The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-09-08
JAPAN DOOMED
# HERFLEET
IS WRECKED
Without Navy Nation Is at
Mercy of World for Ten
Years, Says Attache.
By WILLIAM X. HUTCHINSON
international News Service.
(Copyright, 1923, by International

(CopyriEht. 1923. by International
News Service.)
japan will be at the mercy OF
the world for the next decade IL
her great first fleet met disaster
In the national catastrophe as mas
been Indicated in meager press
dispatches from the stricken en-
pire.
This was the opinion expressed
to International News Service 10,
day by Capt. Osami Nagano, naval
attache at the japanese embassy
and an authority upon Far East
ern naval affairs.
If the great war fleet-Japan's
principal protection against foreign
aggression-has been destroyed 1t
will not be replaced for fully ten
years, Captain Nagano declared.
Although Japan is authorized under
the Washington conference to keep
her fleet at 3:5 ratio with Amer
ica's. Nagano stated his govern
ment would bend all energies to
relieving its stricken people and
in. rebuilding devastated areas be-
fore turning its attention to. restor-
ing it's national defenses.
Would Take Ten Years.
eff the Japanese first fleet is de-
stroyed, it will be decade before
my country will resume the place
among naval powers allotted her
by the Washington conference"
Captain Nagano declared. I'm
truth, the first ten years duration
of the naval treaty will have ex-
pired before our navy would be re-
built"
The great Japanese first fleet,
comprising four battleships, three
battle cruisers, seven light cruisers,
thirty-two destroyers, and two di-
visions OF submarines was last re-
ported en route to the harbor Of
Yokosuka to anchor. This great
naval base was wiped out Sby the
disaster, and meager press dis
patches reported many warships
wrecked" In the harbor.
If the fleet. reached this port and
met disaster, seven of the ten capt.
tai ships allotted Japan at the Wash
ington conference would be lost.
Their destruction would reduce
Japan from the position Of the
worlds third naval power to a post
far beneath the present naval
strength Of either France or Italy.
It also would make both Great Brit
ain and the United States over
whelmingly superior to the crippled
japanese navy.
Other Changes Reported.
Cable dispatches also indicated
Japan's national defenses had suf-
fered other serious damage.
The Yokosuka naval base. report
ed destroyed, held great naval
warehouses, storing food, clothing
and other supplies. The navy's
greatest ammunition magazine was
located at the same port, but is
believed to have escaped damage.
The great. Koishigawa army ar
senal where half Of the empires
military ammunition Is manusac-
tured, was also wiped out by the
earthquake. At Tokyo the Megura
army magazine, holding great
stores Of ammunition and shells,
was destroyed by fire. The loss of
these two bases alone has crippled
Japan's national defenses.
Despite these losses, Japan will
take up work of reconstruction
rather than seek to repair her de-
lenses, Captain Nagano said.
Relief Work First.
MY country will be too busy
with reconstruction to think of
devoting time to anything but relief
work." Nagano asserted. "ShaII
Japan prepare to defend herself
against attack by friendly nations,
which are contributing so gener-
ously and so freely for her relief?
No. Japan shall be unprepared for
attacks while rebuilding devastated
areas. Our navy and national de-
lenses can wait.
cit is not certain, of course,
whether our first fleet was de-
stroyed. 1 do not like to discuss
this question at all when American
people are thinking only Of relieving
starvation and distress among my
own people,"
Whether a few ships were lost or
the whole fleet destroyed, the Wash
ington conference made provision
for their replacement. In Part 3
of the treaty, signed by the worlds
five greatest naval powers, this pro-
vision read: I'm case of loss or
accidental destruction of capital
ships or aircraft carriers, they NAV
Immediately be replaced by new
construction subject to the tonnage
limits prescribed ."
-aIoaanoon ~AA