JAPANESE WANTS TO SEE AUSTRALIA'S ARMY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 272, 17 February 1941, Page 8

JAPANESE WANTS TO SEE AUSTRALIA'S ARMY

"To look around in Australia; studying her industries and, if permitted, to meet Australian army officers and get some idea of their methods," Major Sei Hashida, an officer on the active list of the iJapanese Army, has arrived at/Sydney,

Major Hashida was met by Japanese business men in Sydney, Consular officials and the Australian representative of the Japanese Domei news agency, and had only one small suitcase. Unable to speak English he gave an interview through an interpreter.

The interpreter pointed out that the major wanted to find out about our industries and "everything about Australia." lie was interested in our army and would like to see something of it if he were permitted

Major Hashida will remain"in Australia for six weeks, travelling to Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. He came from T'okio. The interpreter was asked what particular phase of industry interested the army man, and reply was that he was interested in everything. "Why should an active officer in the Japanese Army be so interested in Australian industry?" the interpreter was aslcftd. He replied that the major's desire to see Australian industry should not be stressed too much, adding that the officer wanted to see everything he could in Australia.