The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-05-16
| Cover the World
WASHINGTON, May 16. - Naval expe
u w here tho ai mo ,o.,.r
WILLIAM PHILIP sIMMs-

UTASHINGTON, May 16 - Naval experts
w here say the vast sea and air maneuvers
in the region of hawaii will prove the United
States fleet incapable of effective action in the
Western Pacific.
The japanese fleet the same authorities hold,
will show itself equally impotent to infict
serious damage east of Hawaii when it holds it's
maneuverS in July in the vicinity of the KurileS.
Accordingly the fantastic bugaboos conjured
up by the jingoes of both countries are seen as
utterly without foundation and destined to re-
main so, unless and until the existing Wash
ington treaty ratio is strapped by actual build
ing programs, or new factors are introduced in
naval warfare.
To be effective in the western Pacific, it is
pointed out the American fleet would need in
those waters a base better equipped even than
that at Pearl Harbor, today probably the great
est under the flag.
No such base exists The Philippines possibly
might have become one, but commonwealth
form of government is to be introduced there
next November and ten years later the islands
are to become an independent republic Naval
officials will sigh with relief when Uncle Sam is
no longer responsible for their security Instead
Of an asset they are an admitted liability
YUAN 1900 miles east Of the Philippines, Is
" not fortified Nor could it take care of q
fleet of destroyers in time of war, let alone a
miles from home. Besides, Japan has an excel
lent air base on the Island Of Saipan less than
200 miles to the north.
Thus Pearl Harbor is the nearest American
naval base to Asia. Japan is 1000 miles distant,
farther than the distance from New York TO
London. True, Dutch Harbor In the Aleutlan
Islands, is closer by thousand miles But the
naval maneuvers now taking place in that Vi
cinity are expected to indicate its unsuitabillty
for large-scale operations. Given good weather
rare in those waters the greater part of every
year-the AleutianS might afford bases Tor the
smaller naval units and aircraft.
However, in the opinion of Hector Bywater,
British naval critic and one of the worlds lead
ing authorities on the subject, what is sauce for
the American goose is also sauce for the jap
anese gander.
The Japanese, he declares in Pacific Affairs
| for June are more afraid Of aerial attack than
of any other form of warfare. squadron OF
aircraft carriers he says, might leave Dutch
Harbor and raid the Japanese naval bases OF
Yokosuka Kure, and perhaps even Toxic.
ON the other hand, Nippon, fearing such a
~ raid might strike first. She will soon have
four high-speed carriers. They would stand a
good chance of getting within bombing range
| of Dutch Harror Most of the distance would
| be along her own coast, whence no word OF
warning could reach the Americans.
For these and other reasons Bywater con-
cludes it would be unwise to attach to much
Importance to air power in naval campaign
involving the United States and Japan
On the other hand both sides might en-
gage in submarine exploits Of a hit-and-run
order, and in nine-laying close to each others
shores or Sea-laneS. Aside from such activities
Japan would stick fairly close to home, forcing
America to take the initiative
| This, he indicates, America could scarcely
do effectually as long as the Washington
treaty holds the American and japanese navies
to their present 5-to-3 ratio 1t would probably
take years of intensive building to put this
country in a position to intervene vitally u
| the far east in defense of the open door
"on idealistic grounds"
There would be fewer fantastic forecasts and
less war talk" he concludes if those who do
the talking would give a little more study to
/ the map,