The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-12-15

pklSlE hCplVlpleG SNGE AiLlCg tAlSy Stta gram five years ago. Occidentals figurative "S-s-so cory, no informa
 For the past few years there have been rumors that they were build- ing, or had already built, from four to eight super battieshlps. These vessels were described as bee ing great 45,000-ton Ships carrying gigantic 20-inch guns.
 However, despite the rumors and Japans secrecy, United States and British naval men have expressed the confident view that the Japs actually have only been turning out 3S S,000-ton warships the same as most of the new battleshipS being launched in this country.
 JAPAN'S FIVE.YEAR
 NAVAL EXPANSION
 Nevertheless, because of German collaboration with Japan, naval eX- perts here have expressed the view that japan's new capital ships may be equipped with some of the see err tS of dermany's powerful but ill-fated Bismark, whose fight with heavy units of the British fleet in the North Atlantic made naval his. tory.
 Tho fact remains that Japan left the naval conference with the Unit cd States and Great Britain in 1896 to embark on her secret five- year building program because she was dlSsatsified with the demand that she could build only three capital ships for each five launched by this country and Britain,
 During this flve-year period, in addition to building new ships, Ja. pan moderniSed her old battleshipg by installing oil burners, new boil- CTS and engines, increasing tho elevation of turret guns to give greater range, and adding new anti- aircraft and underwater defenSes.
 The best estimates of Japan's growing seq strength were given last February when U. s. Congress Bional committees were consider ing appropriations for new wafships to Dc built in this country. U. &, naval officers declared that to the best of their knowledge Japan had:
 Ten battleships with eight moro under construction; eight aircraft carriers and two more under cone gtruction; 4e cruisers and ten more being built; i26 destroyers with il more on the ways, and T Bub- marines, with seven new ones being constructed.
 In comparison, at the same time, the following picture was given of the United States Navy.
 Seventeen American battleShlps, with iB more being constructed; ; seven aircraft carriers and ii moro being built; 37 cruisers with b4 being built; i70 destroyerS with io2 more on order; and ii3 subs marines with 73 new craft on the ways or on order.
 Some new ships for both coun- tries have been completed during the ten months since the testimony was given. And of course the bal- ance has shifted, and will continue to shift as both sides suffer losses iTl combat.
 Of special importance, too, is the fact that oil of the Japanese fleet Is in the Pacins ocean, whereas the United States fleet is divided between the Atlantic and the Pa- cific in 6 ratio that has been kept secret.
 The strength Of the present Jap- aneSe naval air arm Is still anoth- or mystery. Some tiino ago 1t was believed Japan'B air forces were not comparable to those of any of the other big powers. But it is believed that the Germans sent some Of their own best machines and tech. nicians to Japan.
 It was probably the navy planes which made the first Bwoop upon Hawai-. Japan had early this year i2 naval air stations il Japan prop- CT, one at Port Arthur and one in Korea. Whether tho JapB had oth- erc in the inandated Caroline and Mariana islands is one Of their se- cretS, but 1t Is likely. It was esti- mated the Jap navy had bOO planes and 2i00 pilots.
 JAPs ARE STRONG
 IN AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
 The aircraft carriers that prob- ably transported the Japanese planes for their attack upon Ha- wall and the ] hilippines are in the main not so large nor so swift nor capable of carrying as many planes as their American rivals. Aircraft carriers known to belong to the Japanese navy were: Hosho, 7470 tons with 26 knots speed: Akasi, 20,000 tons with 26.B knots speed and carrying at capacity 60 planes; KaRa, 20,0O0 tons with % knots speed and carrying 50 planes; RuJyo, 7eO0 tons with 2b knots speed, carrying 90 planes; the Sore yu, Hiryu and Syokaku, each og 1000 tons with % knots speed and each carrying 30 planes.
 Tn addition, the afr arm of the Jap navy had three seaplane tEan-