War Day by Day

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1940, Page 6

War Day by Day

(By Our Special Observer.)

Comment on the News Axis Powers' Alliance Has Moscow Been Told?

"What will Japan gain?" is the most pertinent question arising as a corollary to the confirmation of a German-Italian-Japanese military pact. The answer is difficult to find. If it is sought by asking, "What does Japan need most?" no satisfactory reason for the alliance is seen, for what Japan above all wants is credit, and credit is a commodity neither Germany nor Italy can export. The next query on the situation is, "Has Moscow been told?" There is no confirmation from the Russian capital on this point, and the Soviet is most certainly a deeply interested party. The AntiComintern Pact of November, 1936, was entered into by Japan not from a fear of revolutionary Communism, but because she and Germany, as they both freely admitted at the time, had designs on Russia. Therefore they combined against her; using the phrase "AntiComintern" as a blind. What M. Molotov will have to say on the matter will be awaited with interest.

Linked by Patchy Chain. If Germany's friendship with Russia is such that she has been able to arrange an alleviation of years of tension between the Soviet and Japan, the reaction in another quarter will be watched keenly. Whatever the Falangist leader Suner desires, General Franco eyes the prospect of increased Soviet-German cooperation with dismay. It was because he feared and hated Communism to the depths of his Catholic soul that Franco became the tool of Mussolini and Hitler. The development of a situation with so many facets cannot be forecast, but it may well be that despite von Ribbentrop's declaration that the arrangement is "a pact between the three most powerful military nations in the world," time may prove it to be what many people suspect it is— an alliance of weakness rather than of strength. It would not be suggested by any disinterested party that Japan had entered the pact under auspicious circumstances. Prince Konoye's "belt tightening" order to already attenuated Japanese stomachs will be received with misgivings in other than rabidly militarist circles. The internal discipline which Prince Konoye's Government desires to impose upon the masses of Japan may possibly prove to be the forging of the weakest link in a military alliance held together by a very patchy chain.

Never Destroy Destroyers. It is highly likely that in clubs and places where retired and senior serving officers of the Royal Navy foregather a deal of blistering comment will have been occasioned by the arrival in British waters of the first of Uncle Sam's transferred destroyers. Revived will have been recollections of the days when Britain had a very large number of destroyers of the vintage now declared fit for active service. But as a result of the tonnage limitations imposed by the Washington conference on naval disarmament the British ships of the type went on the scrap heap. The nature of the work foreseen as the function of the Royal Navy called for other classes of warships up to the point of the restrictions. and the light destroyers were sacrificed. In Australia, too, there have no doubt been some chagrined old salts. The Commonwealth had five destroyers of the same age and tonnage as the Arnerican ships, and one knot faster, but after laying at moorings in Sydney harbour for some years, they too were broken up. The handsome addition provided by the Arnerican ships to the light flotillas of the Royal Navy will mean a wider submarine hunt, safer convoys and more protection for capital ships at sea. Since this will come from 20-year-old vessels, a slogan may well be adopted for future reference— never destroy destroyers.

Attention to Bristol. The Nazis are paying increasing attention to the British west coast port of Bristol. Before the Germans gained control of the entire French coastline Bristol's situation made it relatively immune from German bombing attack, and in consequence of this Bristol, and the area around it, was developed not only as a produce inlet, but as an industrial centre. The municipally-owned- docks in the city and at Avonmouth, seven mile| away, have been the subject of vast extensions in recent years. Giant new silos have been built at Avonmouth, and facilities have been provided for storage of large quantities of oil and munitions. The oil installations on the dock estate cover 100 acres of land. Great arterial roads have been built to by-pass the various traffic-jamming streets of the city to facilitate transport from the docks into the gurrounding country. The city of Bristol has a population of 420.000, and within a radius of 25 miles of the centre of the city are no fewer than 1,056,000 people. Great Western Port. No less than 50 per cent. of Britain's total imports of tobacco are taken in at the port of Bristol, and processed at a large factory. There 15,000 people manufacture the 45,000 tons of leaf received at Bristol in a year. At Somerdale. near Bristol, a large chocolate firm has established what is claimed to be the most modern chooclate and cocoa factory in the world. Very important to-day of Bristol's industries is the aeroplane industry establishfed at the works of the Bristol Aeroplane Company at Filton. In the last war the famous Bristol fighters gave the Allies superiority in the air, and today the all-metal Bristol Blenheim bombers are the fastest medium bombers in the world . "Bristol" radial aircooled aero engines are produced in large numbers, not only at their home town, but all over England. The Bristol 1500 h.p. Hercules sleeve-valve engine is fitted in the latest. Empire flying-boats. Bristol's links with the past include seafarers, adventurers, colonisers, traders and some of the outstanding pirates of history. So much of America's history has its roots there that Bristol has been called the birthplace of America. From Bristol in 1497 sailed John Cabot to discover North America. No insignificant place in Britain's defence, and offence, schemes is played in the west coast port of Bristol.