It is understood
Japan now has four: Kongo. Hiyel
, Haruna and Kirishima. all less thai
eight years old.
In 1923 these will go into secon'
line in accordance with the eight
year-old stipulation, leaving two ney
! ships. to be commissioned by tina
year-Amagi and Akagi.
Six more battle cruisers-Atago
Takao and Nos. s. 6. Z and s-are Il
be commissioned by 1927 and thes
with Amagi and Akagi will complet
the eight ships of this class called 70
by the -eight-and- eight"
Japanese vs.. American.
The naval program laid down 4
the United States stops with 1872;
: Should construction stop there-a
some Japanese seem to think it migf
! the relative strength OF the two ma
vies. Japanese and American. woul
: be about like this, according to IN
4, "JiU:"
y Major Ships;
}, 1921-United States 10. Japan
e l1923-United States 25. Japan
{ 1927-United States IS. Japan