The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-06-19
Economic i. /.
~MhA9hA
National and International Problems
Inseparable from Local Welfare.

lnseparable from Local Welfare.
Whether or not this government will
use the Navy as an active belliger-
ent in the Battle of the Atlantic, is
question that no one but possibly the
President can answer. Whatever the
eventual decision, there are number
of important obstacles in the way of
concentrating our fighting ships in the
Atlantic-of which the most impor-
liant is the strange Empire of Japan.
For many years, the American peo
lple have been accustomed to swift
changes in the status of U. S.-Japan-
ese relations. Both sides have done
considerable diplomatic bluffing. Many
times alarmists have said that the
two nations were standing at the very
brink of war. But, so far, nothing
much has happened, outside of a few
minor incidents which were swiftly
settled, such as the sinking of the
Panay some years ago.
Now, according to a number of re-
sponsible correspondents who know
the Japanese character and Japanese
conditions, there is chance that mat
ters will at last move from the talking
to the shooting point. Here are the
principal reasons they use to s.sbstan-
tiate that position:
! First, japanese leaders are conf
dent Germany will win this war, and
they believe that, therefore, the fu-
ture of Japan will depend on the fu-
ture of Hitler's "new order" So they
are determined to carry out their
Axis commitments to the letter.
| Second, they are convinced that this
country cannot be frightened or argued
out of it's present position-a position
which says, in effect, that if Japan
moves into the South Pacific, we will
use force to stop her. Inasmuch as
the Japanese leaders are also con-
J, vinced that Japan must dominate the
lands and great resources of the South
Pacific Islands if she is to survive as
a hrst-class power, they have come
to the point of view that eventual wa,
is certain and there is little use in
longer trying to prevent it.
+ Third, working on the assumption
b.. that war is inevitable, the japanese
u strategists feel that this is the time
to fight it, while the United States
has is hands full in the Atlantic anC
must attempt to dominate two oceans
, with a one-ocean fleet. BY 1916, the
q. S. will have formidable two
ocean fleet, and then, think japanese
naval men, Nippon's chances Of win
ming war would be extremely poor
e| Fourth, Japan knows her position
is precarious so long as she must de
! pend for the bulk of essential sup
- plies, such as steel and petroleum, OF
the United States. Therefore, it il
u reasoned, the thing to do is to strik'
S out and obtain by conquest essentia
l. raw materials for herself.
= This government is taking japan
plenty seriously. The bulk of ou
4 fleet is operating in the Parl Harbo
v area. The Atlantic fleet is small an,
: its few capital ships are mostly obso
lete and slow. Large concentration
} Of aircraft, particularly Flying For
: trcsses, have been sent to Hawaii an
o even farther east. Afraid shelter
e have been built in the Philippines, an
& practice air alarms are set off period
II Ically.
& The cool heads in our naval hig
, command do not discount the JapaneS
- fleet They think our ships are bet
ter, and our gunnery more effective
~ We have a definite edge in the quar-
'S tity and quality of carrier-based ail
craft. And we have larger flee
s. Even so, the navy men feel, it woul
'e be a considerable job to lick japan
lc and would require all our energies fo
J. a considerable time.
, 1t is significant that recent pro
r nouncements of Japanese statesme
- have become very blunt. Premie
IL Matsuoka scarcely bothers any MOI
Is to conceal his dislike for the u. S. an
lg his admiration for the Axis. Ge1
S, many's successes in Europe have stiff
- ened japanese spines, and encourage
ne Japanese saber rattlers. The resu
nj is that the Pacific can accurately |
-. described as Il tender box today.
~ This government, beneath the su
face, now regards France as being vi
tually an Axis ally. There is goo
reason for that. The real head
,o France today is Admiral Darlan, wi
- likes the Germans, hates the Englis
:, and has always had a reputation fl
IL playing whatever political ang
w seemed most profitable at the momer
OF Even Marshal Petain was suspect'
IN of anti-democratic sympathies loi
ago, and he is so old and so ailir
We now that he is head Of the new Fren'
,,c total state in name only.
tOl Well-substaintiated reports cor
-, from Vichy to the effect that Fran
"a will conclude permanent peace wi
Germany, and give to the Reich ce
ip tain important French possession
1t,n IF Vol