Nogales international., 1941-06-21
Pacific A Tinder Box
Industrial News Review


Whether or not this government will use the Navy
active belgerent in the Battle of the Atlantic
is question that one but possibly the President
can answer Whatever the eventual decision there
are number of important obstacles in the way #
concentrating fighting ships in the Atlantic-of
which the most important is the strange Empire of
Japan
For many years. the American people have been ac-
custOmed to swift changes in the status of u S-Jap
anese relations. Both sides have done considerable
diplomatic bluffing. Many times alarmists have said
that the two nations standing at the very brink
of war. But, far, nothing much has happened out
side OF few minor incidents which swiftly set
tled such the sinking of the Panay years ago.
Now according to number of responsible CORES
pondents who know the japanese character and Jap
anese conditions there is chance that matters Will
at last from the talking to the shooting point
Here are the principal reasons they to substan-
tiate that position:
First, japanese leaders confident Germany will
win this war; and they believe that therefore, the fu
ture of Japan will depend on the future of Htle1s
"neW order' So they determined to carry out
their Axis commitments to the letter.
Second, they convinced that this country
not be frightened argued out of it's present position
position which says in effect, that if Japan
into the South Pacific, will force to stop her.
Inasmuch as the Japanese leaders also convinced
that Japan must dominate the lands and great resour
ces of the South Pacific Islands if she is to survive
firstcass power they have come to the point Of
view that eventual is certain and there is little
use in longer trying to prevent it.
Third, working on the assumption that is in
evtabe the Japanese strategiss feel that this is the
time to fight it. while the United States has its hands
full in the Atlantic and must attempt to dominate two
oceans with one-ocean fleet. BY 1916, the U. 5.
will have formidable twoocean fleet and then think
Japanese naval men, Nippons chances OF winning
war would be extremely poor.
haT iC
long she must depend for the bulk of essential sup
plies such as steel and petroleum. on the United
States Therefore, it is reasoned the thing to 90 is to
strike out and obtain by conquest essential raw ma
teIials for herself.
This government is taking Japan plenty seriously.
The bulk of our fleet is operating in the Pearl Harbor
area The Atlantic fleet is small and its few capital
ships are mostly obsolete and slow. Large cOncen-
trations of aircraft particularly Flying Forresses,
have been sent to Hawaii and even farther east. Air
raid shelters have been built in the Philippines, and
practice air alarms are set off periodically.
The cooheads in our naval high command do not
discount the Japanese fleet. They think ships
are BETTER and our gunnery effective. We have
definite edge in the quantity and quality OF carrier
based aircraft. AndWe have a larger fleet. Even so,
the navy men feel, it would be considerable JOB to
lick Japan, and would require all our energies for
considerable time.
It is significant that recent announcements of Jap
anese statesmen have become very blunt. Premier
Matsuoka scarcely bothers any to conceal his dis
like for the y. S. and his admiration for the Axis
Ge1nanys successes in Europe have stiffened Japan
csc spnes, and encouraged Japanese saber rattlers
The result is that the Pacific accurately be de
scribed as tinder box today
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