TENSION IN PACIFIC

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24399, 10 September 1940, Page 8

TENSION IN PACIFIC

AMERICA AND JAPAN EVER-MOUNTING DIFFERENCES AN ADMIRAL'S FORECAST NEW YORK, Aug. 26. ' " It seems evident that unless the United States and Japan compose their ever-mounting differences, war in the Pacific also is inevitable, now that Germany has over-run the Low Countries and france," said Rear-admiral Yates Stirling, former Chief of Staff of the United States Navy ahd commander in the Far East, in an interview to-day. "pension is almost at breaking point," he added. "The.main reason is Japan's covetousness of French Indo-China and the Netherlands East Indies. , .' , "Should war come in the Pacific it would be a naval war, fought mostly in the East, in which bases would be vital and the United States would have an initial disadvantage, but not necessarily a fatal one. "Naturally, our air strength is essential for success. In addition to the planes on board five aircraft carriers, with two more building, longrange planes and appropriate baseswould be important for assisting the fleet in any operations west of Hawaii. If our bases at Midway, Guam, and Wake Islands could be held, they would form stepping stones for planes and enable them to reach the Philippines, whence they could operate against Japan. "Since the United States has no suitable fleet base at Guam Island or in the Philippines, the fate of the British bases at Singapore and Hongkong are of vital interest. Therefore, Japan willmake every effort to prevent our fleet from using them, and undoubtedly will attempt to seize them. "While Japan is strong militarily and navally, she is impoverished economically, indicating ultimate victory for the United States."