HITLER AND RUSSIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 December 1939, Page 3

HITLER AND RUSSIA

ILL-CONSIDERED AGREEMENT. JAPANESE ADMIRAL’S VIEW. Hiller’s ill-considered agreement with Russia destroyed the possibility of a German victory in the war, according io Admiral Nakamura, whose views are reported by the Tokyo correspondent of ‘’The Times.” Although Admiral Nakamura has retired from, active service, he is still regarded as one of the clearest thinkers in the Japanese Navy. His views are published in the magazine ‘‘Pacific,” and have also been circulated in pamphlets, apparently with the intention of supporting the policy of Japanese neutrality. Admiral Nakamura points out that before the war Britain’s potential enemies were Japan in the Pacific, Germany in the North Sea, and Italy in the Mediterranean, with Spain able to provide bases for the Axis Powers. That situation, which tied Britain's hands, was changed at a stroke by the Russo-German agreement. Japan and Spain, chose neutrality, and. Italy decided on inaction. Britain’s naval problem was instantly reduced to meeting German guerilla warfare in the North Sea. The opinion is expressed by Admiral Nakamura that Britain now can have absolute confidence in her victory. “Hitler failed to understand the situation,” he says. “Standing on the edge of a cliff, he spurred his horse. Whether he will ever reach the other bank of the river remains to be seen." Admiral Nakamura methodically examines the question whether air power can win, and decides that it cannot. He adds that Germany's present superiority in the air will rapidly disappear, and he urges Japan to deal with the I task of settling "the China incident" on I the basis that the European war will be I finished within a year.