Evening star., 1932-02-06
BY WILLIAM A. MILLEN.

Should Japan suddenly decide on
naval warfare in the Shanghai area
against one or all Of the naval powers
concentrated there at present, she
would have an immediate advantage,
due to the proximity Of naval bases.
Such is the unofficial opinion of high
ranking American naval authorities
here. japanese destroyers could be
rushed in "a hours to Shanghai from
their naval base at Sasebo, in South
western Japan and heavier vessels
could steam to the disturbed Oriental
city in 36 to 48 hours.
Latest dispatches to the Navy De-
partment, which the general board is
studying with interest, show that the
Japanese have about 35 vessels in the
hanghai-Woosung area. The United
States has 13 ships there, the British
eight and the French three.
The japanese feet, as a whole, is
conceded to be the equal of the entire
American feet, as Japan's vessels are
described as being more modern than
those of the American Government,
Cue 10 Sttddy lePld(elilCilt pOlASy.
Japan Considered Superior.
Furthermore, the japanese have an
even greater advantage. The British
naval base in Singapore is 2,2lo miles
away from Shanghai. The japanese
are considered far superior to the Brit
ish in the Orient. viewed from the
standpoint of present day naval vessels.
The United States has only one big
modern warship at Shanghai. the flag
ship of the United States Asiatlc Fleet,
the u S. S. Houston, aboard which
Admiral Montgomery M Taylor, the
commander in chief, has his headquar-
ters. AS the United States has no'
constructed single destroyer since
shortly after the close OF the Worlo
War. all American vessels OF that type
now in the Shanghai area are from 10
to Is years old. In the Yangtze River
America has half dozen gunboats
now about 4 years old.
Under the command OF Admiral
Taylor in the Shanghai-Woosung area
besides the Houston, are the 'destroyers
U. S. S. Paul Jones, Parrott, bulmer
Truxtun, Borie, Peary, John D. Ford
WhipDle, Barker, John D. EdWaros
Smith, Thompson and Pope.
Other Vessels En- Route.
En- route are the converted yacht
U. S. S. Isabel. which is due tomorrow;
the naval transport U. S. S. Chaumont
built in 1920 and taken over from the
War Department year later, whlcn
is due to reach Shanghai tomorro"
night, with the 31st Army Infantry
Regiment from Manila; the mine
sweepers U. S. S. Finch and Blttern
due Saturday, and the destroyer tenoer
U. S. S. Blackhawk, commissioner 10
May, 1918, in the Navy, although bulit
in 1913 for the Shipping Board, "hlch
is due at Shanghai next Tuesday
Uncle Sam has at Nanking, l5O miles
up the Yangtze River from Shanghal
the destroyers U. S. S. EdSall and Slmp-
son. Some 500 miles up the Yangtze
at Mowangtsui is the gunboat U. S. 5
Panay; at Hankow, 600 miles up the
Yangtze, is the U. S. S. Luzon, flagship
Of Rear Admiral Yancey S. Williams
and there, too, are the gunboats U. >. >
Palos, Tutuila and Oahu.
At Ichang, 900 miles up the Yangtze
Is the gunboat U. S. S. Monocacy and
at Chungking, 1900 miles up that river
is the gunboat u. S. S. Guam. Al
Hsin Ho 600 miles north OF Shanghai
Is the gunboat U. S. S. Tulsa, built H
1928 At Foochow, $50 miles south OF
Shanghai, is the destroyer U. s: S. NC
Cormick. At Hongkong, $50 miles soutf
of Shanghai, where the British have
base, is the destroyer U. S. S. Stewart
and the gunboat U. S. S. Mlndanao. Al
Canton, 800 miles south of Shanghai, Is
the gunboat U. S. S. Helena, which wa'
commissioned In the American Navy II
1897.
Four British Vessels.
In addition to these American nava
vessels in the Shanghai area, the Bri'
tish have four cruisers-the Cumber,
land, which has been at Hongkong; the
Cornwall, the Suffolk and the Berwick
These are all new ships of 10000 tons
as is H. M S. Kent, aboard which Ad'
miral Sir S. A. Howard Kelly, com.
mander In chief of the British naval
squadron Of the China station, left Ma,
Mia for Shanghai after taking aboarc
fuel and supplies She Is expected tt
reach Shanghai tomorrow.
At Shanghai, the British have foul
river gunboats, also. There are othel
British ships In Yangtze ports, th'