New-York tribune., 1921-10-09
Friendly English Expert Warns
OF Our Dangers in the Pacific
Hector Bywater Reproaches Us for Neglecting
Philippine Defenses and Sees Guam as
Key to Ocean Mastery

iiist CLASS cruisers, Tour cruisers OF the
second class and fourteen of the third
class.
Zen scout cruisers are building. The
Japanese have seventeen second class
cruisers completed and sixteen under
construction. It's shortage in battle
cruisers and in fast cruisers greatly
efficiency. Japan's better rounded navy
is therefore much more nearly equal
to ours, for the purposes Of any con-
test in the Pacific, than the surface
statistics show.
In thinking Of our position in the
Pacific, most Americans confound our
Pacific Coast frontier with our real
frontier. Japan's navy couldn't sue
cessfully attack California, Oregon or
Washington. But to carry on offensive
war against the United States her navy
ard army wouldn't have to cross the
Pacific. But we have to go across it
to maintain either the offensive or de-
fensive. For Japan has only to seize
the Philippines and Guam in order to
drive us out Of the western Pacific
and compel us, if we wish to continue
the war, to return there at great cost
and risk and re-establish our broken
frontier. Japan's strategic position in
the Pacific is go superior to ours that
the paper American superiority be-
Mr. Bywater, who is a British naval
architect, also frankly discusses GER
! l5ain grave %afccts in %mcf,can nava,
policy which have played into Japan S
hands. The first of these is neglect of
the defense of the Philippines. On this
point he says:
"The Philippines must be guarded
by naval force or not at all, and as
the lack of a well-found fleet base
near at hand puts effective naval
protection out of the question, for
the time being the islands would
doubtless fall an easy prey to Japan
in case of war with the United
States. Those who endeavor to in
vcstigate the strategical problems to
which a conflict would give rise
must experience a feeling of amaze
ment at the failure of the United
States to take the most elementary
precautions against the loss Of the
Philippines. 1t has built up huge
battle feet, which Will ultimately
be second to none in strength, but
it has taken no steps to avert a dis
astcr which would shatter American
prestige in the East and leave the
final issue of war with Japan de-
cidedly in doubt
The bigger the feet the more it needs
ample bases Hawaii is the only par
italy developed base which we have
to-day in the Pacific. But it is too far
from the coast Of Asia to be Of value in
defending tho Philippines Guam, how
ever, is within supporting distance
Guam, Mr.. Bywater holds, is the key of
the Pacific. "By properly fortifying &
and developing this island as naval
station of the first rank he says, "the
American people would do much to re-
lieve themselves to anxiety as to their
future in the Western Pacific, for no
power would venture to molest the
Philippines while d strong American
feet in being was based on Guam, only
500 miles away"
Failure to utilize this vital stratc
eical position has been one Of the elar
ing faults Of our naval policy. Japar
has acquired the Caroline, Pclew, Mari
anne and Marshall islands in the NORTH
Pacific formely owned by Germany
They surround Guam with Gordon OF
potential japanese naval bases. Presi-
dent Wilson's unfortunate su1rcnde,
at Paris Of all these islands but Var
makes it more urgent than ever thai
Guam should be converted into ar
American stronghold Otherwise, like
the Philippines, this key-point woult
fall at the very beginning of wan
into Japanese hands.
Mr. Bywater is anti-Japanese in sen
timene and no friend Of the Anglo
Japanese alliance He thinks that
Japan would be ill-advised to seek wal
with the United States and that if she
cid she would lose in the end.