Evening star., 1926-11-21
CONTINUED from Third Page.)

ing air power. Some idea or the
ground work underlying that power
may be gained from the following;
Besides the development Of pro.
jected air stations included In the
aerial defense Of the new Toxic. there
are now in existence army air sta
tions located at Tokorosawa, Simo-
shizu and Akenogahara, where schools
are conducted covering primary fly
ing. aerial observation and gunnery;
battalion stations are located at
Nagoya. Kagamigahara and Yokoichi
and at Heigo, Korea. Then there Is
the army headquarters at HimeJi,
near Kobe. and another at Osaka
each with its aviation personnel.
The Tokorosawa station is the most
important training station in the en-
pire. Here a school for training
civilian aviators is conducted, the sup
ply Of applicants always exceeding
the number admitted to training. At
civilian training there were 200 appli-
cants for each of the 240 openings.
II II
Naval air stations are located
throughout the empire and in Formosa
md Korea. 1t is the avowed policy
Of the government that, in the event
III WAL, IO lHtduIiS AOASS Ne~AA AAAN
4 suitable base from which to conduct
it's operations within the territory Of
he empire, nor yet within that part
Of Asia over which Japan must eXer-
Else control in order to maintain her
economic existence and insure
steady flow of raw materials to feed
The increasing demands OF her indus
rial enterprises.
To back these military and naval
air forces are the civilian aeronautical
clubs and societies flourishing through
out the empire, having an aggregate
membership of over $4,000. many more
than are similarly enrolled in any
other country. 1t is this united civil
ian spirit Of enthusiasm in aviation
hat furnishes the bone and sinew
upon which the government depends
m carrying out its extensive program
of aeronautical development.
Heretofore, the japanese engineers
have been following blue prints and
drawings produced in the aeronautical
laboratories Of America and France.
1t must not be forgotten that the
Standard Aircraft Corporation, operat.
ing in the United States during the
var, was Japanese owned and con.
trolled, through which connection they
now know all that we know upon the
subject of aeronautics, or at least
have within their grasp the fruits of
Our research and development. They
have drawn and are continuing to
draw upon England. France, Italy and
Germany for the latest types of air.
planes and the foremost technical skill,
paying exhorbitant prices to insure
speed.
Having accumulated this mass, they
have been diligently sitting, sorting
and co-ordinating until they are now
ready to standardiZe upon types which
will retain the good points and, in so
far as possible, avoid the undesirable
features of all the foreign-built equip
ment.
It can be accepted as a fact that the
flying machine, manned by skilled
aviators and equipped to shower
bombs and rain poison gas, presents
an argument that no nation under the
sun can withstand, unless similarly
armed for defensive and offensive oper-
ations. Thus. nothing but admiration
can be held for the consistent effort of
those in charge of the Japanese avia'
ton program. notwithstanding what
it's consummation may eventually
mean to us in America. Japan Is In
the hands of brilliant statesmen.
backed by a united national spirit. who
can be depended upon to hold invio-
late her strong strategic position and
to advance that position wherever and
whenever opportunity is afforded. espe.
cially in a field so vital as that Of
aviation
Fortunately, the guiding spirits re-
sponsible for the adoption Of aero
nautics as most necessary means Of
national defense are in nowise at least
so far as externals Indicate, engaged
in schemes of conquest. Theirs Is, for
the present, large-sized contract--to
hold Asia for the Asiatics. However
the line of demarcation Is very close
between the limits of armament for
national defense, to insure a conscious
ness of protection, and the desire to go
forth and dominate.
Because Of the adaptability of aero.
nautics to commercial economic life
the nations of the world were granted
free rein in it's usage at the Washing
ton conference. That Japan has taken
full advantage of the situation has
been adequately shown. and the end Is
not yet in sight. Recognizing the fact
that every airplane engaged In COM
mercial transportation is potential