The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-25
STIRLING WARNS
OF u. S. CLASH
WITH JAPANESE
Continued From Page One)

CONTINUED From Page One)
from Japan anything she might dare
seize now" Admiral Stirling said.
step-by-step ascension of Japan as
a world and naval power was traced
by Admiral Stirling, whose 40-odd
years in the service Of the United
states Navy qualities him as an au'
thority on Asiatic affairs. Tokyo's
quest for natural resources and out
lets for her manufactured products
has compelled her, Admiral Stirling
said, to challenge traditional white
supremacy in China, Manchurla, n
more recently in the south Pacific.
Monroe Doctrine"
THE japanese psychology is diff
ficult for the occidental to under
stand. Japan has decreed, in effect,
a Monroe Doctrine for Asia with
herself as self-appointed protector.
Yet, unlike the Monroe Doctrine by
! which the United States preserves
the Independent integrity OF the
Western Hemisphere by guarantee
ing political and economic freedom
and free intercourse of trade, Japan
tells the world she will not permit
free trade with the Orient she would
control. That is a direct challenge
to America; to American business
and enterprise" the speaker de-
clared.
The tactical problems confront
ing the United States should this
country be provoked to comoat
with Japan ARE immense Ad'
miral Stirling said.
It would, he pointed out, call up
on the maintenance of exceeding
ly long lines of supplies; perhaps
a line too long to be wisely and
safely maintained.
Immediate Objective
The great British naval base al
Singapore, which, in Admiral STIR
ling's opinion, is the immediate
objective of japanese military
movement in Indo-C China, is the
principal hope of Great Britain
and the United States. But even for
the United States to have access to
the facilities of that base presents
almost insurmountable problems.
AS long as Singapore stands, how
ever, Japan's thrust into the rich
south Pacific is halted, the admiral
said.
Speaking of the Hawaiian islands
which he termed the last possible
defendable outpost Of the United
States in the event of actual con-
hict with Japan, Admiral Stirling
mentioned in grave tone the fact
that the preponderent majority OF
the islands population is Asiatic,
mostly japanese.
There are go 1000 Japanese on
the island of Oahu, and we know
that a great many of the japanese
sampan, or native fishermen, are
Japanese Navy-trained officers,
stationed there for a purpose. They
and the fifth columnist' aspect OF
their presence, presents a prob
lem the United States may have
to deal with soon. We may be CON-
PEELED to move them entirely from
the island" the speaker told his
audience.
Oahu is the principal CONNER
cial and military island Of the
Hawaiian group, and is the base
for the great naval station at Pearl
harbor.)
After touching upon the tremen-
dous problems of Pacific defense.
and painting a picture none toe
pleasant from the American poin'
of view-a picture that contained
the thought that the Philippines
Guam and possibly even Singapore
might fall into Nipponese hands
Admiral Stirling turned his sub
ject to the lease-lend bill and the
general Europe n conflict as con
Germs the United States.
On this score, the Admiral con
ended that the most effective aic
the United States could r e n d e !
Great Britain is in supplying nava'
conveys for U. S. or British mer'
chant ships maintaining the life
line of supplies to the British Isles.
The British navy can withstand
such an onslaught "a combined
German, Italian naval force in a
showdown battle for control of the
Mediterranean only if the United
States can get airplanes and other
vital supplies to England. 1t is
not enough that we build planes
for Britain. They must arrive in
England.
The President can, if he be
lieves it vitality necessary to the
defense Of this country, utilize war
ships either to escort conveys oil
American ships through war zones,
or else to escort British ship S
though those zones"
Continuing on the aid-to-Britain
theme, Admiral Stirling ventured
the nnipiop that Corro,,v o,a v4,1,,