JAPANESE NAVY.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 352, 5 February 1937, Page 5

JAPANESE NAVY.

Replenishment Plan Rapidly Under Way. Although the strictest secrecy is preserved as regards details, the general scope of the new Japanese naval programme, oln'Tally described as the "third replenishment plan,” has now become known,, writes Hector C. Bywater, in the London Dally Telegraph.” It provides for the largest amount of naval construction voted since 1920-21, whfen the “eight-eight” battleship programme, subsequently scrapped under the Washington Treaty, was adopted. The new programme, which is to be put in hand next year, is to cost one milliard yen—approximately £66.000,000 at present rates of exchange. It includes a number oq battleships—probably of 35,000 tons —aircraft carriers, cruisers, torpedo craft and submarines, besides many Fleet auxiliaries such as high-speed oil tankers. All this new construction is to be completed in five years. Provision is also made for a large expansion of the naval air service. In recent years '22 new squadrons have been organised. aod at present the navy controls ;1000 aircraft, including those based on coastal stations. This figure is now to be increased to 1300 first-line machines. There ai 13 naval aerodromes, including several in Korea and Formosa.