Evening star., 1926-11-14

advantage of opportunity of capital reconstruc-
ton for aerial defense. While the general said
he did not think it possible that any enemy
aerial squadrons could attack Toxic in time
of by establishing base within the terri
tory Of the empire, he nevertheless stressed the
very apparent possibility that an enemy would
bring its air forces to close proximity by using
aviation mother ships and then, with planes OF
long.cruising radius. cause devastation to
overtake Toxic which would make the earth
quake seem small affair.
Moreover, Gen. Uyehara dwelt on the expert
Of the allied powers in the World War,
pointing out the German attacks on Paris ana
London ana other cities warning as to
what to expect in the event of war against
Japan He advocated the construction of dug
outs and bonbproofs as permanent projects In
the rebuilding of the city. Whether these meas
have been incorporated into the plan OF
the New Toxic we do not know. But
we do know that at each Of the
city huge antiaircraft defenses have been built,
and that four great air fields have been con-
structed at strategic locations within the CITY.
Following the navy's plans for defense, which
to keep enemy air force at bay, or at a
distance from the city, naval air stations nave
been built enlarged at Amami OShlma and on
the Bonin Islands. 1t is considered the safest
way to guard Toxic, that Is, not to allow an
enemy to gain foothold on the main islands of
the Japanese empire. All these military and
naval plans were adopted by the Capital Re-
building Council before street was laid out
or a new building for commercial or residential
purposes started.
on the part of the authorities. All the Japanese
leaders are veterans of one or more wars. They
learned their lessons in the war with China, the
war with Russia and the World War. While
the Japanese military and naval activities of
the World War were mainly in connection with
the capture of Singtao. the German base on
the adjacent coast of China, Japanese officers
were with the allies every front, and rest
assured that they keen observers. Then,
too, Japan is now one Of the leading powers OF
the world. She sits in all the councils OF the
League of Nations. Only last Summer, at Ge-
neva she informed the League members that
she not only spoke for herself, but that her
voice represented Asia. ASIA for the Asiatics''
is her motto. Hence her very first thought In
any crisis at home or abroad, is her military ad-
vantage.
Japan is still feudal nation. Her people
are warlike to remarkable degree. They have
always been so. In SO years, since the Shotgun
ate lost it's power to a united Japan under a
Heaven-born Emperor, there has not been time
for the warrior blood of the fighting race to
become pacifstic through the pursuits OF peace.
To be sure, Japan has waged three successful
wars during that period and has also taken
over in toto, an empire. Korea, and huge
hunks Of territory from China Russia and
Germany. eAnd nothing succeeds like success
Thus it is that Japan, from Emperor to the
children in the schools. may be tagged with
the imperialistic and militaristic label
This being the case, we must not be sur
prised at the lengths the Japanese may go to