The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-11-23
JAPS
PLAYING
FOR POSITION
Although Accepting
Proposals Ia Princi-
ole They Will De-
m a n d Something
Quite Different

today that Japan "oulo
ask modification Of the American
naval limitation program which
would permit Japan to MAINTAIN
general tonnage slightly greater
tha.a 60 per cent" Of that of each
o4 the other two powers.
: Japan also would ask, Baron
Kato said, for the right to maintain
a type of vessel Of strictly defen-
sive character, the tonnage approx
imating That maintained by the
other two powers.
A statement issued by Baron
Kato said:
Because of her geographical po-
sition, Japan deems it only fair at
the present time that the other in
terested countries agree that she
should maintain a proportion in
general tonnage slightly greater
than 60 per cent, and, in a type
of vessel of a strictly defensive
character, she might desire to even
that of the greater
navies."
Baron Kato's statement was is
sued at conference with newspa-
per correspondents, but he would
not give details as to the modifica-
tions his delegation would submit,
saying this was for the conference
to discuss. 1t was assumed gener-
ally, however, that the Slightly
greater" general tonnage the Japa-
nese desired would include the bat
tleship Mutsu, probably just COM
missioned, and that the type of de-
fensive vessel referred to was a
light cruiser suitable for policing
the waters of the Orient against pi
rates and the like.
The Mutsu is a ship of some 33,-
600 tons armed with eight 16-inch
rifles. She is comparable to the
American Maryland class, and, ac-
cording; to Secretary Hughes pro-
worsies feS
one ship Of this. class.
Great Britain has no battleship Of
this type. If the Mutsu is later
added to the ships Japan is to re-
tain she Will make the second 16-
inch gun ship for Japan and it was
assumed that if this was granted,
the American delegation would de-
sire to retain the West Virginia Of
similar characteristics, to be
launched next Saturday.
Admiral Baron Kato made his
statement in the presence of NJ.
Hanihara, the vice minister Of for
eign affairs. and several other
members Of the Japanese -delega-
ton. He was then asked to de-
fine more clearly what he meant in
stating that "in a type Of vessel of
strictly defensive character she
might desire to approximate that
of the great navies," and in reply
said he wanted 20 make it per-
fectly clear that the above reser-
vation did not apply to capital
ships. but to other ships of a de-
fensive character.
In reply to another question he
added that the reservation did not
refer to submarines.
HAS Japan any views" he was
asked, 'as to the tonnage of SUBJ
marines?''
Il have no views to express" he
until have chance to
read and study the proposals OF
Great Britain
There is some idea of abolishing
submarines, poison gas and other
like instruments of warfare" said
another questioner. Has the Jap
anese delegation ever considered
this?"
Il hope to take this matter up
in the conference itself" the admir-
al replied, 80 l am not in a po-
sition to answer at this time"
The auxiliary committee was di-
vided under the American propos-
ais into three classes: Auxiliary
surface committee on bantamcraft,
submarines and airplane carriers,
and aircraft. The first group was
to include cruisers, eX-
elusive Of battle cruisers, and flo
tilla leaders and destroyers The
total tonnage of these ships were
fixed as 100000 for the United
States and Great Britain and 270,-
600 tons for Japan. Admiral ka-
to's declaration is interpreted to
mean that in some types, presumab-
ly the swift light cruiser, or in gun
boats capable of steaming up the
rivers Of China or Siberia, Japan
would like TO have as much tonnage
as the other two naval.powers
With Japan's occupation of the
littoral Of Siberia. her presence in
the northern part of Sakhalin is
land as a consequence of the Niko-
lalevsk massacre, and her patrol
of the extensive coast of the
hamachatka peninsula. not TO men
ton the activities on the coast OF
China, 1t was regarded by some
that Japan feels that what she calls
her defensive" craft should be in
creased over the tonnage specified.
At all events this is held TO add a
new feature to the japanese rcser-
vation to the American proposals.
Wacbj N. pt on Nov IT (Dv ~, A..