Arizona republican., 1921-09-24
JAPAN'S PROPOSAL
 WOULD FORCE us
 TO QUIT PACIFIC
TOKYO PROPOSITION THAT NO NAVAL
 BASE BE ESTABLISHED IN PACIFIC
 WOULD RENDER AMERICA HELP LESS: GUAM "KEY TO THE PACIFIC''
fey Herbert corey)


 WASHINGTON. Sept. 2S-Nothing has stirred certain section of naval ktrateEfsts as the proposition ad- v2nced by Japan that no naval bases shall be established in the Pacific.
 Japan is really demanding that we give a written guarantee to lose any war in which we might engage with her" is the opinion of one officer.
 There is no contrary opinion so far sx | have discovered. Not only would our hands be completely tied, but the proposed agreement would be jug handled one It would apply only to the United States. II is the shrewdest and most dangerous suggestion yet made in connection with the pro- posed barley for the limitation or re- duction of armaments- The naval officers with whom I have talked grin ruefully in recognition or Japan's .'slimness-"
 Naval Officers Opinion
 TT they put that through, they've got us they say
 The situation is as simple as pancake The Philippines are today practically undefended- The archi- peaaxo is, speaking generally, dis tance of but 1.500 miles from the Japanese coasts There are plenty of good landing places. In the event nf war Japanese transports could land troops at Manila within three days in sufficient number to over whe1m the comparatively small American force normally kept on the islands once the Philippines were in the hands of the Japanese they would stay there- We could not get them back.
 That is to say. we could not get them back by military means. ac- ccrdsrg to the officers who have dis casse6 the situation Americans have of course. complete confidence that in the end we could out-last Japan and win the war through the could that is. if other nations did not exercise pressure on us. as we did upon Russia and Japan at Ports mouth. and induce us to accept a peace without victory. But we could nos win the Philippines back by arms, and the loss of the Philippines at the beginning of war would be a ser Sous blow to our prestige.
 kearest Naval Base 5000 Miles Away
 The reason why this is true is that the nearest American naval base Eawaif-iS 5000 miles from Manila. Vice Admiral Siblack once estimated that fl an American fleet were to sail from Panama for Manila, accompan panied by all the fuel ships practi- callr available and coaling at Homo lulu, the bunkers and oil tanks would he practically empty on arrival There would be a small surplus, but not enough to be of real value. This estimate was based upon the project of steaming at the lowest economical speed.
 This would not be possible in time of war. of course. for high speed ant constant zigzagging would then bt enforced to evade the enemy subma. rsnes It is doubtful if. under wal conditions. any war fleet could carr, Tn bunlxers and as cargo suffieien fuel to permit It's vessels to reacl Manila. Granting that the fleet dit reach Manila it would be helpless the Japanese were in command O the Philippine ports It would b compelled to give battle under condi tSonS which would amount to a guar antee of defeat. The enemy need no even come out to fight, knowing tha in a few days time the Americal ships would be dead on the sea Forced by circumstance, the Ameri can fleet would have to enter de tended harbor to attack the enem fleet. The experience of the lat war indicates what the result woul be-
 Guam Key to the Pacific"
 The only manner by which thi disastrous defeat-in the event of war with Japan-couid be avoided 1 hv the fertilization of Guam. Thi .skey to the Pacifie." as all navs xtrategists have called it, is wort looking up on the map. Hector ( Bywater. author of Sea Power in tn Pacific" declares that ito say tha Guam bears to the Philippines tn same relation that Heiigoland Dor ro the German blight would be to un derstate rather than to exaggerat the facts" It has fine anchorage which can be readily defended, ca be again made self supporting. as
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