The Washington times., 1923-01-07
j. s. ALERT, SAYS
VANDERBILT TO
EASTERN PERIL
Japan's First Hypothetical Step
Would Be to Take Posses
sion of the Philippine Islands
AMERICAN LINE OF ACTION
Air Forces Need to Be Mate
rally Strengthened In Prep
aration for Any Emergency
By CORNELIUS VANDERBILT, JR.
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By CORNELIUS VANDERBILT, JR
Copyright by CIV Newspaper Service.
War in the Pacific, between
whatever powers the unfoldeG
scrolls Of history may reveal, pre-.
SCENTS . problem which today il
engaging the deep attention OF
the war plans divisions of the
navy departments of the great
powers.
1APAN'S SEA STRENGTH.
Arms conference treaties to tht
contrary. there are those who see
IA Japan the mistress invulnerable
Of the Pacific seas. If naval power
were gagged by battleships alone
the United States would have slight
cause for anxiety as to its future
In the Pacific basin. On paper,
and after q fashion, in fact, the
United States has, or would have
on completion of its building pro-
gram, twice as many capital ships
ne Japan. But where the arms
conference treaties, when ratified,
win fail to injure Japan's strength
they win materially affect the navy
Of the United States. In my
opinion the japanese. have the inn
portant point OF strategic strength.
THE FIRST STEP.
In the event Of war with Japan
Nhe United States would be called
pon first to decide whether its
Instant insular possessions were to
IS defended or abandoned. 1t is
pkfe to presume that the United
states would not find passive sur
render Of the Philippines and Guam
compatible with the interest ana
the prestige Of the nation.
We are surprising that the first
stem of the Japanese in any war
with the United States would be to
take Guam and the Philippine
Islands. The resistance that could
be offered by the American military
and naval outposes at Corregidor,
Manila, and at Guam, would hardly
withhold against the onslaught OF
the major portion of the Japanese
imperial fleet.
Thus the United States would en-
ter actively into any war with
Japan by campaigning for the re-
capture Eof the Philippines and the
Island OF Guam. The Japanese
would devote the half of their naval
force to keep the Americans thus
dngaged. fully expecting after siren
nous and wasting warfare to sur
render the islands AGAIN to the
Americans. though possibly retain
ing Guam because of its dangerous
proximity to the Bonin Islands,
which latter are the Japanese naval
bases IN the outer Japan Sea.
NAVY WAR PLANS.
The American Navy Department
II Ct work now on a personnel plan
for use in time of war. It is a
plan that will provide for lin.
tied enlistments. Two years Of
be the maximum required, while
It Is expected that q several
months training period will be pro-
vided for large numbers of young
men. This, IL has been hoped,
would link in with the rendering
napre powerful of an American
merchant marine, as well as pro-
vfding employment for thousands
- young men.
Let us revert to the hypothetical
war plans of. say, the Japanese
government In any war with the
United States. We have the
Philippines and the American naval
base at Guam in the hands of the
Japanese 40 the result of a swift
major 6eet movement on the part
Of the Nipponese government.
The United States Naval Command
has several courses open to il.
They might assemble the whole Of
their effective battle fleet at
Hawaii ana improvise an advanced
base 1t wake island. whence they
could either demonstrate off the
japanese coast or make q bold
attempt to recapture the Philip
pines and the Island Of Guam.
It may be safely presumed here
that the japanese naval command
Wou1d welcome the efforts Of q
major American fleet to recapture
tn lest insular possessions. This
naDV0 On the part Of the Americans
would confine the American fleet
activities to certain areas, leaving
tne Islands OF Japan and the jap
aaoee controlled mainland in the
noTth Pacific free from major as
sauft Thus the Japanese armies.
under the ven Of vicious fleet &C
fiVittes with the Americans in the
southern waters might penetrate
the Asiatic mainland.
II the Japanese armies could re-
ADVERTISEMENT.
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