The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-31

leaoA N8eS R k08k t03 Ao0ull&N tRattoM welcomed a chance to put Japan in her p1Aee4 There were even those within the Adrminis- tRatia,a chiefly the 1laxy-who wished the Japanese had not ap0AogAzaA.
 10 eek tha whole picture it is necessary to 90 back some dis tameA 1t is a toEtlaons story but an taapoEtant one
 British TAlkS
 At the very start of the Shang- hAf heBahaRdneat. Secretary Huh conducted extremely important talks with the British. The line hA took then was that the Shang- hai fightimg was not a temporary matter, but a part of theh entire Japanese program of eonquering China. . Ile maintained tAaA the WmAtAa States had t@ adept a RaAGeys net fer a few months er a year, but fer ten CT twenty aE Alety years when Japan with tRenaenAaas reserves ef cheap
 Mh@r and raw naAteFials in CAAAa. had AeeamA the greatest 1nauSAxAnh ennpAHN iM the World.
 In this, Secretary Hall and the President saw eye to eye In fact the President had had talks witt ex-SeeFeAaIy Sthms0m along the same Gme and had started an in- tansixe naval program partly in preparation for this eventuality. One of the things he had in latnd vas Italian end German penetration ef South America, simultaneous with Japanese pene- trat&oM of China and the south Raeaffe>
 Strategy Agains Japan
 AS a result of these conversa- tons thA Navy last summer worked out a careful strategy to be used against Japan. The plan was discussed im detail with the Bri- tfSA, then put back on the shelf for tase-if and when.
 The plan was extremely ina- p0Ftant. It is based upon the fact that Japan is a series of islands with no raw materials. All her var materials cotton, iron copper, especially oiR-must he tn- p0rte6.-
 UMlGkA Italy, when Aeyeetted hW tAe League Japan has no immediate neagAAeRsA Italy inc ReEtea hy Raih 1renA Switzarland. Austria, 1zumsaKy, even Juge- sAMxAA> mzE Japan is aaiaeent eAAy te . very HnarieniAly Rus- saA and a China with which &Ae aS at war;
 Therefore the Navy plan called for a long distance blockade of Japan with the cooperation of Japan Great Britain and the ap- proxal of Russia.
 Lamg Distance
 The emphasis fn this plan should he placed on the words leAg disAanee. The blockade was to take place at Singapore and the Panama Canal, ten days and three weeks steaming distance re- specatvelg from Japan.
 1m naval naameuxerimg, distance Is all-impo portant. The attacking fleet has to carry a fuel supply to get home. Thus the American fleet is supreme in its waters, and the Japanese fleet supreme in its waters.
 Bat the Navy plan aia nes eAla fer penetration ef Japanese waters. 1t eAl1ed fer sfationing sAkRs eaf Panama an1 the Cali feERfa eeaSt, with ether ships seeReRatlng with the British feet at Singapore There il wonld use British axydeek. British fuel supplies and nest important of AA, the safety ef ahent ten days exMkSlng distance frem Japan. TAe Jananese feet eeuln not a9aeE6 e penetrate ten days &amth te attack.
 Meanwhile all essential Jap- @meea var materials, es- peciallH oil. wuold have to come via either Singapore. Russia, Pan- apaa. or the Pacific eoast-alf in the hands of the proposed block aGaeTS>
 Fear of Italy
 After discussion with the Bri- tixh. however, this plan was put hack on the shelf. Both sides agreed that if there was real CO., operation between the British and American fleets. Japan would field up and withdraw from China without fiEing a shot in the direc- ton of the Anglo American front.
 But reason for tue shelving was this The British were losing sleep 0Rer Italian submarine piracy in the Mediterranean, W0a1la spare no ships for the Far East.
 All this took place lask August.