Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-25
Navy
Chief Asset In
Framing Alliance
Admiral Kato Says Reports of
Plans Against United States
Preposterous-Desire
Cordial Relations.
By CHARLES DALEY.

Chicago Tribune Gable, Copyright, 1871.
Tientsin, July 24.-The chief value
of Japan's navy, as admitted private
ly by leaders of Japanese thought
and politics, is in negotiating an al
lance. That is why, with the present
program, Japan is confident Great
britain will renew the alliance. even
at the risk of offending her colonies.
Without fast growing navy Japan
would have little to offer in exchange
for a renewal OF the alliance.
Admiral Kato, minister OF the
navy, admits that it is not the inten-
ton to try to compete with the Unit
ed States in naval construction. Cap
tain Nomura, his secretary, was
naval attache in Washington from
January, 1915, to the latter part OF
1918, and not only witnessed, but
reported fully upon the mobilization
and concentrating power of the Unit
ed Stataes.
The statement of Admiral Kato is
said to have been revised and ap-
proved by Premier Hara and then
handed to the correspondent in
Japanese. A translation was made
by Captain Nomura. 1t follows:
"That the Japanese navy considers
the existence of two squadrons as
necessary and as the irreducible
minimum in the navy defense orig
mated after the China Japan war
(l8o4-95) and before the Russo
Japanese war of 1904-O5. In the war
with Russia Japan had two squad
rons each of six capital ships and
later eight, six Con account of the
newly purchased Kasuga and Me
sen).
Program Held Back.
"After this war our navy made
plans to have eight and eight squad
rons (all,capital ships less than eight
years old) but our finances did not
permit the carrying out of this
squadron. Therefore at first we
strived for the eight and four squad
rons, then for the eight and six
and at last for the eight
and eight squadrons, which passed
the diet last summer.
while there were several mari
time powers which were trying to
tuild big navies consisting of 80, 40
Or so capital ships in the first line.
Japan's plan to build only eight and
eight squadrons certainly is very
considering her island
position. And in counting only ships
less than eight years old after their
completion, the examples of foreign
powers were our guidance.
"The trainers of the eight and
eight program did not have in mind
any foreign country as probable
enemy. They considered simply that
our financial ability permitted US to
build the eight and eight squadrons
and maintain them. by which this
island empire should be defended
against any emergencies arising in
the far east alone.
Cost Now Doubled.
"The advance in cost and the in
creased size of the ships expanded
our naval expenditures enormously,
which amounts to S250,000,000 for
the year 1921. But in increasing the
size of the ships we only followed
the latest type prevailing in the
world,> but not all of our own initia-
tive, and the cost of construction is
now doubled, as compared with the
prewar period. These circumstances
combined to increase the burden to
the national purse while we are simp-
ly pursuing the long contemplated
eight and eight program. 1t was in
evitable, but very deplorable. /
"In spite of these candid facts, l
regret very much to see some slnis-
ter propagandists or mischief makers
who try to attribute 10 our navy the
of competing with the /
United States navy. Nothing. is
more preposterous aud absurd than
this contention. Needless to say,
the Japanese navy desires the most
cordial relations with the United
States navy.
"As to the proposed conference for
the restriction of ornaments, the
Japanese government joined the
eague of nations, supporting the
principle of the reduction of arma-
ment. Whenever there is any inter-
national disarmament, Japan will be
only too glad to cooperate honestly
with other governments to give ef-
feet to this very principle.